Painted China

Painted China

It's easy to find plain, reasonably priced ceramic pieces at home goods stores; applying dot-painted designs transforms them into meaningful gifts. Add a friend's monogram or favorite motif, or design a pretty pattern yourself. Fill painted mugs with bags of candy, or tie a stack of flower-covered plates with a ribbon.

Tools and Materials

Ceramic mugs or plates (available at home goods stores)
Red transfer paper
Tape
Ballpoint pen
Food-safe ceramic paint, such as Pebeo Porcelaine 150
Small containers
Wooden coffee stirrers
Applicator bottle(s)
Scrap paper
Optional: Baby wipes

You'll also need one of our templates:
Monogram Script
Bird
Block Letters
Floral Design

Tape Transfer Paper and Template to China

Step 1

Download template (see Tools and Materials section). Enlarge or reduce template to desired size, and cut out. Cut red transfer paper slightly larger than template. Place it under template, and tape both to china. Firmly press dots of template, using a ballpoint pen, to transfer design.

Prepare Paint

Step 2

Mix paint colors (use food-safe ceramic paint, such as Pebeo Porcelaine 150; add white to make lighter shades) in small containers with wooden coffee stirrers, then pour into applicator bottle.

Make Dots

Step 3

Practice making dots on scrap paper: Squeeze bottle gently for small dots and harder for larger ones. Make dots following traced design (use a straight pin to unclog bottle tip as needed). If you make a mistake, remove any errant paint with a baby wipe. Let paint dry 2 hours, then remove transfer lines with baby wipe. Set paint by heating china in a 300-degree oven for 30 minutes. To store extra paint, plug bottle tip with a pin.

• Introduction
• Overview
• Step by step
• What you'll need

Display China or Wrap as a Gift

Step 4

When finished, display china, or tie a stick of plates with a ribbon if giving as a gift. If you've made a mug, fill with bags of candy.