How to Design Plastic Cover Plates

Plastic switch plates come in different sizes.

Decorated plastic light-switch plates bring a bit of whimsy or personalization to a room. Make decorated plastic covers based on a room's color scheme or a favorite theme or popular character. Any paper decorations such as stickers or 3-D miniatures will work to decorate plastic switch plates. These custom-designed switch plates make a personal gift for a housewarming, a new baby's room or a friend's birthday.

Things You'll Need

• Newspaper
• Cardboard box cover
• Plastic cups
• Plastic cover plate
• Plastic spray paint
• Plastic cover plate screws
• Styrofoam block
• Paper cutouts or stickers
• Miniatures
• Tacky glue
• 2-part resin
• Craft sticks
• Plastic straw

Instructions

1. Select an accessible workspace where the plastic switch plates can dry and cure for at least 72 hours, and cover the area with newspaper.

2. Place a cardboard box cover (like from a copier-paper box) on the newspaper, then place a plastic cup upside-down on the box cover.

3. Place a plastic switch plate on the plastic cup in the box top, then spray the background color on the switch plate with plastic spray paint.

4. Place the plastic switch-plate screws into a small block of Styrofoam, then spray the screws the same color as the background on the switch plate. Allow the paint to dry on the switch plate and screws according to manufacturer's instructions on the can.

5. Lay out the paper cut-outs, stickers and miniatures on the dried switch plate to plan the overall design, then glue the different design elements in place using tacky glue.

6. Measure the 2-part resin liquids in disposable measuring cups according to the manufacturer's directions. Mix enough 2-part resin to cover the switch plates in one layer.

7. Combine the two parts of the resin together in one plastic cup and mix with a craft stick until completely blended. Pour the mixed resin over the decorated switch plate until it's completely covered.

8. Blow on the resin coating using a plastic straw to remove small bubbles without touching the switch plate. Use the craft stick to catch any resin dripping off the edges and allow the excess resin to drip from the craft stick back over the coated switch plate.

9. Allow the switch plates to dry and cure at a temperature of 70 degrees F for at least 72 hours, checking for resin drips along the edge. Use the craft stick to smooth out the drips along the edge until the resin hardens, up to seven hours. (Reference 2.)

10. Allow the resin-coated plastic switch plates to cure completely before handling.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are making a gift, make sure you are using the correct size and shape switch plate for the receiver's home.

• Place one upside-down plastic cup per plastic switch plate in the box top if you want to design more than one switch plate at a time.

• Make sure there is enough room between switch plates on the box top so they do not touch and it is easy to smooth any resin drips.

• Do not coat the cover plates with resin until the design and any text or letters are exactly right because you cannot fix mistakes once you apply the resin coating.

• Do not allow resin to harden with large drips coming off the edge of the plastic cover plate because it will not break off neatly when hard.

References

• KyleDesigns.com: How To Decoupage Switch Plates
• EnviroTex Lite Instructions

Resources

• Krylon Fusion Spray Paint for Plastic
• Krylon.com: From Smart to Smashing, Accessories State Your Style