Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Updating An Old Cheese Plate For Christmas

Better Late Than Never? I tackled this project about two months ago before we moved (hence all the pics of our old kitchen counters). But I figured I might as well share it in case someone else comes across their own cheap-o cheese plate and wants to update it with some fun patterned paper. Let’s step into the DeLorean for a nice trip back in time…

This little makeover idea was hatched when I laid eyes on this crazy old cheese plate at Goodwill for 40 cents in early December. Yes. Forty cents for the glass dome and the wood base with the ceramic cheese inscription (it was marked as 80 cents and they were having a half-price glassware day). I couldn’t not buy it. But it was definitely crying out for a little love, so I dragged John to the paper aisle in Michael’s (my home away from home) so I could pick up a 79 cent sheet of decorative paper. Which brings the grand total for this entire project to $1.19.

Diy Cheese Tray Makeover

The cheese inscription was cute and retro, but the scary black rat with red eyes was freaking. me. out.

Time for a do-over. First I used a flat head screwdriver to pry up the ceramic cheese inscribed plate that was glued to the wooden base.

Diy Gift Cheese Plate2

Had it not popped off semi-easily I would have made a paper template to the exact size of the ceramic plate and used that to cut a perfectly sized circle out of the sheet of decorative paper. But since it popped right off, I just placed the round ceramic plate on the middle of the decorative paper (so the pattern was centered) and traced the circle shape of the plate onto the paper with a pen. Then I carefully cut it out and was left with a pretty exact looking circle to cover up that funny little cheese inscription once and for all. I glued in place with Aleene’s Tacky Glue. Then I glued the ceramic plate back onto the wooden base using Gorilla Wood Glue.

Diy Cheese Dome Glue3

Next came the highly scientific method of placing a stack of books on the whole thing to keep the paper flat so it would bond nice and tightly to the ceramic tray without wrinkling while the ceramic tray bonded securely to the wooden base at the same time. And why not use a few of our favorite cookbooks since they were nearby?

Diy Cheese Platter Books4

After a few hours of glue drying time, I removed the books and Mod Podged the top of the paper, so it’s protected with a laminated-esque “seal” that’s 100% non-toxic and water-based (which means it’s ok to display holiday cookies or something). I wouldn’t recommend slicing cheese on it (it’s not that strong), but it would be great for storing pound cake, cupcakes, a bowl full of holiday nuts, etc). And the reason I’ve said holiday twice (even though it feels like Christmas was eons ago) is because the festive red paper just feels so jolly to me. But it should work for the other 11 months of the year for other stuff too.

Diy Cheese Dome Detail5

Like pinecone storage if you’re weird like me.

Diy Cheese Plate Done6

What? I just thought it looked cute in there.

So that’s the latest oldest little DIY undertaking hiding in our drafts folder that I thought I’d share since it could make a cute gift or project for your own casa. It’s kind of bittersweet because these are probably the very last photos that we’ll publish on YHL with our first house in the background. Sob. Just kidding, we’re way too busy with the new house to cry over the old one. But it’s fun to take this last walk down memory lane and appreciate those purty granite counters one more time. And getting back to my updated cheese platter, I’ve decided it would be the perfect spot to display a stack of pretty bar soap in our hall bathroom when we tackle that room. Someday. For now we’re trying to stay focused on the guest room (and adjoined guest bath). But you know I get easily distracted…

Update: You can check out all of our favorite holiday decor finds here – many of which are under $15! 

Comments

  1. Ever - The red house by the lake says

    Lovely thing! Although I would have chosen something green and then filled it with dried flowers… I wish I would come across a glass dome for that price. Definitely will look for it in the future.

    (And, if you have the time, please have a look at my bedroom and the four poster bed I built. Your Ed was definitely a source of inspiration. ;-)
    http://theredhousebythelake.blogspot.com/2011/02/bedroom-makeover-and-how-to-build-four.html )

    Reply

  2. Kristin says

    Sherry (or John),

    I tried to Mod-Podge some craft paper onto the inside of my medicine cabinet doors (though the where is not important), and it was a disaster. The Mod-Podge made the paper too wet and it curled up, changed color, etc. Any thoughts on what I was doing wrong? I’m not sure whether the problem was my technique or the type of M-P I bought. Probably both.

    Thanks a ton!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hmm, it does take a bit of practice to use, but I like the matte kind (not the glossy kind) and I apply a thin layer of it to both surfaces that I’m joining (if I’m lining drawers I apply it to the drawer bottom and the back of the paper) and then I let it dry. A lot of times it looks wiggly when wet but it shrinks up and look a lot more seamless once it cures and dries. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  3. Elissa says

    I just have to add how much I love Giada’s cookbook. Every recipe has no more than 6-7 ingredients that everyone has in their pantry. Not only tasty dishes but simple to follow. Seriously, I recommend Everyday Italian to people all the time.

    Reply

  7. Cheri @ I Heart Old Houses says

    What an awesome idea! I’ve passed over so many similar platters/serving trays at Goodwill because of icky 60s/70s designs (minus the red-eyed rat)…I can totally see myself trying this.

    By the way, the DeLorean photo totally made my afternoon :)

    Reply

  8. Rebecca says

    OK….totally random question I know, but were you & Katie B. BFF’s before you began blogging or did you meet via blogging? Just curious!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We met through blogging. Isn’t that crazy? I think we both thought we’d just be “blog friends” (aka: not have a super deep friendship) and then we met and fell in love. Haha. Our hubbys had to drag us apart three days later. It was like a marathon sleepover party. We went to bed at 4am after talking forever each night. So much fun. She’s a friend for life for sure.

      xo,
      s

  10. Carly Marie says

    I just bought that paper at Michaels too! On sale .19! I used it for a Valentine for my sister. She also reads your blog and my guess is she’ll say “I saw this paper on Young House Love!!!”
    I’ll keep you updated. ;)

    Reply

  11. Kristen says

    Love the Back to the Future reference. It was my favourite movie growing up. Isn’t it crazy that we’re only 4 years away from the “future”!

    Reply

  14. Sam F says

    Ok, this was totally great!! Love the dome, love the paper, love the look….Love it! I’m going to have to peruse Goodwill this weekend!

    Reply

  15. Melissa @ A Place to Nest says

    I appreciate everyone having an opinion but I also am confused by those that like the original. I guess the letters were ok but the red-eye rat was scary. Unless this was used for a halloween prop I would not want the red eye staring at me… yikes. Great job YHL again…

    Reply

  17. meredith says

    Dude, I just bought one of those at goodwill last week! No rat plate though…I was planning on just painting it (snooze), but yours is SO much funner (lets just pretend thats a real word)! Thanks for sharing :)

    Reply

  19. Rebecca says

    Sherry,

    Thanks for the info on your BFF. It’s GREAT to have a friend that shares your love of DIY home decorating & understands both your (blog) business & shares a common faith! So happy for you!

    Oddly enough I thought about this the other day in the shower (usually I do my best thinking in the shower)…why I was thinking this who knows…maybe because I was staring up at my shower curtain thinking it should reach from floor to ceiling…LOL. Anyway, when I read a previous comment about Katie, I just had to ask.
    Thanks again….for your patience in answering all of our DIY questions & other random musings!

    Reply

  20. Amber says

    Ah! We are cooking kindred spirits— I love Jamie Oliver, and ATK!!

    Totally unrelated, since you two like “green” and organic products, I imagine you follow suit with cleaning supplies as well? Any recommendations?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We use mainly homemade recipes and Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyers, and Dr Bronners. For some of the homemade recipes (and more cleaning info in general) you can click the Projects tab up under our blog header and scroll down to the cleaning category. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

    • Amber says

      Thanks! looks like great recipes for some good clean fun- haha. Do you use these recipes as well, or have any favs?

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We love all three cookbooks shown. They’re our go-to ones for sure. Our absolute favorite has to be a leek stroganoff by Jamie Oliver. Sounds gross. Tastes delicious!

      xo,
      s

    • Amber says

      Oops!! Sorry for being unclear, but my question was concerning the cleaning recipes- not the cooking ones :)

  21. RA says

    Oops! The spelling for DeLorean is still not fixed.

    Thanks for the idea for the cheese dome. I just set a same sized saucer on mine. Yours is much more colorful.

    Reply

  22. Deidra says

    I just bought that same paper at Michael’s on Saturday. Too bad this is an old project or you could have saved even more pennies. It was on clearance for something like $.17! Your total would have been pretty impressive! (Not that it wasn’t already.)

    I’m using the paper for Valentine’s, so it has more use than beyond Christmas.

    Reply

  23. Natalie says

    What a great idea! I’ve walked past a couple of cheese plates like this thinking that they’d be perfect if only the plate bit wasn’t so dated. I now know better, thanks :-)

    Reply

  26. Karla @ {TheClassyWoman} says

    Ooo, I love this project! Both are really cute but I love link patterns so I’m a fan of the new one for sure-great scrapbook paper!

    I bought one of these cheese boards with dome for a $1 at a yard sale last year, sterilized the whole thing in the dishwasher and have been wondering if I should paint the wood portion and use it to display decor, etc. Now you’ve given me a great idea that doesn’t invovle permanently changing the wood but sprucing it up. Thx!

    Reply

  27. Jennifer says

    I saw a Delorean at the In n Out drive thru the other day. It had to open up the wing doors to get the food from the drive thru window. Amazing. Though, of course, I didn’t have my camera to capture it.

    Reply

  28. Becky says

    I am so impressed that you were able to pry the ceramic part off in one piece. I recently bought a similar cheese trey and the lovely floral ceramic piece cracked in several places when I tried to take it off. :( Of course a few hammer taps later and it broke into enough little pieces to pry out easily. I just sanded the wood and painted mine since it scratched it up. Yours is cute!

    Reply

  31. Jenny says

    Sherry, I LOVE what you did! A very simple and affordable project! I have a question for you–my husband and I bought a house and painted our kitchen the same color that your old kitchen was (I think Glidden, Gentle Tide). We are redoing the kitchen and would like to paint it to accent some of the red accessories that we have (red mixer, bowls, etc.). Do you have any suggestions for a good color that would go well with the pops of red? The dining room is Benjamin Moore’s Hawthorn Yellow, so we would love something that works well with that as well. Any suggestions you have would be GREATLY appreciated! :-)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Glidden’s Water Chestnut is a warm tan that looks lovey with Hawthorn Yellow and red accessories… so it might be a winner. I also must admit that I love blue with pops of red (so Gentle Tide would totally work with some red accessories like a cheerful mixer, tea kettle, and a big vase of red tulips). So pretty! Good luck.

      xo,
      s

    • Jess says

      Sorry to interject here, but I have had a question similar to this that I’ve been dying to ask. I hate asking questions because I know you guys are busy, but I am really stuck here and need some advice.

      We have a pretty neutral colored great room (see here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/58198070@N04/5435932627/)

      I fell in love with those west elm geo-leaf curtains that you had on your orginal bedroom mood board and I have them hung high and wide on all my windows. I originally planned on getting a white slipcovered sofa from Ikea but decided upon the charcoal gray (due to the machine washing abilities and two little boys under 2 yrs old!) so right now there’s a lotta gray going on in this room. I know grays and tans are neutral so they are ok together..right?

      My biggest question and what I really need your help with is: what is a good accent color? We cannot paint this room right now, although I’m sure that would be a better option) but this room is a BEAST to paint and since we did it not too long ago I don’t think the hubs would go for it. Right now we have no color pops in the room mainly because I cannot decide on a good one. I wish I had the YHL “eye” (maybe someday!) I want a nice big rug to bring in this pop and of course pillows, lamps, etc. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

      Thank you SO MUCH!

  32. Chels says

    Does that mod-podge stuff specifically say that it’s food-safe? I read somewhere that apparently “non-toxic” doesn’t always have to mean “food safe.” (I guess it’s like they can put “no trans fat” on packaging for foods that are naturally trans fat free anyway).

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      As far as I know non-toxic when it comes to crafting and art supplies means it’s food safe since children in classes all over America use (and eat) play dough and glue and paint and Mod Podge. On the other hand, there are home improvement items that say non-toxic that definitely don’t feel like they’re held to the same standard since they’re not meant to be used by children (like SafeCoat seals and varnishes, which are low-VOC but definitely more heavy duty than something like Elmers Glue or Mod Podge. If you’re nervous you could just use the dome to hold things like cupcakes (since they have wrappers) or even non-food items like soap (which is most likely my plan for this guy). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  33. Bindswa says

    Hey John and Sherry,

    I just want to thank you for your blog. I randomly stumbled on it from somebody else’s blog roll and I fell in “young house love.” Errrmmmm, awkward pun, sorry.

    So I’m just writing to tell you i’m super inspired by your blog. Yes, your WHOLE blog. Yep, I read it all……..in about two weeks. I have so many great ideas and I can’t wait to put them in effect! Already I’ve hung more curtains and started hanging (diy) artwork. Busy, busy, busy….

    I can’t wait to see what you guys do with the new place…..

    Reply

  34. Katie says

    Love the quick project :-)

    On a side note: A friend of mine recently referred me to your blog. My fiance and I will be moving into a small apartment after our wedding in June, and I am so determined to make it feel like a home. I’ve found a ton of inspiration in your projects and ideas, and I’ve only been reading for a week or so!

    Thank you, thank you, and I look forward to staying up-to-date with your blog.

    Reply

  39. Christine Schwalm Design says

    Nice! I have a 2 tiered tray table I got while back at a flea market. I painted the frame black but wanted to do something more interesting with the trays themselves. I’m now thinking a combination of decorative paper and some mod podge may do the trick. Thanks!

    Reply

  40. Paula/adhocmom says

    Yeah, I agree that in general it’s best to remove any rodents (as cute as they may be)from anything that could hold food. Seriously! By the way, the America’s Test Kitchen cook book totally rocks. best ever. . .

    Reply

  43. Cindy says

    So totally random… my mom passed away and as we were cleaning out her house last week (it also had many of my grandma’s things in it)… I FOUND ONE OF THESE CHEESE PLATTERS! But it had a weird 70s floral pattern on the plate. My sisters thought I was totally insane for being excited about the cheese platter but I had just read your post and wanted to do the same thing! I’m 15 weeks pregnant and plan on doing a paper that I can use in a nursery to display something. Thanks for the idea!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I’m so sorry for your loss, but so glad you found a funny 70’s cheese platter. And using it in the nursery to display something is such a sweet idea!

      xo,
      s

  44. Cindy says

    I also grabbed some vintage looking glass pieces, some ceramic (YES!) birds, and a sewing machine. Who knew all the crap we made fun of my mom and grandma for hanging on to would be useful? It was like a free Goodwill trip.

    I’ll send a pic of my redone cheese platter when it’s done… I’m waiting to find out the gender at the end of March so it can fit with a nursery theme!

    Cindy

    Reply

  45. Annie says

    So I’m very late to this post, but I just happened to buy this very platter yesterday at Goodwill for $1, and it’s currently in the backyard drying (I sprayed the base white). I hopped on your past crafts to poke around and here you have the same thing. So cool! I actually may add some paper to mine now… It looks awesome!

    Reply

  46. Amanda says

    I have been reading through your blog for the past couple of months (so it’s been relatively recently that I saw this post). I saw one of these at Goodwill today and I had to buy it. Mind you I didn’t get to pay 40 cents, but I’m so excited to go home tonight and give it a makeover!

    Reply

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