Paint a Plate

What You Need:

• Plain white plates, bowls, platters or cups
• Paper and pencil
• Ceramic paint that sets after baking (can be found at your local craft store)
• Paintbrushes
• Washable marker
• Stencils, stamps, and leaves

What You Do:

1. Help your child wash and dry the plates.
2. Have her brainstorm what type of design she would like to create. Offer her a paper and pencil so she can sketch out her ideas. If she wants, she can also use stencils or stamps. Even a leaf from the yard can make a beautiful design.
3. When she's settled on a design, have her to use a washable marker to help her map out the design on the plate. The marker will wash off after the plate is finished.
4. Now it's time to start painting. If painting more than one layer of color, make sure she allows the first layer to dry before painting over the top. If the painting doesn't go as planned, she can always wash the plate and start over!
5. Once her plate is painted to her liking, set the paint by baking the plate in the oven at 300° Fahrenheit for 30 minutes (or according to your ceramic paint instructions).
6. Then, help her remove the plate from the oven using hot mitts, and set aside to cool.

Once they've cooled off, the plates can be used for your next family meal, or they make great gifts for a holiday or special occasion, too!