Silkscreened dollar store plate - easy way to customize a plate! dollarstorecrafts.com

Create simple, designer-looking custom plates with dollar store supplies and some goodies by Martha Stewart. I’ve been experimenting with glass painting on dollar store glassware, and I love how these doily plates turned out! These look like designer dishes — your family and friends will not believe you made them yourself.

Dollar stores (especially Dollar Tree) have a great selection of glassware. I used these basic clear glass dinner plates and silk screened a doily image on each one, using Martha Stewart glass paint and silk screens.

martha stewart glass silk screen supplies

A note about the supplies: Up front, let me say that the Martha Stewart glass paints and silk screens are premium supplies, NOT dollar store supplies, but you should note that  these high quality supplies make humble dollar store goodies look very high end. By making a set of these designer dishes, you will save a lot of money (instead of buying a comparable product at a store like Anthropologie). To me, this is the essence of dollar store crafting — making something amazing out of dollar store stuff.

And don’t forget, the silkscreens and paints will allow you to make hundreds of glasses or other projects, so the investment will pay off as you make more projects. These doily dishes are perfect for handmade gifts or for dressing up your own table! You can make a set for nearly everyone on your gift list. If doilies aren’t your style, there are many other silk screen styles to choose from.

Remember, you can use the doily stencils on any glass surface! Make stenciled tumblers, vases, candle holders, and more.

Project Materials:

  • 4 dishes, $1 each
  • Martha Stewart Glass Silk Screens, Doily Lace, retail price $12.99
  • Martha Stewart Glass Paint in Wedding Cake, $3.49 retail
  • Martha Stewart Squeegie Set, $12.99 retail

Total cost: $33.47 to get started

You need about $30 in Martha Stewart glass supplies to get started, but you will be able to make tons of projects using these. If you want to make a gift (set of 4 dishes) for five friends, the cost per dish will be less than $2.50 a plate.

Save Money On This Project: Use your 40% off coupon at your local craft store when buying the stencils or tools, and look for sales. This will reduce the supply cost dramatically. You can also skip the squeegies, although they make it really easy to do this project, and I don’t know how frustrating it might be to use the wrong tool for this job.

Okay, enough about the facts – let’s see how to make them!

How to Make Silk Screened Doily Dishes:

silkscreening on glass

1. Clean your glass surface with soap and water. Thoroughly dry, and then wipe down with rubbing alcohol.

2. Apply silk screen. It is designed to cling to the glass, which helps keep it in place as you apply paint.

3. Apply a small line of paint across one side of the silkscreen.

4. Pull the squeegie slowly and firmly across the silk screen in one smooth motion.

5. If any area of the silk screen is not covered with paint, pull paint gently over that area.

silkscreening on glass

6. Immediately pull the silk screen up from the plate, starting at one corner and pulling up and away from the glass.

7. Rinse the silk screen out immediately, and dry by blotting with an absorbent towel.

8. Repeat for other glasses.

9. Allow paint to dry for a couple hours, then follow instructions on paint bottle for curing.

Thanks to Paint Me Plaid for these glass silkscreening images!

diy silkscreened plates - looks so easy - dress up a dollar store plate

These doily dishes would also make great wedding favors, or would look great as place settings at a wedding.!

Disclosure: I received the Martha Stewart Glass Paints from Martha Stewart in conjunction with 12 Months of Martha. No payment was received.