DIY Easter Decor: A Beginner’s Guide to Reverse Decoupage Plates

Step 1: Clean and Prime Your Plate
Start with a clean glass plate, using alcohol to ensure the surface is free of grease and dust. After you clean the plate, apply a coat of Polyvine Multi-Surface Lacquer from Decoupagenapkins.com as a primer. This crucial step prepares your plate for the beautiful napkin art to come. The Multi-Surface Lacquer is specially designed to adhere to a variety of surfaces, such as glass.

Step 2: Add a Touch of Vintage
To give your plate a timeless look, Donna introduces Pentart's Fineline Crackle Varnish. This two-step process creates a stunning cracked porcelain effect, demanding patience as you allow adequate drying time for each layer. She seals the crackle with Pentart Clear Varnish because from here to the finish, she uses water-based products. Remember, in reverse decoupage, you are doing all of your steps in reverse order. In normal decoupage, you would finish with crackle. With reverse decoupage, we are beginning with crackle.

Step 3: Choose Your Easter Scene
Select an Easter-themed napkin, showcasing the joys of spring. Separate the top layer of your chosen napkin for a clearer, more vibrant design once applied to the plate. You will only be using the top layer of the napkin for this project. For this plate, Donna has chosen a napkin with two Easter ducks. She decides to cut them out of the design with a water brush to apply to the plate. She treats the ducks with a technique using Polyvine Heavy Duty Wood Varnish, discussed below.

Step 4: Overlaying the Ducks
Here's where the magic happens. Donna takes two ducks, treated with Polyvine and painted on the back with Dixie Belle White Paint, to overlay on the napkin design. This technique involves placing the ducks right side up on plastic, spraying with water for easy manipulation, and then painting a section of a silicone mat with Polyvine Heavy Duty Wood Varnish. She carefully lays the plastic with the ducks onto the wet varnish, smooths out any air bubbles, and allows it to dry. She applies a few more layers of the varnish to give it more durability. This process basically transforms the napkin duck patterns into usable decals that can be perfectly positioned and ready to become part of your Easter plate masterpiece.

Step 5: Applying the Round Napkin
After the ducks have dried, she uses a little brown Pentart Acrylic Paint to highlight the edges of the ducks. Then she adheres them to the plate by using more of the Multi-Surface Lacquer. She affixes the round napkin to the plate by using more of the lacquer. Once the lacquer has dried, she paints the back of the napkins with Dixie Belle White Chalk Paint. This helps the pattern on the napkin stand out through the plate. After the white paint fully dried, she painted the back of the plate with Dixie Belle Colonel Mustard Yellow Chalk Paint. This gives the plate a finished look and matches the color on the ducks.

Step 6: Another Round of Crackle
Donna decides to add another type of crackle to the back of the plate using DecoArt One Step Crackle. She applies a thick layer to get deep cracks and further intensifies the cracks by using a heat gun or blow dryer. She then highlights the cracks with a dark antiquing paste.

Step 7: Seal and Protect
With the artwork in place, it's time to seal your plate with additional layers of Polyvine Heavy Duty Wood Varnish. This not only protects your design but enhances its durability. Donna’s advice: allow proper drying time between layers to ensure your plate stands the test of time. This makes it heat and water resistant but be sure to only hand-wash your plate. Never put it in the dishwasher or leave it soaking in water.

Personalize Your Plate
The final steps are where your creativity can shine. Add personal touches, paint the back for opacity, or experiment with textures. Donna encourages crafters to make each plate their own, turning these creations into personal Easter heirlooms. Donna edges her plate with Pentart Gold paint to give it a high-end look.

Wrapping Up
As we conclude this crafting adventure, we extend our deepest gratitude to Donna for her guidance and expertise. This Easter, let the art of reverse decoupage open a world of creativity and joy. Your handmade plates will not only adorn your Easter table but also capture the essence of springtime renewal.

Thank you, Donna, and to everyone embarking on this crafting journey, may your Easter be filled with creativity, joy, and the beauty of handcrafted treasures.