Do you want a fabulous solution to two classic table setting problems?!

Have you ever had either of both of these two table setting problems?

• I don’t have enough variety in my china
• I don’t have room to store a bunch of stuff.

I know I have! 😊 So after years of thinking about it, I finally found a fabulous solution to both of them! You can watch the video below for the tutorial, or continue on for the step by step instructions.

After that, feel free to hop down to the shopping section so you can solve your table setting problems too!

The Super Easy Solution to two classic table setting problems!

So you’ve probably seen the trick of decoupaging a napkin onto the back of a glass plate. (If not, you can see it in action in this post.) It’s a fun way to bring some inexpensive variety to your dinner ware. So of the two table setting problems, we’ve got the variety part covered with that technique.

But then we still have to store the plates once they’re done. I spent a lot of years trying to figure out how to get that variety without having to store it all. And then one day it came to me – what if there was some sort of glue that didn’t stick permanently? And there IS!!

So I experimented, and the tips below are the solution!

Step By Step Instructions

Supplies – You only need three things

First, get yourself one set of clear glass plates. I like my salad plates to be the interesting ones, but you could do dinner plates instead, or in addition. Whatever sizes you want.

Then get some Tack-It-Over & Over liquid glue. This is the magic part! This stuff is AMAZING! It works like the liquid version of a Post-It note. It’s sticky enough to hold things, but washes off with just a little soaking!

Then you need some tissue paper. This part is also kind of magic, because tissue paper is so inexpensive, and also has SO much variety! You could probably find just about any kind of color or pattern you’re looking for.

Cut a piece that will fit over your plate without too much overlap.

Spread the Tack-It

The Tack-It is a bit thick, so squeeze just a bit onto the back of your plate. You only need about as much as in the photo below.

Then brush it around to cover the entire back of your plate.

Apply the tissue paper

Then put the tissue paper – front side down – over your plate. If you don’t put it in exactly the right spot the first time, just lift it gently up and reposition it! That’s the fabulous thing about this glue.

Then press and smooth the paper onto your plate. You likely won’t be able to get ALL the little wrinkles out, but you can get most of them, and the ones that are left are hardly noticeable.

Once the paper’s all smoothed, I just run my fingernails around the edge to make sure it’s tightly bonded all around.

Trim the edges

Then trim the overhanging edges of your tissue paper with scissors. It’s easy, as you use the edge of the plate as a guide.

Smooth it one more time

The final touch is to make double positive sure everything’s smooth now that you’ve cut away the excess.

That whole process literally takes less than two minutes per plate!

Number One of the two table setting problems SOLVED!

And now you get to put your lovely new plates on the table, and that solves one of the two table setting problems. You can use whatever tissue paper or paper napkin will go with whatever tablescape you have in mind.

Here I used this lovely black and floral paper to match the gorgeous roses I found at the store. Aren’t they a perfect match? I love when things work out like that!

Hop over to THIS POST for more of this tablescape.

Solving the second of the table setting problems

And now to the SUPER AMAZING MAGIC! Our lovely salad plates worked well all through the dinner, and nobody even realized there was tissue on the back! When I started washing dishes, the paper was still fully intact and smooth. (This picture is kind of fuzzy, but you get the idea.)

All I did, was put the plates in the water to soak a little bit while I finished up the hand washing. Maybe three minutes tops.

Look what happened when I pulled them out! The paper just wipes right off!

And the sticky comes off with it!

We’re left with a perfectly clean and sticky-free plate!!

Only one set of plates to store!

I threw away a small bit of wet tissue paper for each plate, stuck the plates in the dishwasher, and when I pulled them out, only one set to store!

So now we can have a virtually unlimited variety of inexpensive plates for our tablescapes, and only have to store one set. Two of the classic table setting problems solved!

Shop the Table Setting Problems post

Click on the pictures below for links to the pieces I mentioned in this post. If something’s not available, I chose a similar replacement.

This post includes affiliate links for your shopping convenience. If you click on a link and buy anything from that site within 24 hours, I get a small commission with no extra cost to you! It really helps toward the cost of publishing Mantel and Table, and I seriously appreciate it. (You can read the whole disclosure policy here.) Thanks so much for shopping with me!

And remember, a portion of anything you buy from MANTELandTABLE.com goes to Habitat for Humanity and Proud Ground. With our purchases, we get to help people build homes for their own mantels and tables!

Here’re some relatively inexpensive napkins too. Be sure to use only one ply.

Hope you have fun with this, and here’s to endless beautiful plates with no extra storage space!!

Just in time for summer gift giving! Check out Mantel and Table Academy’s mini-course –

What students are saying

This course is fabulous! It’s jam packed with practical tips, ideas and suggestions. There are money saving tips too – so many that you’ll probably save at least what you’ve paid for this course. I learnt so much about planning and preparing for buying the perfect gift. If you love making your friends and family happy then buy this course. You won’t regret it!

 ~Natasha Crowther

This Post Shared With

• Metamorphosis Monday 11.07.22 – Hosted by Between Naps on the Porch
• Thursday Favorite Things 11.10.22 – Hosted by Shoestring Elegance
• Fabulous Friday 11.11.22 – Hosted by Living Large in a Small House
• Tuesday Turn About 11.15.22 – Hosted by My Wee Abode
• Tablescape Thursday 06.01.23 – Hosted by Between Naps on the Porch
• Thursday Favorite Things 06.01.23 – Hosted by Shoestring Elegance
• Metamorphosis Monday 05.13.24 – Hosted by Between Naps on the Porch