Mirror Refashioning!

This is Part 2 of a project I started last week. Well I needed a new project for you guys... and here it is! I'm re-doing this mirror I got on Craig's list for 25 bucks because I went to Urban Outfitters and I was so disgusted with how expensive but oh so hip everything was.

I've got big plans! I want to stain the mirror a funky color and paint little birds on it in silhouette form. What can I say? I like silhouettes and I like birds and did I mention I like silhouettes? I'm so predictable. Anyway, here it is!

P.S. Don't forget to buy your 2008 Cupcake Calendar! Christmas is coming soon!

Here's the mirror I bought for 25 bucks. It's got a neat shape but ugly woody color that makes it seem like it belongs at grandma's house.
In Spice! You can get a whole bunch of colors like Hunter Green and Vintage Burgundy and Olive Green.
I'm just covering up the mirror with some thick paper bags so as to not accidentally sand over top of it.
The Mirror
Wood Stain
Prep!
Oh, it's been so long and I'm so ready to get back in the game! Let's sand!
I'm so impatient, I sanded one section then tested out the stain.
That is so sexy.
Sanding
Test!
Spicy!
I just hand sand the border since it's got too many grooves to use the sander. I considered a dremel tool but this was just easier. It'll be darker than the rest, but that's ok.
That looks good.
Stain with foam brush!
Sand by hand
Like this
Start staining!
Look at this vibrant red! Already a big improvement!
Ok, now on the design. First I traced around the mirror so I could use it as a guide.
Here is the bird design I drew. I'm going to paint them on the top part of the mirror.
Hot!
Template
Little birds
I traced the birds onto tracing paper so I could see what it would look like on the template. I think they're a little big.
So I scanned them, reduced by 85% and printed out a new copy. That looks about right.
This is my super secret method of tracing stuff to solid surfaces. I just shade the back of my image with pencil like so. It's like making a carbon copy.
Try it out
Reduce. Retry.
Shade to trace
Next, I flip over the paper that I shaded (I cut it up a little bit) and tape it to the surface, and go over the lines with a pen.
I don't know how well you can see it, but it leaves a faint pencil outline of my image. Yay!
Now I painstakingly paint the image black with cheapo acrylic paint. Twice! Two coats! By the way, I did a test run on the back to make sure the paint didn't smear when I coated it with sealant.
Trace
See?
Paint
This is what I painted on the bottom. Still a little wet.
Last step is to seal! I only did one coat. This is the same stuff that I used for my table.
Done! Isn't it purdy?
The bottom
Sealant
Finito!



Comments

Posted by kabz on Friday, August 29, 2008 @ 6:38AM
wow. its very amazing :)
Posted by Joshua Taylor on Friday, November 30, 2007 @ 9:05AM
Jealous....Awesome work though...now make 50 more and contact Urban Outfitters ;)
Name:   Comment: 
  

Supplies

  • Mirror
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Wood Stain
  • Sealant
  • Hooks (Optional)
  • Sanding Paper - 60 grit

Tools

  • Sander
  • Brushes

Budget

$40







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