Shiplap Plate Chargers

This Shiplap Plate Chargers post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DIYHolidayWithSCJ #CollectiveBias

We're well into November and on the downhill to Thanksgiving (my FAVORITE!). We made these fun Shiplap Plate Chargers to add a pop of color under our plates in our dining room. I can't wait for their maiden voyage (AKA, Thanksgiving dinner).

Y'all, I'm not even a shiplap person, really...but when these DIY chargers came together, I kind of started loving the popular wall treatment, in charger form. I love using chargers under plates. But, somehow, a dozen of my good, wooden ones disappeared when we moved over a year ago. They're probably tucked away in some obscure place and I'll find them at some point. But, I thought I'd go ahead make some shiplap plate chargers to add another layer of texture and color to this year's Thanksgiving table. Oh, and that menu card is also a free printable I added to this post, too.

This may be the earliest I'm *slightly* on top of my game plan for hosting Thanksgiving. I mean, I haven't exactly thought about the food too terribly much, but the dining room is on point, y'all. Well, I mean...as on point as the eclectic mish mash of this space can be, I suppose. But, I'm actually happy with the direction it took this year.

These shiplap plate chargers allowed me to bring in another aqua element into the room. I think they balance it all out, nicely. They're super sturdy, too, and don't move about when you rest your arm on them (unlike my previous ones).

I grabbed the wooden pieces for these at Home Depot. I used 12"x4' boards. I also grabbed a sheet of underlayment and had the big cutting machine at the store cut it down for me into more workable sections for our smaller miter saw at home.

We then cut our larger boards into 12"x12" squares. Our underlayment pieces were cut into 12"x3" strips. We cut four underlayment strips per board. Underlayment is very thin and inexpensive...and perfect for these shiplap plate chargers.

We used both wood glue and finishing nails to attach the underlayment (or shiplap, if you will) strips on to the larger square boards. We glued them down first.

We laid the shiplap pieces down on the glue. Before the glue had time to dry, we used finishing nails on each end of each strip. We used an awl to sink the nails so they wouldn't catch on anything when these chargers were later in use.

Then we sanded the heehaw out of them...until they felt like, buttah, y'all. I gave them a coat of aqua paint and then sanded a bit more to bring out their shiplap appearance. Then I sealed them with a marine-grade sealer so moisture and food spills were no match for them.

I'm really happy with how they turned out. They're really different than any other chargers I've ever owned. I love their chunkiness and the slight rustic-ness about them.

I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, though...before I set the Thanksgiving table, I clean the dining room from top to bottom. Having a clean house makes guests more comfortable than any piece of pretty decor can. If this house smells and feels its best...it tends to look its best, too (kind of like us, huh?). I've always trusted Windex® Original Glass Cleaner, Pledge® Lemon Clean, and Scrubbing Bubbles® Fantastik®  cleaner throughout my entire home...but especially the dining room when we host family and friends for big holiday dinners and gatherings.

My dining table is a family heirloom. My mother handed it down to me 10 years ago. Before it was hers, my late uncle had it and used it for many a family gathering. There aren't many holiday memories of mine that don't involve lots of family packed around this table. And just like my mom always did, I clean it with Pledge® Lemon Clean (she'd flip if she heard an inkling that I used something else to clean this family table with...and I never would!). It also has never been refinished and still looks as great as when it sat in my uncle's dining room 35 years ago.

I don't skip the weird spots either...these beams on the bottom of the table legs get the dirtiest. Pledge® beautifies and enhances the appearance of hard surfaces*, like my antique dining room table that's been in my family for generations (*safe to use only on finished, sealed surfaces). Pledge® Lemon Clean can be used to dust, clean, shine, and protect a variety of household hard surfaces. These include wood, laminate, stainless steel, leather, marble, granite, and plastic. Plus, who doesn't love the classic smell of Pledge® Lemon Clean? For best results, do like I do and spray onto a cloth or hold can upright 6-8" from surface to be cleaned.

Not only is the table an antique, but it was a part of a set of family heirlooms. I inherited the table, its matching china cabinets, and this ornate wall mirror when my parents downsized about ten years ago. My mother and uncle, both, would only hang this mirror in the dining room...to reflect all of the family and friends gathered around the table.  So, naturally, it stayed with its counterparts and hangs in my dining room, too. Just like my mom, I only use Windex® Original on it for that unbeatable streak free shine.

It has been trusted for generations (especially in my family) and Windex® Original cleans and shines glass, mirrors, and more! Its patented ingredient, Ammonia-D®, helps Windex® Original Glass Cleaner to start working on dirt and grime even before you wipe.

We do not use my vintage church plates for food service (they all say not to on their backsides!). But I do wipe them each down with Windex® Original Glass Cleaner, too. It keeps them shiny and pretty here on the wall.

I use Scrubbing Bubbles® Fantastik® all over the house (especially the kitchen). But, I also wipe down my chargers with this after meals are over. I sealed the chargers with a marine-grade sealant so they're easy to keep clean. Since food sometimes falls off a plate and onto the charger, they need to be cleaned after each meal. This powerful antibacterial solution cuts through grease and grime and dissolves it on contact, while disinfecting the area, too. Plus, the no-rinse formula means I get the job done quicker.

I grabbed my Windex® Original Glass Cleaner, Pledge®, and Scrubbing Bubbles® Fantastik®  at my local Home Depot. Click here to find a store near you.

Be on the lookout for Pledge® product promotions on display in Home Depot stores 11/1/17 through 1/31/18.

Now, I'm ready for the big day. I can't wait for my family to enjoy these new shiplap plate chargers.

Don't forget to grab your free printable menu card, too. Just print out a few for your table and fill them in with all of your goodies (it's less scary than having guests point at your random casserole creation and loudly asking, "what is that?").

Click here to download the free printable menu cards.

The free printable menu cards coordinate with the free printable placecards that I posted HERE recently. 

How to you get your dining room ready for the holidays?