Easy Nature Inspired Craft Project: Pea Gravel Plate Charger
This simple Pea Gravel charger is perfect for a casual a rustic dinner table where you want to bring in a bit of nature. It is durable and made to last, so you can keep it for years to come. To clean this Pea Gravel plate charger hand wash it with warm water. Set it vertically on a plate rack to dry completely.
To Make a Pea Gravel Christmas Plate Charger You Will need:
Large dinner platter or plain inexpensive charger
Epoxy Glue
Pea Gravel (lots!)
Clear Acrylic Spray Paint
The first step is to find an inexpensive large dinner plate or affordable plate charger. I find plastic chargers all the time at Old Time Pottery and Michaels Arts and Craft Store for about $3 a piece. You could substitute a cheap plate for the charger. In that case Good Will and the Salvation Army has tons of white plates for 50 cents apiece all year round.
Thoroughly clean your plate or charger with ammonia based cleanser. This is important so that your epoxy glue can properly adhere.
Epoxy glue can be bought at almost any home improvement store like home Depot or Lowe’s. It is important to use epoxy glue if you want this pinecone charger to last year after year. You could also use hot glue, but we all know that is not the most durable glue. You also would not be able to easily wash you Pea Gravel charger if you use hot glue.
You can collect Pea Gravel from the yard or buy a bag for them at the local home improvement store. I like to watch them off with some hot water if I get them front the yard, but that is up to you.
Separate out your pea gravel. You want to try and use all similar sized pieces to create an even plate charger for your dinner plate to rest on.
Run a bead for epoxy glue around the plate or charger. Put the cap on the epoxy glue back on because it will dry out quickly.
Use a spatula to spread the glue out evenly to about 1/8 inch thick.
Start applying your Pea Gravel. You can sprinkle it on by the handful to evenly coat the entire plate charger. Work your way completely around the plate or charger.
Continuing applying Pea Gravel to the your plate charger until your reach the very center. All parts of the Pea Gravel should be touching in the middle. You should try to use all of the same sized Pea Gravel pieces for this project, but you could work with smaller seeds as you move in towards the middle.
Now, let your epoxy glue dry completely for 24 hours.
Take your Pea Gravel chargers outside and liberally apply a coat of clear acrylic spray paint. I recommend about three coats. Let each coat of paint dry thoroughly before your play the next. If you want a matte finish buy a matte acrylic spray. You can buy it in shiny, matte, and medium gloss.
Once this has dried you can use these chargers under your dinner plates for a beautiful and natural touch to you table setting.
Tips:
You can add some metallic touches with gold or silver acrylic paint before you clear coat the Pea Gravel chargers.
You could also make this project on some round circles cut out of sturdy cardboards if you would like. They will not be washable, but they are a great way to save money. You could try spot cleaning them with a damp sponge or rag to clean them. You should also still do the clear coat of acrylic spray to help them stay durable.
