Plates, Plates, Plates

Now you might be wondering what in the world is so interesting about plates. They really only serve one purpose. They hold the food you are eating. So why in the world would anybody take an active interest in plates. Plates are boring. Yet, as boring as plates may seem, there is a significance behind them. They show you are growing older. You are maturing.

Long gone is the age where you go to the store browsing through the CD collections and movies. Sure, you still look at them, but their importance in you life has dwindled down. One day, you suddenly catch your self walking down the aisle of plates. You start showing off certain ones to whoever may have accompanied you that day, and together you “oh” and “aw” over these ceramic or corelle masterpieces. You start contemplating what plate designs you would like to have. Suddenly, you have nothing on your mind but plates. You may think you are going crazy. You just have to have these plates. Yet, these plates serve no purpose with the exception of eating food off of them. Boring, right?

Now let’s change up that thought. We don’t want to start assuming because we suddenly have an interest in plates that we have become boring. At least I don’t. So here are some ideas to take the boring old plate and have some fun. In the end, you will find some uses for your old boring plates and be able to obtain your dream of buying new dishes for your kitchen!

Now there are several different kinds of plates out there. There are circle, there are square; there are new ones and old ones; there are plastic ones and there are glass ones; there are ones you have to wash and then there are ones you can throw away. There are a variety of different plates to choose from. You can make your life exciting by choosing a plate to fit your personality.

Personally, I prefer the corelle plates. At one point in time I did have ceramic plates but I found they chipped easily and eventually, if you use them in the microwave they become nuclear. These plates, that I received as a wedding gift, needed to be replaced. That is when I got corelle dishware. These plates are awesome. They don’t become too hot if used in the microwave and they are very difficult to break. (Believe me, I have 3 kids and plenty of these dishes have been dropped and not a chip in sight!)

However, I hate doing dishes and one thing these plates require is plenty of washing. Unfortunately, this is not something you can get away from. I have yet to see a self-cleaning dish. So, if you have re-useable plates and dishes, you are eventually going to have to wash them. I am a firm believer this is the reason paper plates were invented.

Plates are a rather dull subject. Once you have them, that is where it ends. Replacing them often is not necessary so you are pretty well stuck. The fact is, the most exciting thing about your kitchen plates is the color and the design. And that isn’t something we change very often. We will need to step past that. If you want to buy new dishes, we have to get rid of the old. But how you may ask?

If you know someone who likes shooting things, take the opportunity to give them something new to shoot at. Throw the plates in the air and see how good their aim is. With a couple bang, bangs you will be rid of your old plates and ready to buy new ones in no time.

Note: I can not assure you this is a safe activity, so only try this if you take the proper safety precautions. Eyewear might be a good suggestion because you could have flying plate fragments. Reader be warned, only do this at your own risk. Writer assumes no responsibility!

Have you ever had a party at your house and suddenly you see yourself buried in uneaten food. What do you do with that food? You send it home with the people who attended the party. It is almost like a party favor. How many countless paper plates have you wasted because you had nothing else to put the food on. Use your dishes instead. Not only will this clear your cupboard of the unwanted dishes, but your guests will have a keepsake of the awesome party you threw!

The other option: re-gift. If they are in good condition, why not. I am sure some where out there we might know of someone just starting out in their adult life. They probably need dishes and they are not picky. They don't want to spend their money on new dishes, but they need something to eat off of that isn't always a paper plate. Therefore, give them away to someone who will make a good home for them. Your generosity will definately have you deserving of a shopping trip for new dishes!

You might be wondering what you can possibly do with your kitchen plates for crafting purposes, but the better question might be what can you not do with all those plates you are trying to get rid of. As a crafter, I am a junk collector. Anything that looks interesting, I will find away to make it useful. Plates cause no such issues for an avid crafter.

Do you like making garden stepping stones? Smash up the plate and use the glass shards as decorations in the concrete. Just make sure there are no sharp edges sticking out of the concrete for people to hurt themselves with.

Do you make jewelry? Make use of that old kitchen plate by using it as a one-of-a-kind jewel on your necklace. Sand the edges of the broken plate so it is smooth, wrap it in jewelry wire and hang from a chain. Voila - you have a snazzy new necklace that people will be ogling over.

Do you like to make frames or shadow boxes? These little pieces can add depth and decoration to your project. Glue them onto a frame for something crafty and creative or make abstract art in a shadow box. If you are looking for something unique to hang on the wall, this might be the idea you have been searching for.

As you can see, broken plate pieces can be a treasure to a crafty person. If you think outside of the box, you could come up with a unique idea people will be talking about for years to come!

So, if you have been trying to figure out a way to convince yourself it is okay to invest in new dishes, think of all these great ideas that will keep your old ones from going to waste.

Now doesn't that give boring old plates a whole new meaning. With the boring plates out of the way, you can finally go out and get some exciting new dishes that you will love for many years to come. Well, until they get old and you find the new plates that you want once again.