Let me start out by saying that I wasn’t even going to do a DIY this week because of all of the holiday crazy but when inspiration strikes, you gotta follow it and make a DIY Sharpie Plate. I was a little nervous to try it after having read of some pinterest disasters with the baking process, but you know what? This turned out dang cute! And looks really good as a display or on your table!

Like many of my friends in Los Angeles, I am a transplant and I really don’t have the money to go home and visit my family every year during the chaos of the season. And that is okay. Really it is, because in the last 3 years, I have made another family of sorts because sometimes you have to make your own. Part of what I absolutley adore about the season is the togetherness that happens with conversations shared around a table groaning with the weight of delicious holiday staples. And for me, it is my way of giving thanks to the people that have made a difference in my life.

DIY Sharpie Plate:
Time: 30 minutes + cook time
Cost: $15 or less
Festive level: 12

I’m not going to sit here and tell you how to throw the perfect Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving because I haven’t thrown a perfect one myself yet (sorry blog world!). I’m pretty sure a lot of things happened last minute for this one and it still turned out okay. My friends didn’t care that there wasn’t a photo booth or a sit down dinner. They were just awesome enough to show up for a free meal, some chocolate bark and great conversation. I even had some friends ask to help out and share the load and well… thats all I could ask for.

Some extras that DID end up happening:

Coloring table – Since I don’t have an actual dinner table, I invited friends to build a plate and grab a seat. I covered my coffee table and entertainment center surface in kraft paper and paired it with some crayons and markers. BAM! Instant DIY area!

Cranberry Mimosas and fancy cheese – or as my friends liked to call them… “festive bubbles”. All you need is champagne and some cranberry juice (or cocktail). I bought some red and white wine too, but I think I’m going to stick with champagne and mixers for next year. The cheese was an inspired purchase from Trader Joes and was probably the winner of the appetizer round

Fuji Instax – I was given a Fuji Instax this year and I absolutely love it. I’m not going to lie… I spent most of the day in the kitchen but I did manage to take 3 photos. 1 of my friends, 1 of the food and 1 of the cat. That’s all you need right? My friends did manage to take more and I love the fact that they could take their photos home with them at the end of the night or put them in my scrap book.

DIY Sharpie Plate

Supplies:
Black, Gold and Bronze Sharpies
Ceramic Platter (I got mine from walmart for under $10)
Paper towels and rubbing alcohol

Begin by wiping down your platter with rubbing alcohol and removing all stickers. This assures you’ll have a clean surface to work with.

Use your black sharpie to write out your chosen word. I was able to freehand but if you’re not as confident with your writing (that was me earlier, I promise!), I’d recommend getting a stencil and tracing it. It’s okay if you mess up, just use the rubbing alcohol to erase your mistake and try again!

With your gold and bronze metallic sharpies, draw and color in random polka dots around the plate. If you’re not into polkadots, decorate it however you want! Flowers? Awesome! Geometric patterns and lines? Do IT!!!

Baking Instructions:
Place plate in a COLD oven and heat to 350. Once the oven gets to temperature, let the plate cook for 30 minutes and turn the oven off. Leave the plate inside until the oven cools completely.

Gently rinse off your sharpie plate with warm water. And hand wash only.