Painting & Decorating Dollar Tree Chargers

Seasonal Signs made from painted Dollar Tree Chargers

Related Links:
Supplies Needed:
  • Dollar Tree Charger Plates
  • Craft Paints (I mostly use off white and black)  Martha Stewart Brand is a little more expensive, but I do love the way it paints. Apple Barrel works fine!
  • A paint brush (I used an old crayola brush - soft bristled and thick)
  • 651 vinyl
  • Transfer Tape (I like the contact paper found by the shelf liner at the Dollar Tree)
I've used this Americana Multi Purpose Satin, Martha Stewart Satin, and Apple Barrel regular paints, and all worked well.  I do prefer the satin.  This was a silver plate, painted antique white.

Painting Tips:
  • Choose chargers with a rougher texture, not the super glossy ones.  I liked the gold and silver ones, the white ones were super slick and the paint did not adhere as well.
  • I just use craft paints.  Satin made a better base coat, although I did use the regular glossy off white as a base with no problems.
  • The transfer tape peeled the paint on one plate.  After that I started putting a layer of modge podge over the paint, before applying the vinyl.  I recommend that - I think it helps.
  • The "technique" I use most is apparently called a dry brush technique.  I paint a thick coat of off white on. Thick, leaving rough lines.  I let it dry thoroughly, then "dry brush" black over the top.  Basically you dip a brush into black paint, then brush most of the paint off on a cloth or paper towel.  Then with most of the paint off the brush, paint quickly across the plate.  I brush and brush and brush- rubbing the paint off as I go.  And then sometimes I wipe more of the paint off with a diaper wipe or a soft cloth.
  • This is the best description I have come across of how to "dry brush". 
 

Creating a Basic Design Template

For these chargers, I added a 12 inch circle in design space.  (Choose shapes, circle, then at the top of the page type a 12 into the size box.)
Then I created a second circle, 8 inches in diameter.

At the top of the screen I chose Align, Center.

Then I chose select all, and sliced the smaller circle out of the large.  Delete all of the center pieces.  

For these chargers, the text I want to fit on the rim goes on what is left of the circle.  The design for the inside section of the plate should fit inside that outline.

Some Call It Chaos...

I started with a silver charger for this one.
Free SVG is found here
Font for The Truckenmillers is Fish Fingers

The "easel" here is an old coaster holder.  It's shaped like a typewriter, with the coasters being keyboards.  I stood the coasters up in the back, so that the plate leans against them.


Valentines Day

The paint for this one is a bit dark.  I don't think I would intentionally use this much black again.  

  • Font is Fish Fingers
  • Find the Free SVG from Caluya Design Here
  • More Free SVGs For Valentines Day Here

St Patrick's Day


,
Font  For the top and bottom is Fish Fingers
Prone to Shenanigans & Malarky SVG is free here.
Vintage Truck With Shamrocks SVG is free here.

Tip For Cutting Foil Vinyl
When cutting foil vinyl, I always cut it twice.  After it finishes the cut, WITHOUT HITTING THE ARROW BUTTON TO UNLOAD THE VINYL, simply push the C button on your machine again.  It will then repeat the exact same cut, in the exact same location.

Find more free St Patrick's Day SVGs Here - 

Easter

For this plate, I painted off white, then Covered that in a brown, then I dumped some white paint onto a diaper wipe and wiped it over the brown as a whitewash of sorts.

For this one I used simple clipart, and text.

In our living room, we have an extremely large framed flour sack from a mill that was owned by my husbands family, over 100 years ago.  I like to mimic the design of that flour sack in some of the other decor in our home - thus this design, inspired by something similar I saw on Pinterest.

Fourth Of July


You'll notice I use a lot of the truck designs... our name IS Truckenmiller, after all.  :-) This particular truck is a file I paid for long before I realized how many free options are available.

Find LOTS Of Free "Little Red Truck" svgs here
Find the Free Flag SVG here
Party Like It's 1776 Free SVG Here

Note - this is the BEST Flag svg I have found.  Most are really tedious to cut and weed - this one is crisp and as simple as the flag can be in a cut file!

Font is Fish Fingers (I may redo this in black - the yellow gets a bit lost)


A Birthday Design - Step By Step and links to the free svgs can be found here:

=====================================

These plates are stacked in my dining room with the china, and I switch out which one is displayed, for each holiday.  



=====================

=====================

Where To Find Free SVGS By Theme

==========================


Find More Cricut Project Tutorials Here:

https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/04/cricut-step-by-step-project-tutorials.html

==========================


7 comments:

  1. I don't have a Cricut, but it is on my wish list. I love this idea, and I love Dollar Tree crafts!

    ReplyDelete
  2. These are super fun and such a great budget friendly home decor idea! I love them!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What are the chargers made of..aluminum or plastic?

    ReplyDelete
  4. I just did my first painted charger that looked like a galvanized plate. I love it thanks for the info...

    ReplyDelete
  5. I don't have a Circut yet but I've been a good girl all year so I'm hoping Santa noticed. What are SVGs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2020/09/quick-tip-what-is-svg-its-never-image.html

      Delete