Better Late Than Never? I tackled this project about two months ago before we moved (hence all the pics of our old kitchen counters). But I figured I might as well share it in case someone else comes across their own cheap-o cheese plate and wants to update it with some fun patterned paper. Let’s step into the DeLorean for a nice trip back in time…
This little makeover idea was hatched when I laid eyes on this crazy old cheese plate at Goodwill for 40 cents in early December. Yes. Forty cents for the glass dome and the wood base with the ceramic cheese inscription (it was marked as 80 cents and they were having a half-price glassware day). I couldn’t not buy it. But it was definitely crying out for a little love, so I dragged John to the paper aisle in Michael’s (my home away from home) so I could pick up a 79 cent sheet of decorative paper. Which brings the grand total for this entire project to $1.19.
The cheese inscription was cute and retro, but the scary black rat with red eyes was freaking. me. out.
Time for a do-over. First I used a flat head screwdriver to pry up the ceramic cheese inscribed plate that was glued to the wooden base.
Had it not popped off semi-easily I would have made a paper template to the exact size of the ceramic plate and used that to cut a perfectly sized circle out of the sheet of decorative paper. But since it popped right off, I just placed the round ceramic plate on the middle of the decorative paper (so the pattern was centered) and traced the circle shape of the plate onto the paper with a pen. Then I carefully cut it out and was left with a pretty exact looking circle to cover up that funny little cheese inscription once and for all. I glued in place with Aleene’s Tacky Glue. Then I glued the ceramic plate back onto the wooden base using Gorilla Wood Glue.
Next came the highly scientific method of placing a stack of books on the whole thing to keep the paper flat so it would bond nice and tightly to the ceramic tray without wrinkling while the ceramic tray bonded securely to the wooden base at the same time. And why not use a few of our favorite cookbooks since they were nearby?
After a few hours of glue drying time, I removed the books and Mod Podged the top of the paper, so it’s protected with a laminated-esque “seal” that’s 100% non-toxic and water-based (which means it’s ok to display holiday cookies or something). I wouldn’t recommend slicing cheese on it (it’s not that strong), but it would be great for storing pound cake, cupcakes, a bowl full of holiday nuts, etc). And the reason I’ve said holiday twice (even though it feels like Christmas was eons ago) is because the festive red paper just feels so jolly to me. But it should work for the other 11 months of the year for other stuff too.
Like pinecone storage if you’re weird like me.
What? I just thought it looked cute in there.
So that’s the latest oldest little DIY undertaking hiding in our drafts folder that I thought I’d share since it could make a cute gift or project for your own casa. It’s kind of bittersweet because these are probably the very last photos that we’ll publish on YHL with our first house in the background. Sob. Just kidding, we’re way too busy with the new house to cry over the old one. But it’s fun to take this last walk down memory lane and appreciate those purty granite counters one more time. And getting back to my updated cheese platter, I’ve decided it would be the perfect spot to display a stack of pretty bar soap in our hall bathroom when we tackle that room. Someday. For now we’re trying to stay focused on the guest room (and adjoined guest bath). But you know I get easily distracted…
Update: You can check out all of our favorite holiday decor finds here – many of which are under $15!
I love glass domes and am so jealous you got one for so cheap!
I actually like the original cheese plate better (sorry). I am apparently not shopping in the right places to get deals like this! It could also make a pretty sweet terrarium.
I love it!! I also have a fondness for glass encased…things. I passed up two cheese plates just like this a few months ago…trying to give my husband a break from my Goodwill finds ;0)
Hate to be a negative nancy like so many over at AT, but I too much prefer the original cheese graphic over the papered version. The letters have such a great quality to them. I think I would have painted the wooden base a glossy black instead.
If the ceramic had just been plain, I totally would dig your modification so nice work regardless.
I like what you did…but…I like the original better :) I’ll have to pay more attention next time I go to Goodwill
I’m curious as to why you glued the paper to the plate. Why not just toss the plate part and glue the paper to the wooden bottom?
It would have had an odd little lip since the wood piece was carved out to fit the plate (which helped hold the dome in place). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Cool! Man Sherry you are so crafty. I wish I had your awesome imagination. I would love to go shopping with you. Anyways, I notice you have all these glues and stuff. How do you know when to use what? (And I don’t mean the gorilla glue).
I generally use the same few glues all the time. Aileen’s Tacky Glue is great for paper crafts and other projects where you want glue to dry clear (like the wire and flower mobiles we made for Clara’s room). And Gorilla Glue is good for heavy duty stuff that we want to hold but the glue won’t show. Mod Podge is always nice for creating a clear seal and adding strength to paper. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Here I thought you were going to say you built a Delorian a couple of months ago and forgot to put up the pics!
Now that would have been impressive.
xo,
s
Cute pinecone ;)
awww, i love it! that is really one heck of a buy!
i’m so happy you covered up that “cheese” inscription.
do you go to regular goodwill/salvation army thrift shops, or does richmand have something more special?
Yup, just a regular Goodwill store (which is near a regular Salvation Army that we swing through periodically as well). Richmond has some great less-known thrift stores too (like Diversity Thift and Love of Jesus Thrift) and of course there’s the ReStore which we love.
xo,
s
Oh how I loved that old kitchen of yours and appreciate one last appearance. =)
Good eye! I think it looks really cute with the pinecone! I wish we had better thrift stores where we live…
I love those! I’ve bought several and we use one to lay out the cookies for Santa. I change out the paper for every Christmas theme. Here is my grinch: http://www.everydaycelebrating.com/2009/11/whoville-christmas-part-ii-and-other-holiday-transformations.html
pinecones under glass! whoot!!
I liked the original, if it didn’t have the mouse on it. Imagery of mice + food = not good in the hood. So I love the new bottom and also secretly wish I could see your drafts folder – I’m sure you have all kinds of great posts just waiting for finishing touches!
We’re working really hard to keep things real-time so there aren’t any old posts anymore! That was the last one!
xo,
s
Great job! I need to go by the thrift store – I’ve been eyeing glass domes just like that for months at such higher prices!
Can I just say, you guys are the CUTEST! I love your creativity (& the fact you haven’t killed each other). From the time I began reading your blog (a month or so ago) I’ve been inspired to tackle my to-do list & add a bunch more projects. Thanks for the great ideas and encouragement.
I love that paper. I recognize it from an art project I did a while back to fill up the space above my couch! Pardon the low quality photo….
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=45944300&l=d859f2a6a3&id=9602320
So cute!
xo,
s
Such a great idea. But now you’ve got me craving cookies!
Love it! And LOVE Jamie’s Food Revolution! We have 3 of his cookbooks.
I love Michael’s craft paper!! It can be used for so much! Great idea BTW!
I’m so sad you covered up the cheese inscription too! So funky and retro…
Yup. Super cute job. I love a good rummage sale find like this.
Not to be nitpicky (or a douchebag), but it’s actually DeLorean. I only know this because I just graduated from Lawrence Tech (which is where John DeLorean went to college), and the guy’s name is everywhere in that place. :-)
Love it! Off to fix that…
xo,
s
Cute! How does the Mod Podge work?
You just paint it over things, like decoupaging paste.
xo,
s
I thought it was cuter before, too. :-{
Darn. I should have taken a close up shot of the black rat with the red eyes. I wouldn’t have described him as cute… but to each his own!
xo,
s
I liked the mouse at first too but just before I saw this I noticed his little red demon eyes. Creepy… I’d probably have been scared to take cheese off of that plate!
Great idea! The addition of the paper makes it much less – specific? – and therefore more useful. And honestly, if you like it, then it’s all good since, um, it’s yours.
Very cute! I’ve never used Mod Podge in my life, though I recently bought a bottle. Guess I’ll need to get to it!
Okay so my husbands absolute favorite phrase is “better late than… pregnant!” He loves interjecting that last part when people say that usual phrase. I saw your title and had to add this!
Hahahahhaahhah. Love it. I am now formally requesting that John starts saying the same thing.
xo,
s
I’m totally stealing this! Hilarious.
Wow! I can’t believe you snapped that up for 40 cents- awesome! I love the new one– but I am a sucker for decorative paper…
Excellent project! I just found two more Goodwills around me that I had no idea existed.
On a sidenote, I wanted to give you (and the other YHL readers) a heads up that if you wanted to get a couple extras of your Sue Sylvester napkin, they’re on clearance at Crate & Barrel for $1.95, in case you need more for your new table (which I cannot wait to see!) and if you need more Pyrex (with BPA free lids) in a variety of sizes, Target is having sales on a variety of different Pyrex packs for $15! I got a ten piece set yesterday that originally cost $28ish dollars. I can finally get rid of all of my plastic Tupperware! YAY!
Sweet! Two things we love. Great heads up!
xo,
s
Thanks for the head’s up Kristen!
Whew, when I first saw that picture I thought John had a mid-life crisis (granted, many years early mid-life crisis) and that you guys had traded in for the DeLorean. Cute idea on the cheese dome!
Super cute project! I can see a cupcake under the glass myself! Enjoy! And Sherry, when in doubt, always share. These posts are so fun.
I just bought that same paper on sale at Michael’s for food blogging background!!
Gah! I was just at Goodwill yesterday and saw three of these cheese platter domes and thought – too bad they are so ugly. Now I have to go back! Lol. Hopefully they will still be there! Thanks so much for the awesome idea!!!!
a nice and easy project!
i’m new here so i’m just wondering – what did you do with your old house? did you sell it? and if yes – wasn’t that hard to do (i mean because you worked so hard on it too and it looked really pretty)
best wishes from austria!
marta
Hey Marta,
If you click the topics tab up near our search bar you can scroll down to the category called “Selling, Moving, & Buying” to read all about it! We sold it by owner so it was a lot of work but well worth the satisfaction and the money we saved!
xo,
s
Well now I want to run to Goodwill!
Also- I just checked out the affordable sofas link and I’m wondering if you would recommend them for a family with three kids, two with autism. (We need durability!!) I understand with the low prices that it won’t be the highest quality, but it won’t be worth it if it falls apart in the first year.
Hey Lindsay,
That link was probably just a randomly displaying google ad on our sidebar so they’re not sofas that we have specifically purchased ourselves. We’ve gone with sofas from Rowe, Pottery Barn, and Ikea. We wouldn’t buy another one from Pottery Barn but we love the ones we got from Rowe (via a local sofa retailer) and the one we just got from Ikea is our favorite! Plus it’s very wallet friendly.
xo,
s
What’s the reason you wouldn’t buy another one from Pottery Barn? Price or something else?
It didn’t hold up as well (felt schlumpy, pillows got squished, slipcover never laid perfectly along the front skirt part, etc) and it was nearly $400 more than the similar one that we got from Rowe and adored! That’s just our one-time experience though, so who knows if we would have loved a different PB sofa if we hadn’t chosen the PB Basic.
xo,
s
I wish I had your eyes…and Katie Bower’s too. I just added her blog onto my favorites after seeing her on Nate Berkus. She has a post about her Goodwill finds and the wonderful things she’s done with them.
She’s my BFF in real life! Love my Katie girl. We’re planning a trip to her new casa soon. Maybe we can hit up Goodwill together. That would rock my socks!
xo,
s
Love this DIY…very nice pattern, I have a weak spot for orange :(
http://jannsboutique.blogspot.com/
The original was so “kitch”. I liked it best. However, the make-over looks nice also.
How funny is it that i just went to goodwill (a quick stop over lunch:), saw that exact same thing, and wondered what can i do with that?? Alas i went away empty handed bc i forgot my wallet…but i shall return!! :)
That’s crazy! Who knew there was more than one black mouse with beady red eyes creeping around Goodwill stores?!
xo,
s
That cheese plate is too funny. The rat totally reminds me of Templeton from Charlotte’s Web. I sometimes dig retroesque stuff, but I think this was a great idea–especially since it’s all prettified, and you made a unitasker into a multitasker (and gave us all inspiration!). Displaying soap or pinecones on a retro Templeton cheese plate wouldn’t make any sense anyways, lol.
Ahhh I love it! That rat was super creepy so I would have done the same thing! <3 You guys are so lucky that you have a goodwill that has glassware — mine has a 2ft section for kitchen stuff that never has anything but plastic on it! Yikes!!
Thanks, as always!, for the inspiration =)
xoXOxo
Jenn @ Peas & Crayons
I’m surprised you didn’t spray paint the wood part white. :)
I know! I resisted!
xo,
s
Maybe you could turn it into a terrarium like this: http://www.aperfectgray.com/2011/01/terrariums.html
I love it! I have to say I’m shocked you didn’t paint the wooden base white ;)
HA and apparently I am not the only one–sorry for the repeat observation. But we sure do know you well!
Haha it’s true! I exercised restraint!
xo,
s
My wife pointed me to this post because of the DeLorean photo. I was going to say you misspelled it, but someone else beat me to it. Someday, someday I will own that car…
Also, the dome is beautiful and far less cheesy now!
Haha, cheesy. Love a good cheese pun.
xo,
s
Oh yeah, now I see. The ad has changed. (It was deceptively placed just at the end of the post, not in the sidebar.) Silly me, but thanks for the response!
So sorry about the confusion! Any of our Google ads (both on the sidebar and after posts) should all be marked with “Ad by Google” on the bottom, so hopefully that will help you identify them! Good luck on your sofa hunt!
xo,
s
Are you guys using strictly Google Adsense? If so, you could probably monetize a bit better using a company like Tribal Fusion. We receive MUCH higher CPM on SongMeanings.net through Tribal Fusion.
Just my two cents. :)
We use a combination of things (which include some Google AdSense). We’re actually really happy with them so far but thanks for the suggestion!
xo,
s
Not to totally geek out, but it’s actually spelled “DeLorean.”
Your pal,
Marty McFly
All fixed!
xo,
s