Today I’ve teamed back up with Paper Source to show you a fun DIY Mother’s Day gift craft project! Ring dishes are so handy to have around. I use them in my closet to corral all my loose earrings. And having a custom-made ring dish from my kiddos is such a treat. There are so many different variations and techniques you can do with this project, and my kids had so much fun with this that we had to go buy more dishes to work on!

I’ll show you two quick ways you can customize these ring dishes. So make sure you’ve got plenty of small ceramic dishes handy. I grabbed a bunch from Target and World Market. Restaurant supply stores are also a great resource for inexpensive options. 

DIY Mother’s Day Gift – Ring Dishes Technique 1: Decoupage

Supplies:

• Small dish
• Paper (I’ve always loved the fine papers from Paper Source, and this marble paper is a real showstopper!)
• Foam brush
• Decoupage (this stuff from Martha Stewart is the best around)
• Scissors

 How to:

1. Just cut a piece of paper to fit your dish, spread a layer of decoupage liquid directly on the dish.
2. Then place the paper where you want it and smooth out any wrinkles.
3. Next, put another layer of decoupage liquid over the top.
4. Now set the dish aside to dry (at least) overnight. This stuff says it takes a full 28 days to cure; but for a light-use piece like a ring dish, you can start using it when it’s completely dry…24-48 hours.

DIY Mother’s Day Gift – Ring Dish Technique 2: Glitter Dipped

This is BY FAR my favorite project I’ve done for a really long time. I had my embossing heat tool out for a different project, and decided to give it a whirl on some dishes. The results are spectacular; and the process is so easy!

Here’s what you need:

• Embossing heat tool
• Watermark ink
• Glittered embossing powder
• Painter’s tape
• Scrap paper
• Small dish

How to:

1. Just tape off a section with the painter’s tape.
2. Press into the ink pad with your fingertip, then transfer the ink over to the taped off section of the plate. Keep filling in the space with ink until it’s covered.
3. Working on top of the scrap paper, sprinkle on the embossing powder and gently tap off the excess.
4. Pick up the scrap paper and use it to pour the excess powder back into the container.
5. Remove the tape, and use the heat tool to melt the powder.
6. Note: The dish will be hot after embossing, so don’t pick it up until it’s cooled.

A few more notes: 

• You can use the embossing powder just around the edges of the dishes for a gilded edge look.
• You could use kids’ artwork to give it a more personalized touch.
• My kids LOVED these projects. They were great at helping with the ink pad and the embossing powder. My 9-year-old was really into using the heat tool to help melt the powder. And my 5-year-old would have painted every dish we have in the house if I’d have let her.
• I’ve got a few more ways to customize the ring dishes over on my blog…so come see some of our other Mother’s Day gift ideas.