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How to Make Gilded Serving Plates for Christmas

Dazzle Your Guests This Holiday With Hand-made Gold Dishes

Oct 27, 2009 Stefanie Gabrych Fraser

During the holidays, you can never have enough serving dishes or trays. If you don't have many, don't bother spending money on expensive ones.

You can create your own gilded serving dishes using plain, inexpensive glass plates. And you can decorate each one to match your existing plate settings or your festive tables.

So, why not dazzle your family and friends with your touch of gold. When they praise your new plates, you can tell them you have the "Midas Touch!"

How to Make the Cutouts

You can use almost any type of print or picture including family photos. If you choose a photo, pick one that is simple in composition, and then make a copy of it to cut out.
Simply glue the paper cutouts directly to the back of the plates or you can make transparent cutouts by having your local photocopy shop print your designs on to clear acetate sheets.

Care and Cleaning of Your Gilded Plates

The best way to preserve these plates is by simply wiping the top of the plates clean with a damp cloth or sponge. As these plates are purely decorative, use them only for serving cakes or cookies, or fruit. Never place them in a dishwasher or immerse them in water.

"Gilding" Instructions

Materials

Clear glass plates
Transparent or paper cutouts
Craft glue
Metal ("dutch") leaf kit (available at hobby or art supply stores)
2” brush
Scissors
Clean, soft cloth

Instructions

NOTE: Use a craft glue that dries clear to affix the cutouts (paper or acetate) to the back of the plate.

Use the craft glue to affix the cutout onto the back of the plate.
When dry, with the 2” brush, cover the back of the plate with a coat of sizing (which is included in the kit).
Make sure that the coat is even and no brush hairs have been left on the plate.
The sizing which looks like milk will dry clear in about 2 hours. When the sizing is completely dry, it will feel slightly tacky to the touch.
Cut the metal leaf on its backing paper into one inch wide strips.
Starting from the center, press the cut strip firmly on to the glass plate, pressing it smooth with your fingers. Remove the backing paper.
Repeat, slightly overlapping each strip by 1/8".
When completely covered, using a soft cloth to burnish the gold leaf smooth. Don't worry about any tiny holes as these will give your plate an "antique" look. You can add small pieces of gold leaf to these areas and brush into place.
Seal the back of the plate with several thin coats of polyurethane, letting each coat dry thoroughly before applying the next.

While you're gilding the plates, let the kids make some milkweed and pinecone angels or candy cane hearts.

The copyright of the article How to Make Gilded Serving Plates for Christmas in Entertaining is owned by Stefanie Gabrych Fraser. Permission to republish How to Make Gilded Serving Plates for Christmas in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.