Hello amazing friends! I have a fun project to share with y’all today!
It all started with this frame I found at the thrift store for $4:
It was going to become one of the chalk boards that Jack was working on for my booth, but then I decided I wanted try something fun with it at the last minute.
I found a piece of glass to fit it from one of the other frames he was working on and set it aside. I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I use.
Here is what this pretty frame and glass insert became:
I had a can of looking glass spray that I have been hanging onto for forever, and after adding a little etching on my Mom’s jewelry cabinet doors last week, I was excited to try it on something else.
So I decided this frame would become a mirror with some pretty etching.
I think it turned out pretty well, how about you?
It looks like an old French mirror, no?
And can you see the pattern in the background?
That’s tissue paper!
Here is how this little project came together…
First I cleaned the glass. You can see in the photo below that some streaks from where I wiped it were visible after I sprayed:
It isn’t as noticeable head-on, but at this angle you can see them. It might have been a good idea to let it dry a little longer first, or be more aware of the streaks and try to wipe in a straight up and down pattern.
Next, I sprayed the back of the glass with the looking glass spray, leaving some areas not completely sprayed:
I laid a piece of the tissue paper underneath so I could see where I wanted it to show through. I kept adding coats until I got the coverage I wanted.
When it was completely dry, I flipped it over to add the etching to the other side.
To add the etching to the front, I found an image I liked by googling “French typography” and selecting “images”. Like my Mom’s necklace organizer project, I found a stencil image I liked, and uploaded it to my silhouette machine (I have this one HERE.) to cut it out:
See my tutorial HERE for how to upload and cut your own images on your Silhouette.
This too was a stencil available at Artistic Stencil Designs which you can find HERE. (No affiliation.)
Then I applied my “stencil” to the glass and covered the remaining areas before spraying, giving it a couple of sweeps with the Frosted Glass spray…
I pulled the stencil off right away.
Then I cut a piece of foam core the size of my new mirror and attached the tissue paper to it with matte Mod Podge:
Attaching the tissue paper probably isn’t necessary, but I didn’t want it to move or wrinkle.
I painted my frame in Behr’s Bit of Sugar made into DIY chalk paint (Recipe HERE.), sanded lightly, and waxed with Annie Sloan’s clear soft wax.
Then I inserted my new mirror with the etched side facing out, followed by the tissue covered foam core (once it was completely dry) and secured it in place with my Logan point driver:
I covered the back in pretty paper using matte Mod Podge, and added sawtooth hanging hardware to either side at the top to hang it.
It’s a bit of a challenge photographing a mirror head on…
Hello!
I love where the print from the tissue shows through in the areas where I went light with the looking glass spray!
It’s always fun trying something new! I hope you enjoyed this project too!
I’ll be posting a day late next week as I am joining some friends for a Summer wreath hop on Wednesday, so don’t think I forgot about ya when I don’t show up on Tuesday!
Here is the fabulousness that will be getting a do-over:
See ya then, sweet friends!
UPDATE: See how I turned this wreath into a fresh new Summer wreath HERE now! 🙂
Have a great weekend!
XO,
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Mary Kaiser says
Wow, that turned out so beautiful. I love it. You have such an imagination to come up with these awesome re-creations! That is totally amazing to me! Great job! Thanks for the warning about the day late post next week, I never miss your post. I start my day off with coffee and Christy every Tuesday and Thursday!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! I was hoping this would turn out how I imagined…I had fun with it! See you Wednesday, my friend! XOXO
Susan says
Christy I love it and I knew I would! I Love all of your projects! This mirror is a great idea!
Christy says
Aww thank you, Susan! That means a lot coming from you, my friend! XOXO
Martha E Felgar says
This looks a little more challenging than other things I’ve tried but, I love it. Going to give it a go this summer. Will let you know the outcome.
Christy says
I hope you do, Martha! It wasn’t too bad…even leaving off the etched part, it would still be pretty! Good luck! XOXO
Christina in SW FL says
Oh Hi Christy!! :: waving back :: Great makeover! The pattern showing through is so clever, smart and pretty. The stencil design is right on for this piece. You know I adore the white frame. 🙂
We will play with the rain together yet separately this weekend. Enjoy!
Christy says
Thank you, Christina! Yes lots of rain in the forecast!! I think we got our April a month late here! XOXO
Christine says
Neat idea! I love the tissue paper showing through. Painting the frame all one color made it first appear like you “beefed up” the width with another frame or something. I had to actually go back and look it over again to realize that the black had actually made the frame look narrower. Beautiful job. (But you always do a beautiful job!).
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Christine! Yep I just painted the whole shebang. 🙂 XO
Claudine says
Oh, my WOW! I just LOVE this! Brilliant! The tissue peeking through is such a wonderful touch. Now I have to hit the shops for supplies! lol This is really a stunner. 🙂
Christy says
Thank you, Claudine! I am so thrilled with the results…I hope you give it a go! XOXO
Cecilia says
Oh I love it! The tissue paper peeking through is my favorite part! It turned out beautifully!
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! The tissue paper is my favorite part too! XOXO
Shelley says
This is one of my favorites of your projects!
Just beautiful!
I have a couple of questions for you: is there anyway to use images like your Chateau image and stencil them if you do not have a Silhouette machine?
Also, I already have some etching cream. Does that work the same as etching spray? Thank you for any suggestions!
Christy says
Oh yay! I’m so glad you like it, Shelley! Thank you! You could absolutely use a regular stencil. I would spray a little spray adhesive onto back of your stencil first to make sure it holds firmly in place. I haven’t tried the etching cream, but I think a spray might be easier using a stencil. Good luck if you give it a try! XOXO
Sheila Carrigan says
Wow. Your work is always nice but I LOVE the detail in this piece!! Really nice…
Christy says
Thank you, Sheila! I’m so glad you like this one…and I have to admit, it might be one of my favorites! XO
Anita says
Lovely mirror! How did you do the “speckled effect” on the inner frame?
Christy says
Thank you, Anita! The inner frame is actually velvet and when I painted it, that is what happened! 🙂
Kimberly says
This is darling, Christy!
Christy says
Thank you, Kimberly! XO
Marcie Lovett says
I love how you take leftover this and that and pull it all into a fabulous piece. The mirror, the etching, the lacy design peeking through – genius!
Christy says
Thanks, Marcie! I’m always so pleased when it works out in the end! 🙂 XOXO
MaryJean says
That is is gorgeous Christy! I would love to try that sometime so I’m pinning it. It’s not something I would want to sell in my Etsy shop because I would be afraid of it breaking when shipping, but I would love it for my house. Maybe a tad smaller, my house isn’t that big. ???? Great post!
Christy says
Thank you, MaryJean! This would be difficult to ship for sure, but a perfect addition to your own space! XOXO
Robyn Wright says
LOVE IT! Are the speckles on the inner frame from sanding lightly, or did you add them?
Christy says
Thank you, Robyn! The inner frame is actually velvet and that is how it looked after I painted it. 🙂 XO
Robyn Wright says
Interesting! Something else I wouldn’t have thought to do.
Christy says
I really had to load up the paint on that part, but it finally took it. ????
Lizzy Leff says
So pretty. A huge transformation!
Christy says
Thank you, Lizzy!! XO
ROSE LEFEBVRE says
What a great idea! It is marvelous!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Rose! XO
Addie says
LOVE IT!!!!! LOVE the pic of you in the mirror!!!! haha too funny!!!
GREAT make over for an “Elvis” mirror!!!!
Christy says
Ha ha thank you, Addie! I like the name you gave this mirror…perfectly fitting with that suave black velvet lol! XOXO
Cheryl says
You’re so cute!! Love this idea, I am going to have to try it, love it!!
Have a great weekend!
Christy says
Ha ha thank you, Cheryl! I hope you do give it a go…it was a fun project! Hope you have a great weekend as well! XOXO
Denise says
Beautiful Christy! You’re so artistic and make all your thrift finds look amazing. I love the tissue paper pattern too. It adds a lot. 🙂
Christy says
Aww thank you, Denise! I really appreciate that coming from someone so talented! XOXO
Susan says
Oh my goodness! I love what you did with the $4 frame! I just found you on Pinterest and subscribed to your email list. I can’t stop admiring all of the gorgeous transformations you have done! Thank you for sharing your projects! I need all the advice I can get!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Susan, and welcome! I’m so thrilled you found me! Thanks for choosing to follow along! XO
Pamela Bridgnell says
I love this!
Christy says
Thank you, Pamela! XO
Linda Petersen says
Hi! This week’s projects are so awesome!! I love the tissue on the mirror like everyone else. Never would have thought of it on my own. And, I never thought to change the color on a ceramic pitcher either. So cool????. You can’t sleep because your talented mind never stops thinking!!????
Christy says
Thank you, Linda! I love that you enjoyed this week’s projects! The mirror project was fun for me since it was something new! And girl…I go go go so much that when I do fall into bed, I crash ha ha! Have a wonderful weekend! XOXO
Lani says
Hello Christy,
I just love your style and how creative you are! I was wondering where your booth is? My daughter is going to be going to Duke for her grad work and we need to furnish/decorate her townhouse. Are you near Durham NC?
Thanks,
Lani
Christy says
Aww thank you, Lani! I appreciate that! I live on the coast of Virginia in Virginia Beach, still quite a ways from Durham, NC. Sounds like a fun adventure getting to decorate your daughter’s townhouse! 🙂
Naomi S. says
Very original, Christy! I like it. I never knew there was such a thing as Looking Glass Spray! Looks like it would be a fun project to try. Tempting! Thanks for the tutorial.
Christy says
Thank you, Naomi! I hope you’ll give it a try. You can turn any clear glass into a mirror! XOXO
Teresa says
Very pretty!
Christy says
Thank you, Teresa! XO
Marie says
Your mirror is gorgeous, Christy! Isn’t looking glass spray paint so much fun to work with? Sadly, we can’t get it here in Canada but that didn’t stop me. Paid more for shipping and duty than the darn paint. Thankfully I bought enough for several projects. Pinned 🙂
Christy says
Thank you, Marie! I wonder why you can’t get it in Canada? Weird! Yes it is fabulous!! Hope you are enjoying your weekend so far! XOXO
Meloney Dunton says
Just discovered you blog. This is such a creative idea! Love it. Thank you for all of your helpful hints. I’m trying to get started in my own business and I love your posts. Thank you for sharing your story!
Christy says
Hi Meloney and welcome! Thank you! So happy to hear you are finding my posts helpful! XO
teresa bragg says
I love your mirror! It’s beautiful! I went to use the looking glass paint once, but it said that I had to spray the back for the mirror effect to show out. I was painting a soap dispenser to look like mercury glass. Well, I couldn’t spray the inside of the dispenser, so that idea was shot! I refuse to pay $50 for a mercury glass reproduction! I just love your projects!
Christy says
Thank you, Teresa!! 🙂 Yeah it would be hard to spray paint the inside of a soap dispenser for sure. I had to spray the back of this glass for the mirror effect to show through the other side. XOXO