DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Dutch Pottery Paper Plate Craft

Contributed by Leanne Guenther

Everyone familiar with the Netherlands will recognize the blue and white pottery known as Delftware or Delft pottery (Delft is a city in Holland).  Various qualities of delftware can be found in museums, in tourist shops and in my Grandma's apartment!

The tin-glaze method developed in the Netherlands created an inexpensive white ceramic pottery that looked very much like the more costly porcelain favoured by nobility.  It allowed "ordinary people" to own beautiful plates, vases and tiles that were similar in style to imported and expensive Chinese porcelain.

All types of images are shown on the real Delft pottery but I like to encourage the children to be inspired by typical "Dutch images" like windmills or tulips when designing theirs.

OPTION:  Instead of using blue paint, you can use blue marker!

Materials:

• scrap paper and pencil
• paper plate,
• blue paint (we use acrylic paint because it dries fast, but any children's paint will work).
• Paintbrush,

Instructions:

• Draw a rough design on a scrap piece of paper.
  • You can use anything as your inspiration, but I like to consider the symbols and landscapes of the Netherlands when doing this project.
  • You can use some of the simpler Netherlands coloring pages to help with your design.  My personal favorites are:
    • simple tulip
    • windmill
    • wooden shoes
  • Remember you need to keep the image simple enough to paint it.
• Use cobalt blue paint to paint your design on your plate.