Fearless Friday, Birthday Dishes

This week has gotten away from me, with watching the Super Bowl,

Mardi Gras, and Valentine’s Day…

Valentine’s Day is my son’s birthday and we had quite a celebration

which involved the delivery of a new truck!

So being in the birthday mood right now,

I am re-sharing cute birthday things that anyone can paint

You don’t have to be an artist to paint these funky candles,

all you need is a rough sketch to plan the colors and design

It’s so much fun to use these party birthday candle plates

to celebrate a birthday

These are my go to brushes in several sizes for small acrylic work

from right to left

Flat: a square flat bristle with a fine edge

Round:  a full fat oval shaped bristle with a pointed tip

Filbert:  like a flat brush, but the tip is rounded on either side

Liner: very small thin bristle, good for detailing

Use a flat brush for the candle

Load brush with ample paint

{make a few practice strokes to get the feel

on a piece of paper or foil}

Draw brush along the area,

pressing firmly and lifting off quickly

at the end of stroke for a clean edge

The stroke will be fatter than the brush,

so try a few different brush sizes to determine the size to use

When painting multiple pieces with the same design,

lay them out on your work surface like an assembly line,

that way you paint all the pink, then all the purple, etc,

and don’t have to clean your brush as often

Use a large round brush for the flame, load it,

then press down firmly using the brush

to make the flame shape

Quickly lift and twist the brush to finish stroke

which will leave a tip on the flame

Once candles are dry add patterns, dots, stripes, swirls

Use the handle tip for making dots

by dipping the opposite end of the brush, the tip of the handle,

into paint and then applying it to the piece with a firm dab

Use the liner brush for swirls,

a small round brush to place a smaller orange flame

inside the large yellow one,

and a small flat brush for stripes

You can use little buckets too for party favors or small gifts

Since you’re painting on metal,

you can use regular acrylic paint, matte or gloss

I found these mini buckets in the $1 bin at Target

You can fill them with popcorn or a snack mix for party fun or favors

Here are the steps to the birthday cake design

2 things to remember:

*If painting glasses or dishes, use curable paint made for glass.  There are lots of varieties and brands available, I prefer the opaque rather than transparent, for depth of color.  I also like to use gloss rather than matte finish.  Check the different brands and choose the one that meets your preference

Paint only the surfaces that won’t come in contact with food or utensils.  Utensils can scratch the paint.  Look for dishes that have a raised border or an upturned edge, like the square plates I used

Deco Art offers a reasonably priced sample pack of opaque glossy paint  here

Sources for white dinnerware:

Bed Bath Beyond, Old Time Pottery, Target, Walmart

Have fun and Be Fearless!

I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:

Sundays on Silverado/  Happiness is Homemade

What’s for Dinner / Love Your Creativity

Between Naps on the Porch / Turn About Tuesday 

Wednesday Linky Party / Karin’s Cottage Linky Party /  Creative Crafts

Full Plate Thursday /Thursday Favorite Things

Home Matters

Comments
29 Responses to “Fearless Friday, Birthday Dishes”
  1. Nancy says:

    What beautiful partyware handmade with love by you! How fun to be the party guests and to see such a lovely table set and painted by you. Your tutorial was fabulous. Thank you!
    Happy Birthday to your son!

  2. Pam says:

    You have had a busy, fun-filled week. I know the birthday celebration was wonderful. The square candle plates are perfect. Happy birthday to HH jr! Wishing you a lovely weekend, Jenna!

  3. You are so clever, this is such a fun idea!

  4. Rita C. says:

    Happy belated birthday to your son! What a week of celebrations! Those dishes are too cute!

  5. lghiggins says:

    February is a fun month for you! Thanks for sharing your birthday plates. I love how you give tips that will be helpful to beginners. They are probably things you do instinctively, but that I would not have considered.

  6. Jill Kuhn says:

    You are so clever Jenna! The plates, glasses and buckets are adorable and fun! They would make any birthday extra special. 🎉

  7. Anonymous says:

    Such creative birthday designs! Sounds like a fun birthday celebration!
    Sending belated birthday wishes 🎂

    Emily

  8. lulu says:

    I’d love to spend a day with you just doing whatever!

  9. You have personalized a birthday celebration with a few lovely brush strokes! Artfully created and lovely as always! Hope his birthday was extra special!

  10. Kim Goddard says:

    Jenna, the month of February is definitely a month of celebration for you and your family between Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, the Super Bowl, and your son’s birthday! The candle-painted plates are adorable and such a personal touch for a wonderful day, as are the beautiful wine glasses and the sweet little Target buckets. I hope you enjoyed all these wonderful celebrations and Happy Birthday to your son – I hope he had a very special birthday!

  11. Mary says:

    So festive Jenna! Happy Belated Birthday to your son!

  12. Anonymous says:

    I really enjoyed your step-by-step explanations and photos.
    Thanks, too, for showing the brushes, and linking to the paints.
    I cannot even imagine how you have time for this. It’s inspirational!

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