Stenciled Ironstone Platter Wall Art
Nothing says cozy farmhouse like white ironstone, except maybe wall art in the form of a stenciled ironstone platter.
Let’s take a look at today’s quick project where we’ll learn how to stencil an ironstone platter with a meaningful word, like “gather”?
One can easily find home goods with the word “gather” and certainly many bloggers and crafters have developed projects incorporating the word.
I’ve not invented anything new today, but the project is easy and the results so satisfying, I thought it worthy of a short post.
I bought this antique, English ironstone platter not too long ago for a dollar at a [fabulous] church sale. While it bears no chips or cracks, it does show signs of age–some serious browning and crazing.
I didn’t want to use or hang it in this condition, but it did seem worthy of “rescue”. What do you think?
T. J. & J. Mayer’s, in business from 1843-55, made the platter in Staffordshire, England.
*This post contains affiliate links. When you click on one of them and make a purchase, I earn a small commission that has no affect on the price you pay. Thanks in advance!
Materials to Stencil on Ironstone
- Black chalk paint
- Letter stencils
- Makeup sponges
- Polyurethane (spray or liquid)
- Painter’s tape
Here’s a video about how to stencil on glass. Since both surfaces are similar (very smooth), the process is similar.
Note that in the video, I talk about having to tap the paint on twice, this is not always necessary with ironstone, but you get the idea 🙂
How to Stencil an Ironstone Platter
Step 1
Wipe down the surface you plan to stencil with water and soap, then dry it.
Step 2
If using individual letter stencils, as I’m doing here, plan your layout. Find the center of your project and take it from there.
Step 3
Tape down your stencils and/or hold them tightly in place with your fingers. You don’t want paint leaking up under the stencil.
Step 4
Dab paint on the flat end of the makeup sponge and pounce the paint off until the surface is quite “dry.”
Step 5
Pounce the paint onto your project. I often use acrylic paint for stenciling, but when stenciling glass or glazed pottery, chalk paint works better because it doesn’t seep under the stencil as easily as acrylic.
[Note: Deco Art provided the paint for this project.]
In this case, I used italicized letter stencils that I had on hand. This process is always trickier than when using a word stencil.
In fact, this time I had to remove the letter “h” because I stenciled it too high. I scraped it off with a widget/razor blade and then re-stenciled it in the proper location.
Step 6
Once the paint dries, give the platter a couple of coats of clear acrylic spray paint to protect the surface from scratching.
[NOTE: If you don’t spray with poly, then the letters are easily removed with a razor blade, if you change your mind or decide to stencil it with something else(!).]
The Completed Stenciled Ironstone Platter Project
If you’re looking for an easy piece of farmhouse wall art, then I think this is the project for you.
I enjoy it mixed in with my bread boards and lavender, but it would look equally as nice hanging on a gallery wall.
It makes a great fall project, just in time for the holidays, when we gather together to share a meal, see family and friends from out of town, and say prayers of thanksgiving for all the Lord has blessed us with.
UPDATE: Just wanted to mention that I sell these stenciled platters at an annual Christmas craft show and from my antique booth for $25-30, depending upon their age and size.
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I’d love it if you’d pin for later–
You did a great job Diana. Your platter turned out beautifully. And I love how you put it in front of the bread boards. That really sets it off wonderfully.
Your tradition sounds like a lot of fun and leaves you all with so many great memories.
Thanks for sharing and blessings to you.
SallyAnn
Nice, Diana! The whole vignette looks great. Your day with with your mom & sister sounds awesome. Maybe with your sister moving to the Atlanta area, you’ll have an opportunity to travel there to see her and scout out some new territory. 🙂
Diana,
As a fellow “upstate” NYer, I enjoy your posts. I’m a transplant from Plattsburgh, living just north of Atlanta in Big Canoe, GA. I’d be glad to be a contact for you and or your sister if ever the need arises in Atlanta. I’ve been in the area since 1977, with a 18’year stint in Ft. Lauderdale.
Loved this post about the stenciling on platters. Question, when you spraynwith acrylic does this make it so you could at least hand wash the platter if you chose to use it?
Thanks again, Kim
I love what you did with the platter. I am really interested in seeing all the lovely things you have at the craft show. I live in Chester, Ca. so there is no way I can see for myself. I have been in upstate New York in the fall and it was amazing. Lucky you!
I love this…beautifully graphic with vintage goodness…
Great look Diana. I need to make some changes in some of my displays and this has certainly inspired me.
Love the large oval-top cutting board. Is it round or just flat at the bottom?
I love this! Great vignette too! I’ve always wanted to paint plates but worried that the paint wouldn’t stick very well. Now I know. 🙂 xo kathleen
I love the word gather on things and it goes just perfect on your platter. I never would have thought to stencil on ironstone but there you have it! Perfect!
Girls Day Out–how fun! Your lunch sounds delightful and of course that’s the kind of outing I enjoy 😉 The platter is simply charming! Sharing on Facebook (Monday.)
Great idea for those wonderful plates/platters that are so crazed they are too compromised to use for food. Love the idea of a stencil, or the chalkboard paint in the center to change a message on. Thanks bunches, Sandi
I love how this turned out. And you created a lovely vignette with the platter and bread boards.
What a lovely vignette! Also like the tradition of Girl’s Day Out!
Love your Gather platter, so perfect for the season. A Girls Day Out is a wonderful idea that sounds so fun. I’ve been kicking around the idea of a Christmas Tea.
Thank you for sharing at the Snickerdoodle Create, Bake, and Make Link Party!
I just love how you styled the photos in this post! True artistry. The combo of the textures and shapes is candy for the eye-kudos!
Love it! Great display too. THanks so much for taking the time to link up with Let’s Talk Vintage!”
Giving you a feature this week, Diana! Love the stenciled platter. Thanks so much for sharing it!
I have a lovely platter with forget-me-nots on it. I E600-ed a Dollar Tree tin “Thankful” to it. It has been hanging on a kitchen cupboard door for lack of a better place. My stenciling skills are still not very good! This works for me and is easily removable, too!