PINTEREST PROJECT: Decorative Plate Wall

Through the past year, I have collected various holiday related dessert plates

to display on my wall plate rack. 

Until ....the amount of plates I collected accumlated to the point I wanted to see more than 2 at a time. 

(Hint: West Elm sells the cutest plates for holidays....and cheap $6 a plate with free shipping. Love 'em)

So I went to my Go-To Source for ideas - Pinterest.  I found various layouts and designs, but ultimately decided on an arch shape in a corner of living room area.  Also, I thought the plates would look great on the brown paint (most of my plates are a majority white)

First,  I cut up a magazine into circles the shape of the plates.  And used painter's tape to place my layout.

Once happy with the overall look, I nailed over each paper circle the place where my hook would appear on the plates.  About 2 inches from the top.

Next,  the adventure of gluing on my plate hooks a.k.a. paper clips:

  a) take a metal paper clip (Do not use the color coated ones, they don't stick as well) 

b) push the smaller section downward - this will be the part glued down

c) hot glue the area of the plate for the clip. (It is best to have the top of the paper clip hit where the bottom edge starts to lay flatter against the wall)

d) place the clip and hold in place for a few seconds.  I used a chopstick so I wouldn't burn my fingers. 

e) add glue to cover all metal on the part of the paper clip attached to plate.

f) let dry for a few minutes.

not the most glamorous, but it does the job...and you can't see it + it doesn't bother me :)

sidenote:  I don't mind if my plates get glue on the back; none are antiques or would be devastating if they fell and broke.  Each plate is still stackable, so I can store when the plate doesn't represent the season. 

However, my mom found an add in Better Homes & Garden Magazine for plate hooks that fit into the entire plate's center and are removable by water for $2.50 each.

THEN HANG AND ENJOY!

Start of the Fall Layout (waiting to receive a few more Fall plates I ordered from West Elm) 

And the finished Fall Version. (Ended up shopping for plates one day and found quite a few in clearance at TJMaxx, Pottery Barn, & Target) 

 I will post the Christmas/Winter season as the time comes...in less than a month...yikes :~(