I bought a whole heap of dinner plates, bowls and side plates from Ikea when they were on special one day - all in purple! They look fabulous and I love them (but then I like all things that are purple so its not that much of an endorsement!)
Like all dinnerware, they get a bit of rough handling in the wash sometimes and end up with a few chips and knocks in them. When the plate is white - its not a big deal as the crockery underneath is white as well. When the plate is purple glazed only - the chip stands out like... a lot!
When I set the table all I can see these days are the chips on the sides of the plates and bowls. A few people have said - "throw 'em out and get new ones" (It's not like they were expensive ones) but I have resisted as there is nothing wrong with the plate - I mean it still holds the food off the bench and enables you to get the food to the table with out getting your hands burnt or covered in food - so they still do the job they were meant to, they just don't look quite so good these days.
And today I had an idea!
I decided that it couldn't be too hard to "stain" the white crockery part of the chip...
So, here's what I did...
I got out all my chipped plates
In the photo the colours look totally different but in real life - its not a bad match. Its enough to trick the eye into not seeing the chip unless you look for it. I have used a non-toxic permanent marker but haven't quite thought out all the ramifications of maker pen ink and food mixed together on a plate - but in the long term, I suspect I will survive.
I'm guessing that over time it will wash out of the plate and get lighter and eventually disappear entirely - but in the meantime they look a darned sight better than they did!
I am beginning to see why there are so many white plates on the market!
Score card:
Green-ness: 4/5 Better than throwing out and replacing an item that is still useful
Frugal-ness: 5/5 Cost me nothing at all!
Time cost: 30 seconds, tops, for each plate!
Skill level: Once again - just colouring in!
Fun-ness: As long as I don't end up with some toxic poisoning - I'll consider this a bit of fun!
Like all dinnerware, they get a bit of rough handling in the wash sometimes and end up with a few chips and knocks in them. When the plate is white - its not a big deal as the crockery underneath is white as well. When the plate is purple glazed only - the chip stands out like... a lot!
When I set the table all I can see these days are the chips on the sides of the plates and bowls. A few people have said - "throw 'em out and get new ones" (It's not like they were expensive ones) but I have resisted as there is nothing wrong with the plate - I mean it still holds the food off the bench and enables you to get the food to the table with out getting your hands burnt or covered in food - so they still do the job they were meant to, they just don't look quite so good these days.
And today I had an idea!
I decided that it couldn't be too hard to "stain" the white crockery part of the chip...
So, here's what I did...
and my purple felt pens
And attempted to match the colour of the pate with them - I ended up using a purple permanent marker (and of course you all have one of those lying around the house now don't you?) And stained the white chip - purple.
In the photo the colours look totally different but in real life - its not a bad match. Its enough to trick the eye into not seeing the chip unless you look for it. I have used a non-toxic permanent marker but haven't quite thought out all the ramifications of maker pen ink and food mixed together on a plate - but in the long term, I suspect I will survive.
I'm guessing that over time it will wash out of the plate and get lighter and eventually disappear entirely - but in the meantime they look a darned sight better than they did!
I am beginning to see why there are so many white plates on the market!
Score card:
Green-ness: 4/5 Better than throwing out and replacing an item that is still useful
Frugal-ness: 5/5 Cost me nothing at all!
Time cost: 30 seconds, tops, for each plate!
Skill level: Once again - just colouring in!
Fun-ness: As long as I don't end up with some toxic poisoning - I'll consider this a bit of fun!
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