Better Late Than Never? I tackled this project a couple of months ago before we moved (hence the photos of our old kitchen counters), but I wanted to share it in case someone finds a bargain cheese plate and wants to refresh it with a sheet of patterned paper. Let’s step back in time for a quick DIY story.
This makeover began when I spotted a beat-up cheese plate at Goodwill for forty cents in early December. The glass dome and wooden base with the ceramic “cheese” plaque were marked at 80 cents and were half-off that day, so I paid just 40 cents. I couldn’t leave it there. The retro cheese plaque was charming, but the black rat with red eyes was a little too creepy for my taste.
Time for a refresh. I started by prying the ceramic plate off the wooden base with a flathead screwdriver.
If the plate hadn’t come off easily, I would have made a paper template to trace the exact circle. Since it popped off, I placed the ceramic plate on the decorative paper so the pattern was centered, traced around it with a pen, and cut out the circle. The paper circle fit nicely. I adhered it to the ceramic with Aleene’s Tacky Glue, then reattached the ceramic plate to the wooden base using Gorilla Wood Glue.
Next I used a stack of cookbooks to weigh the piece down while the glue dried, keeping the paper flat and ensuring the ceramic plate bonded tightly to the wood.
After several hours of drying, I removed the books and sealed the paper with Mod Podge for a laminated-like finish. Mod Podge is water-based and non-toxic, so it’s fine for displaying cookies or other wrapped treats. I wouldn’t recommend slicing cheese directly on the surface, but it’s great for pound cake, cupcakes, wrapped confections, or a bowl of nuts. I chose a festive red paper that felt jolly, but any pattern would work for year-round display.
It even works as a little storage spot for pinecones if you’re into that sort of thing.
What can I say? I thought it looked cute.
So that’s the latest (or perhaps the oldest) DIY from our drafts folder. It’s a small, inexpensive project that makes a charming gift or a pretty addition to your home. A little bittersweet to share photos of our first house in the background, but it’s fun to remember those granite counters one last time. As for the updated cheese platter, I plan to use it to display a stack of pretty bar soaps in the hall bathroom someday when we get around to that project. For now, we’re focusing on the guest room and adjacent bath—though I do tend to get distracted easily.