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" The Inspiration Files: In our newest series, we&amp;#039;ll be sharing a sneak peek of upcoming DIY projects from our favorite bloggers \u2014 along with their advice for taking ideas from inspiration\u00A0to reality. Today, meet Francois et Moi, the brainchild of Minneapolis blogger Erin Francois. If the name&amp;#039;s unfamiliar, it won&amp;#039;t be for long: We&amp;#039;re in love with her minimalist aesthetic, combining the classic and the modern to create projects that are both\u00A0beautiful and original. And if you&amp;#039;re looking for a new Instagram to stalk, her own mega-inspiring feed serves up a generous dose of eye candy.\u00A0 ERIN&amp;#039;S ADVICE:\u00A0&amp;quot;I&amp;#039;ll take perfectly imperfect over mass-produced perfect any day!&amp;quot; and more thoughts on DIY and finding your inspiration\u00A0from Erin. Here&amp;#039;s a sneak peek at Francois et Moi&amp;#039;s newest project: Hand-painted blue and white plates, perfect to display on an empty wall (and way less difficult than you might think). With a big, empty wall to fill in our apartment and a small budget in which to make it happen, I had to think outside the box. So I picked up a dozen mix-and-match white plates and a bit of blue paint to create an affordable, Japanese ceramic-inspired plate wall.\u00A0  The beauty of this project is that it can be as simple or complex as you&amp;#039;d like it to be. Use a combination of the three techniques described below or perhaps just one to create a cohesive plate grouping that conjures the look of a curated vintage plate collection.\u00A0 Materials:  10-12 white, round thrift shop plates in various sizes  Adhesive stencils\u00A0+ fine tip oil-based paint pen in blue  Cardstock, roughly 3&amp;quot; x 10&amp;quot; in size  Adhesive silk screens + high gloss acrylic paint in indigo + foam block or pouncer  10-12 gold plate hangers + nails for hanging\u00A0   Adorn the Plates: Decorate the plates with various patterns.\u00A0   Geometric Patterns. Use adhesive stencils and ceramic paint pens to create geometric designs on the plates. Simply apply the stencil to the plate and press down firmly to adhere. Use the paint pen to fill in the stencil&amp;#039;s design. Allow paint to set a few minutes before removing the stencil to avoid smudging.\u00A0  Linear Designs. Linear patterns can be achieved with a strip of cardstock and a ceramic paint pen. Use the cardstock as a guide to create clean, straight lines radiating out from the center.\u00A0  Organic Patterns. Use adhesive silk screens and acrylic paint for highly detailed lace and botanical designs. Position the silk screen on the plate and press down firmly to adhere. Apply paint over top of the screen using a foam block or pouncer. Remove screen before paint dries.\u00A0   Install on the Wall:\u00A0 After adorning the plates to your heart&amp;#039;s desire, allow them to dry completely, and hang on the wall. Clip a plate hanger to each, and arrange them on the floor first to sort out the arrangement before transferring onto the wall. Space the plates roughly 2-3&amp;quot; apart in an asymmetric cluster.The paint will air cure over 21 days, becoming semi-permanent and wipeable. Plates are for decorative purposes only. \u00A0\u00A0 Read the full tutorial at FrancoisetMoi.com. READ MORE\u00A0on HouseBeautiful.com: Renovating? 6 Makeover Essentials You&amp;#039;ll Need 7 Classic Decorating Lessons That Will Transform Any House Before &amp;amp;amp; After: An Outdated Kitchen Gets a Rustic Modern Makeover Your Pre-Renovation Checklist "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.housebeautiful.com/home-remodeling/diy-projects/how-to/a3373/blue-plates-diy-francoisetmoi/>