MAY 2017 145
Marsha Smithshows you how to take unused,
unloved vintage plates and turn them into a
stunning wall display that’s a visual feast.What you’ll need
● Selection of vintage plates
● Insect images
● Inkjet printer
● 1 x packet of Lazertran Inkjet
Waterslide Decal Paper (available online)
● Scissors
● Tray big enough to fill with water and
submerge your decals in
● Enamel-based varnish
● Soft clean paint brush
● Turpentine (for cleaning brushes)Steps
1 Start by collecting your plates and the
images you would like. The internet has
loads of free images you can download.
Just be sure that the quality is good
enough for the picture to be enlarged.
2 Print images onto the smooth, white-
eggshell side of the paper, following the
instructions on your decal paper.
3 Cut out all your bugs (chosen images) as
closely to the image itself
as possible.
Tip: Before moving to
Step 4, lay everything
out on your plates, so
you know which images
look best on which
plates. Experiment with
sizes for added interest.
4 Fill the tray with a little
water (approximately
2cm deep).
5 Submerge each image
for about a minute. It will
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BAUER STUDIO (NZ). curl up at first but don’t
worry, as it will slowly unravel as it starts
to release the backing. You can use your
fingers to gently unfold and hold the image
down. Once it has been properly soaked,
the backing will easily come away from
the printed image.
6 Carefully place the image onto your
chosen plate, making sure you have all the
little legs and antennae flattened out.
(I found a pair of tweezers incredibly
handy for this.) The great thing about these
decals is you have plenty of time to adjust
your image before it dries.
7 Once you’re happy with the placement,
set the plate aside to dry for about six
hours. As it dries, the outer area of the
image will become white. You will see
the cut edges, but don’t worry!
8 When the image is completely dry, brush
a coat of enamel varnish over the decal
and plate. This magically makes the white
turn clear. It also makes your image more
vibrant and a little transparent, so you can
see some of the plate
details coming through.
Leave to dry for a good
few hours before putting
on a second coat.
Tip: Before attempting
to hang your plates
(look online for hanging
options), it’s a good idea
to lay them out on the
floor and take a couple
of photos on your phone
so you can see what
arrangement looks best.
Happy hanging! AW W[ Craft ]