How to Print on Melamine Dinner Plates

Whether you would like to use a stencil or have a pretty design in mind, printing on melamine dinner plates is easy to do and only requires a few supplies.  Try painting a pretty set of plates to hang on your wall, or painting a personalized plate to give as a gift.

Items Needed

• Melamine plates


• Acrylic glass paint


• Stencil brush or paint brushes


• Rubbing alcohol


• Paper plates

Printing

1. Decide on the design you would like to paint on your melamine plate.  You may wish to use stencils or paint a design on the plate by hand.


2. Choose the colors of paint you would like to use for your plate.  It is a good idea to ask an employee at a craft or hobby store what type of paint is safe and best to use on your plate.


3. Prepare the melamine plate for paint.  To do this, use a cotton ball or soft cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol to wipe off the plate.  This step is important in ensuring that the paint adheres to the plate.


4. Squeeze a small amount of each color of paint you will be using onto a paper plate.


5. Place your stencil on the plate where you would like the design to go.  If you are painting a design by hand, simply dip a paint brush in paint and wipe off the excess paint on a paper plate before painting your design on the plate.


6. Dip your stencil brush in paint and remove excess paint from the brush by dabbing it against a clean paper plate.


7. Begin painting around the outside edge of the stencil, and work your way to the center.


8. Apply more paint to the stencil brush as needed, being careful not to apply too much paint.  Applying too much paint can cause the paint to spread under the stencil.


9. Remove the stencil from the plate, being careful not to disturb the freshly painted design.


10. Take some plastic wrap and carefully wrap it around the plate, being careful not to touch the paint with it.  Wrapping the plate with plastic wrap will prevent dirt and debris from settling into the paint when you place it outside to dry.


11. Set the plate outside in direct sunlight to allow the paint to dry.  The plate should sit outside for eight hours to ensure that the paint has set.