Freshen Up Your Table This Holiday With These DIY Antelope Print Plate Chargers

I know what you are thinking-  CHRISTMAS?!?!?! – reeeeaaaally Heather- it’s not even Halloween yet! But today’s project is actually one you can use for the entire holiday season including Thanksgiving so I wanted to share these DIY Antelope Print Plate Chargers now so you can get a head start on them. 

Black Jeans (UNDER $40!)   |   Black Cowl Neck Tunic    |   Black Earrings  ($3!)  |   Leopard Wedge

Because trust me, if you are like me and love all things animal print (and crafting!), you are going to want to make a set of these DIY Antelope Print Plate Chargers for yourself! 

I mean- JUST LOOK AT THOSE CUTIES! 

These fun chargers really are the perfect way to freshen up your china patterns and give your table a fun and modern twist.  This year I am not hosting Thanksgiving so I skipped straight to Christmas and I absolutely love the way they look with the classic Spode Christmas tree pattern. 

A few weeks ago, I spotted these antelope chargers online and I was immediately in love. Aren’t they amazing? However, a pack of four would set me back $115.  Whomp- whomp. 

So what’s an animal-print-loving-girl to do? DIY some of course!

Using inexpensive chargers from the Dollar Tree and some craft paint I already had on hand- I was able to make a set of six plate chargers for around $6 bucks. 

And I think you should make yourself a set too!

Here’s how:

| SUPPLIES NEEDED| DIY Antelope Print Plate Chargers 

• Set of Plate Chargers (mine were from the Dollar Tree)
• Dark Brown Acrylic Craft Paint 
• Light Brown Acrylic Craft Paint (chalk paint would work great too!)
• White Acrylic Craft Paint
• Foam Brush
• Finer Tip Paint Brush
• Mod Podge – Matte (optional)

| STEP ONE |  DIY Antelope Print Plate Chargers 

Grab your set of chargers and set them up in an assembly line. Start by giving them each two light coats of light brown paint until they are fully covered. Two light coats are better than one thick one. 

TIP: When I made mine, I started out with one to make sure I could pull off the vision. Once I knew it was going to work, I did the rest in an assembly line process and the next five were very fast to knock out using this method. 

I used this Cafe Au Lait color shown here but any light brown color would work. 

| STEP TWO |  DIY Antelope Print Plate Chargers 

Using a darker brown, add a stripe on each side of the charger as well as one in the middle using a foam brush. 

|  STEP THREE  | DIY Antelope Print Plate Chargers 

Once the darker brown is dry, it’s time to start blending the two colors. For this, I just used my foam brush and applied both color paints to the brush- almost in a stripe. Then I just brushed the colors on the entire charger until I got the look I wanted. This part is just trial and error- but once you get it, you’ll know it. 

TIP: Make sure you keep applying the paint in the same direction for all coats of paint. 

|  STEP FOUR  | DIY Antelope Print Plate Chargers 

Once you have the light brown and darker brown paints blended to your liking, it’s time to add some white spots. For this I used a small paintbrush and just added small and larger “animal prints” all around the plate. There really was no formula to this- but I did start with the larger ones and then fill in with the smaller. 

TIP: Make sure you have some that wrap the edge of the plate for a more natural look.

|  STEP FIVE  | DIY Antelope Print Plate Chargers 

Once the chargers were fully dry, I added some Mod Podge in matte finish to seal these. This step is probably not a must, but I had it on hand and figured it wouldn’t hurt when it came to wiping them down if something spills on them. 

|  STEP SIX  | DIY Antelope Print Plate Chargers 

Now set your pretty holiday table and SMILE!  I love how these DIY Antelope Print Plate Chargers act as a neutral with all of the holiday colors. 

And I just love the way it looks with the Christmas Spode plates. Such a fun and fresh way to modernize the classic Spode pattern! And if the scarf looks familiar, it’s definitely been used as a tablecloth before here. 

SPODE Christmas Plates  |   Blanket Scarf Table Runner    |    Copper Mug   |   Napkin Rings

I love how the colors play off the wallpapered ceiling! Oh, and even though this is our second holiday season in the new house, it’s our first with the dining room finished and I can’t wait to make new memories in here. I am so glad I knocked the dining room makeover  out this past spring during the One Room Challenge.

Well, I guess this officially kicks off the holiday season around here! Have you started thinking about your Thanksgiving or Christmas table yet?  I hope you are feeling inspired to start brainstorming after today’s post because it will be here before we know it. And you know if antelope isn’t your thing- you could always try a dalmatian print using the same method…. 🙂

Black Jeans (UNDER $40!)   |   Black Cowl Neck Tunic    |   Black Earrings  ($3!)  |   Leopard Wedge

If you aren’t up for DIYing this fun antelope print, I did find a few fun antelope print options for your table:

 

And for lots of other Dollar Tree Christmas Inspiration- be sure to check out all of the fun projects below!

Southern State of Mind | My Thrift Store Addiction | Knock It Off Kim | This is our Bliss | Redhead Can Decorate | Monica Wants It | Heathered Nest | Creative Ramblings | Refashionably Late 

xoxo-

Heather