DIY Chalkboard Serving Platter

December 21st, 2011

Just one more chalkboard porcelain paint project, and then I’ll give it a rest. I promise. How about… a chalkboard serving platter? It’s perfect for serving cheese, cookies, or any other goodies you might need to label.

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you’ll need:
a porcelain platter (mine is from CB2)
painter’s tape (optional)
Pebeo Porcelaine 150 Chalkboard Paint (available at Dick Blick or Amazon)
(Don’t use regular chalkboard paint. This only works with porcelain paint.)
a soft bristle paint brush (a watercolor brush works well)
a regular kitchen oven

how to:
1. Make sure your platter is clean and dry.
2. If desired use painter’s tape to mask off the edges of the platter, otherwise skip the tape and freehand it.
3. Please note that this particular porcelain paint says it’s not recommended for surfaces that come in contact with food. Consider yourself warned. It’s water based and non-toxic, so I don’t see the harm in placing some cookies or cheese and crackers on it. I guess I’m just a daredevil! The folks at Dick Blick suggest painting a dinner plate with it on their website, so they must live on the edge too.
4. Apply the paint with a soft bristle brush. You will be able to see the brush strokes after the paint dries, so be careful and keep your strokes even. I ended up applying two thin coats of paint (allow the first coat to dry completely before applying the second). 
5. As soon as you are done painting carefully remove the tape if you used it. If you remove it before the last coat of paint dries, the tape will be less likely to peel up the edges of the paint.
6. Let the paint dry for 24 hours. Then, bake your platter following the instructions printed on the back of the paint bottle. After baking turn off the oven and leave the platter inside until it has gradually cooled to room temperature. After you bake it the paint is dishwasher and microwave safe.

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42 Comments

  1. Hannah
    December 21, 2011 at 9:05 am

    Sweet! :D

    Reply
  2. lydia daugherty
    December 21, 2011 at 11:01 am

    On my list to do today…i was laying in bed last night and thought this very thing. However, i’ going to paint just a thirdto half, just in case there are some food safety issues. Nice to see what it can look like.

    Merry Christmas and Happy Solstice!

    Lydia

    Reply
    • Amanda (wit & whistle)
      December 21, 2011 at 9:53 pm

      Oh yeah, only painting part of it is a great solution for non-daredevils! ;)

  3. Joy
    December 21, 2011 at 11:36 am

    live life on the edge why don’t you? ahah this is awesome!

    Reply
  4. Chloe
    December 21, 2011 at 2:39 pm

    What a clever idea!

    Reply
  5. Lauren
    December 21, 2011 at 3:26 pm

    This is an awesome idea! I love it!

    I’d love for you to link up and share: tutusandteaparties.blogspot.com/2011/12/pinteresting-party-with-christmas.html

    Reply
  6. Kay
    December 21, 2011 at 11:36 pm

    Cool idea, which I’ve now tried, but my chalkboard paint ends up looking shiny – not the nice matte finish like yours – it looks like you got it right though, did your paint just come out like that or did you have to do something else?
    Please help :(

    Reply
    • Amanda (wit & whistle)
      December 22, 2011 at 8:45 am

      My paint just dried with a matte finish on its own. Sorry that yours is ending up shiny! Are you using the Pebeo porcelain chalkboard paint?

    • Kay
      December 22, 2011 at 2:02 pm

      Yes.. I bought the same exact paint from Blick.
      Well, I just tried to apply another coat, let’s hope it’ll turn out right this time.

    • Amanda (wit & whistle)
      December 22, 2011 at 2:38 pm

      Hopefully a second coat will do the trick. Mine had a few shiny spots after only one coat where the paint wasn’t covering the glaze from the serving platter completely. A second coat covered them up. Good luck!

  7. Mar
    December 22, 2011 at 7:14 am

    I love the idea!! The serving platter and the mug!
    Thanks you!!

    Reply
  8. Leah @ Freutcake
    December 22, 2011 at 3:56 pm

    Just found this DIY on Pinterest and had to come leave my compliments! I love this project, and think it would make an amazing hostess gift!

    Reply
  9. Rachel {at} It's a Hero
    December 22, 2011 at 5:48 pm

    Can’t wait to try this!

    Reply
  10. Paige
    December 23, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    I just found your blog – and I read all the way back to page 26 to your first anniversary. I’m in love with your blog and products, can’t wait to buy some and try out your DIYs!

    Reply
    • Amanda (wit & whistle)
      December 23, 2011 at 7:01 pm

      Thanks so much Paige! I hope to “see” you around here often. ;)

  11. alessandra
    December 23, 2011 at 6:08 pm

    your blog is sooooooo cooool!!!

    Reply
    • Amanda (wit & whistle)
      December 23, 2011 at 7:00 pm

      Thanks! :)

  12. audrey
    December 23, 2011 at 8:49 pm

    Love this idea! What do you suggest for curing a wooden tray? I decided to be a bit of a daredevil myself throwing caution to the wind, painting sans tape and well…the paint says “non toxic” so I’m with you there. I’m just not sure about putting this in the oven?

    Reply
    • Amanda (wit & whistle)
      December 23, 2011 at 9:19 pm

      Hmm… I wouldn’t recommend trying this with a wooden tray. It’s porcelain chalkboard paint, so it will only be permanent when baked on porcelain or a similar surface like ceramic.

    • april
      January 20, 2012 at 10:12 am

      I have done this on wood. I used regular chalkboard paint. Several coats. Did not bake. Let dry several days.

  13. Elnora
    December 27, 2011 at 1:52 pm

    Wow! I’m so glad I found your blog via Pinterest… Love this idea. Now I’ll go back and read earlier posts. Will also start following via Bloglovin. Thanks for sharing your talents.

    Reply
  14. kristina
    December 28, 2011 at 2:05 pm

    this is such a cute idea, i’ve been wanting to try the chalkboard paint!!
    xx, kristina

    Reply
  15. Ari
    December 28, 2011 at 3:33 pm

    This is genius! What a lovely idea! I will make one and offer it to my friend for sure!
    xo

    blog.boatpeopleboutique.com/ Fashion From all decades

    Reply
  16. Vicki
    December 30, 2011 at 7:05 pm

    I love this idea, especially for the person who has everything! I’m going to make this for a few friends for their birthday. Thanks :)

    Reply
  17. Diana Torteya
    January 4, 2012 at 12:07 am

    I just found your blog and can’t stop reading you old posts. I love everything. This project looks amazing I will try and let you know how I did?

    Reply
  18. Beiko
    January 4, 2012 at 2:24 pm

    What a lovely idea!
    Thanks for sharing these amazing DIY tutorials!
    Now I’m just thinking about when I’ll do this one.

    Reply
  19. Adrienne
    January 8, 2012 at 4:15 pm

    Love it!

    Reply
  20. Vony
    January 15, 2012 at 4:11 am

    Gorgeous! Saw it on Pintrest (what isn’t on that fabulous website, it’s pornography for crafty people…), and thought I’d give you some love. Fabulous idea – I’ve eaten off worse surfaces, bring on the daredevil approach!

    Reply
  21. angela
    January 17, 2012 at 11:59 am

    I love this idea and can’t wait to try it! I want to cover a couple of trays though. Does a little go a long way with this paint? It doesn’t seem like a very large bottle. How much area do you think a bottle will cover? Thanks for your help with this.

    Reply
    • Amanda (wit & whistle)
      January 17, 2012 at 5:01 pm

      You could probably do 2 or 3 trays with one bottle of paint.

  22. de
    January 19, 2012 at 12:14 pm

    Not food safe? So put grape leaves or doilies under the cheese.

    Reply
  23. Kristina
    January 19, 2012 at 3:42 pm

    This is such a neat idea love it and your photos look amazing!

    Reply
  24. Mistie
    January 20, 2012 at 12:10 pm

    How neat. Thanks for sharing If someone is truly worried about placing their food on the surface of this paint they could always paint just an inch thick stripe instead of the entire surface and then write on that part.

    Reply
  25. Robin Grover
    January 20, 2012 at 3:07 pm

    As I read the post from misty, I thought of she might outline a few different shapes of cheeses on the platter. Maybe even using tape to outline and paint outside the shapes. Thought your idea is a great one. I will be doing some of these for engagement gifts. Thanks so much.

    Reply
  26. Nancy@Life: Designed
    January 20, 2012 at 3:44 pm

    This is awesome! I know several cheese lovers who would LOVE this! Thanks for a great present idea!

    Nancy
    alifedesigned.blogspot.com

    Reply
  27. Kristina Gulino
    January 30, 2012 at 2:34 pm

    Beautiful. What an awesome gift this would be! I’ve definitely pinned this :)

    Kristina
    Nook & Sea

    Reply
  28. Barbara
    January 31, 2012 at 10:04 am

    I have an idea for those worried about the paint not being safe for food. (I was more concerned about having the food touching the chalk!)
    How about having a piece of glass cut the size of the platter and using it to cover the paint and the writings before serving the food (on the glass!)?

    Reply
  29. Nella
    January 31, 2012 at 3:31 pm

    Hey Amanda, here’s an idea: to avoid setting food directly on the porcelain paint, you could always set the cheese on some edible leaves, leaving room to write what kind of cheese it is. I’ve seen Ina do that.

    Reply
  30. Fran Quinlan
    February 5, 2012 at 3:36 pm

    I used the peel and stick chalkboard by Wallies

    Same idea, but it’s vinyl and can be removed and restuck anywhere

    Reply
  31. Alexandra
    February 12, 2012 at 10:39 am

    ok I’ve spent over an hour searching this porcelain paint and EVERYONE is sold out … is it really NOT ok to use chalkboard paint instead???

    Reply
    • Amanda (wit & whistle)
      February 12, 2012 at 10:45 am

      You can use regular chalkboard paint if you want, but it will easily chip/wash off a porcelain platter, so your project won’t last very long. If you decide to use regular chalkboard paint do not bake it! Who knows what kind of crazy fumes that would put off.

  32. T
    February 12, 2012 at 11:45 am

    Can you actually use a knife on this paint when you cut the cheese or will the knife go right through the paint?

    Reply
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