I re-did my countertop, by cleaning it, then putting tile on top of it. Then grouted it, and nailed a small wood border around the countertop. After that i cleaned the grout off and it looks great!
Make a new countertop with bits of broken china. Collect old plates, dishes, pottery pieces until you have enough to complete the countertop. Apply the pieces in a random pattern or create flowers, swirls, boxes, etc., by putting the pieces in an orderly fashion. Be sure to apply a sealer to the grout to protect it.
I have a friend that did small stone tiles on her countertop and backsplash. It looks really pretty, and it was simple and rather inexpensive to do. The possible problem lies in staining the grout, so you must be sure to pick a darker color grout and apply a seal.
Sand counters with sandpaper. Spraypaint with a fancy stone-look spray paint. Make sure to cover it all with several coats. When dry do several coats with clear water proof sealant.