DIY Vinyl Art on Glass Platter

I created this glass platter to display on my entryway console using inkjet vinyl and gold leaf. I wish the edges of the vinyl wasn't so apparent but I'll try using a thinner vinyl next time.

I was inspired by this Christmas ornament I spotted at Kohl's recently and an expensive glass platter that I saw in a local home decor store. I didn't get a picture of the platter, but it was beautiful. I always seem to break my glass ornaments, so I knew the platter would be the route to take.

I started with an inexpensive glass square plate from Wal-mart. My first thought was that I could use my letter stamps and stamp the platter with StazOn ink which is made for non-porous surfaces. But since I wanted all of the decor on the underside of the plate, all of my lettering would appear backwards. Then I remembered some sample papers I had bought from an online store. This paper was clear cling vinyl and clear adhesive vinyl that was made to be used with inkjet printers. I had bought it weeks ago with the intention of making my own vinyl wall art, but I had never got around to that project. I thought that this was the perfect time to try out my sample sheets, but I knew I had to be extra careful because I only had a few sample sheets to try and make this work.

So I used Microsoft Word to create the layout for the saying and I printed it in Mirror image on the vinyl cling sheet using the Transparency setting. I then cut it out and placed it in the center of the plate.

I thought I would then stamp the decorative flourishes on the plate using the StazOn ink. I tried one edge and determined that I didn't like it very much so I immediately wiped it out and went another route. I had used my only sheet of cling vinyl, but I still had a sheet of adhesive vinyl left so I used that sheet to print out some flourishes in color. I then cut them out and applied them to the plate also.

At this point, I could have probably stopped and proudly displayed my plate as is. But I decided to gold leaf the entire plate. I had never tried gold leafing before.

First I brushed the antiquing glaze on the underside of the plate and then I added the adhesive for the gold leaf.

I have to admit - gold leaf was not an easy project for me. Those little thin sheets of leaf had a mind of their own - or I just didn't know what I was doing. But I completed it and I noticed that the gold leaf accented the vinyl edges more than I liked, but that is okay. Practice makes perfect and I will be practicing on a decorative Thanksgiving platter soon.

I am linking up to Kimba's DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land. I am also linking up to my very first Make Your Monday party @ Twice Remembered.

I am also joining my first Celebrate the Holidays party at It So Very Cheri.