I miss the roses.
In January, the dozens of roses around our apartment suffered their annual pruning. With the roses chopped from 4+ feet down to 2, our apartment exterior looks naked and sad! Thank goodness for the camellias now in bloom and keeping our vases full.
While waiting for the roses to grow back, I thought I’d share this gift we made for Greg’s mom. She loves her roses, all 180 of them. I took photos of a few of her flowers and printed them onto decal paper. I then transferred the decals onto a set of six dessert plates and gave them as a Christmas gift. I was so happy with how nice and smooth the decals were — not sticker like at all!
Unfortunately, the type of decals I used didn’t wear well. I was led (by the product description) to believe that after baking on the decals, they could handle cookies and a gentle hand wash. Nope. They quickly chipped. If you try this pretty project, either use on an item that’s strictly decorative, or buy a different, stronger decal! (And if you find a brand that wears better, tell me what it is!)
I used Papilio aqua-slide bake-on decal paper, for laser printers.
1. Print the pattern on the decal paper, using the plain paper setting. Not yet the owner of a color laser printer, I took my paper and images to a printer.
2. Preheat your oven to 345.
3. Cut out your decals, leaving a tiny bit of blank space around the edges. 1/8″ works fine.
4. Submerge the decal in a bowl of warm water until it separates from its backing.
5. Carefully slide the decal from the water to your oven-proof surface (for example, a plate!).
6. Smooth out any water or air bubbles with your fingers.
7. Bake your item on the middle rack for 15 minutes. The decal should face the door, if possible. I just disregarded that recommendation, so I wouldn’t have to stand the plates up in the oven.
8. After 15 minutes, turn off the oven and open the door a couple inches for 10-20 minutes.
9. Remove carefully, and you’re done! Admire your new decoration, but don’t wash it!