Hello lovelies!! I’m back with my first makeover of the week! If you’re new around here, welcome! I share thrifty makeovers every Tuesday and Thursday! Today I’m sharing how to update a mirror with a transfer.
I’ve done this a few times HERE, HERE and HERE. This is such a great way to turn a cheap mirror into a one-of-a-kind piece!
I started with this mirror I picked up at the thrift store for $4.75:
There are a few mirrors in this haul, so I figured I better get started on them!
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Remove the mirror
I like to remove the mirrors from their frames when redoing a mirror so that I can paint it more easily. I also like to be able to paint the back portion of the frame that will be reflected in the mirror.
However, this mirror had a different plan.
After removing the paper backing, it was the cheapest built mirror I have ever come across and the mirror was glued in place:
I was afraid I’d break the mirror trying to remove it, so I ended up taping off the mirror instead.
Prime
The frame was super slick and I thought it could be some sort of thin metal, so I gave it a coat of Slick Stick adhesion primer first:
I let that dry overnight and then painted it in Silk Bay Breeze, a lovely soft blue color. You need to wait a couple of hours in between coats when using Silk since it dries from the top down. I switched to another project I was working on for Thursday and then went back and added another quick coat later that night.
I removed the tape as soon as I applied the second coat while it was still wet:
See the difference between Chalk Paint and Silk Mineral Paint HERE.
Update a Mirror with a Transfer
Since I have 120+ transfers in my Etsy shop, I want to play with them always lol.
However, I went for a design that I’ve used before that I absolutely love, the French Ceramics Transfer:
I knew it would be gorgeous over this pretty Bay Breeze blue!
To apply a transfer, you simply remove the backing, position it onto your surface, and transfer the design by burnishing it to the surface with the included stick or a burnishing tool.
Once your image is transferred, remove the clear top sheet. If some of the design is still adhering to the top clear sheet, simply lay it back down and burnish some more.
On a piece like this with all the ridges, you may want to cut it apart into smaller, more manageable pieces as that makes it easier to apply. It is super simple to match up the design for a seamless look.
Seal
Once I had applied the transfer to my liking, I sealed with Best Dang Wax in clear using the Best Dang Brush:
I removed the excess and buffed in the rest with a clean soft cloth…
Silk paint has a built in topcoat so there is no need to seal it, but I wanted to add some protection to the transfer.
The After
Here is how this el cheapo mirror looks now!
Not so cheap now, huh?
I love this transfer over this blue!
Here you can see that I wrapped it right over all of the frame…
I also took it over the sides as well:
Such a pretty addition to a plain white dresser…
The Back
And here is how I covered up the back to make it pretty again. I applied Mod Podge like a glue all the way around the outer edge with a cheap brush…
Then I just laid my pretty kraft paper over the top and trimmed off the excess with a razor knife. I even took a picture of the back for ya!
I added two sawtooth hangers to the either side at the top for hanging:
It previously had one sketchy one in the center.
And that is my first mirror of this haul done!
This is such a fun way to update a mirror, and with over 120 transfers in my Etsy shop, there are so many options to choose from!
One more project crossed off the list!
See anything you might have missed at the links below:
Flatware Box Upcycled for Christmas
Upcycled Picnic Basket with a No Sew Liner
Painted Empire Dresser
Neutral Rocker Makeover
Pink Painted Night Table
Mass-Produced Shelf Makeover
Repurposed Cabinet Door
Oak Drop-Leaf Table Makeover
Child’s Rocker Makeover
Vintage Banker’s Chair Makeover
Terra Clay Paint Case Makeover
Tea Kettle Makeover
Tray Update with Stencils
Painting the Smalls #18
How to Turn a Spindle Bed into a Bench
Dated Shelf Makeover
80’s Clock Repurposed
Stenciled Demilune Table
DIY Fabric Lamp Shades & $5 Thrift Store Lamps
Thrift Store Dresser Makeover
Here are 15 more mirror makeovers you might enjoy:
See how they all turned out in THIS POST.
I’m working on this treasure for Furniture Fixer Upper day on Thursday:
Looks like a beauty, right? Looks can be deceiving!
UPDATE! See how this serpentine beauty turned out HERE now!
I hope to see ya then!
XOXO,
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Jackie C says
Oh yeah! Love this one! That transfer looks great with the paint color! I’ve never seen a mirror made like that either. Paper looks so nice on the back.
Christy says
Thank you, Jackie! I couldn’t believe how cheaply it was made lol. It seems sturdy though! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
Oh is is so beautirul now! I love that idea of using the transfers over different colors. It changes the look of the transfer depending on the color paint you use under it. Great idea’s and inspiration from you once again! I am working on the two rocking chairs for Christmas for my grand daughters. Last night I put in an order on your Etsy shop for some different paint colors I needed to go with the transfers. My second grand daughter was born Nov 8. They named her Ava Lynn, she is adorable. I now have 8 Grandsons and 2 granddaughters. I also have 1 more grandson due in feb 2023. 11 grand children! Wow!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! Your order is en route, my friend! How fun it will be to work on those grand babies’ chairs! Congratulations on the newest addition. And wow!! You have quite a collection of them lol…what a blessing! XOXO
Denise Cox says
Lovely!
Christy says
Thank you, Denise! XOXO
Maryellen says
I absolutely love this mirror! Wonderful job Christy!!! Have a great day!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Maryellen!! XOXO
Janice Holt says
Another beautiful mirror. It looks like you painted the design on. Can’t wait to see the dresser Thurs.
Christy says
Thank you, Janice! The dresser is a good one! XOXO
MJ says
Mirror is absolutely gorgeous. Dumb question but can you seal all transfers with clear wax?
Thanks.
Christy says
Thank you so much, MJ! Yes, they sure can! XOXO
Niki says
The mirror turned out very pretty Christy! What a difference the transfer made. I do not decorate for the seasons so the blue brought a touch of happiness and spring into my freezing cold gloomy day.
Christy says
Thank you, Niki! I enjoyed the summer colors too! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
Hi Christy! I had a mirror like that before that was glued in and cheap. The French ceramic transfer looks good with Bay breeze. I thought Bay Breeze was a gray until I used it. More of a blue. Well it doesn’t look like a cheap mirror anymore.
Christy says
Thanks, Cheryl! Yep, it’s a really pretty blue! Glad I covered the cheap
innards back up lol! XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
Love the transfer with Bay Breeze! Have a wonderful week!
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia!! XOXO
Denise - Salvaged Inspirations says
So pretty and I love the craft paper backing as well! XOXO
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! XOXO
Karolyn says
Just beautiful, Christy!! Love it and the back, too. Finishing a back gives a professional finish to any framed piece and yours is so very pretty!! Thank you for sharing!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Karolyn! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! XOXO
Cyndi says
That is gorgeous!! I don’t think it would have occurred to me to use that transfer over that color of paint, but it works!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Cyndi! Yes, they compliment each other so nicely! XOXO
Carol Tanzi says
You do very good work.
I was impressed with you doing the back of the mirror. That’s a finished project now!
Carol
Christy says
Thank you so much, Carol! XOXO
Heather Taylor says
Just gorgeous as usual! I love your makeovers.
Christy says
I appreciate that so much, Heather! Thank you! XOXO
Linda Louie says
Your mirror is absolutely beautiful!!! I love it! Thanks for sharing!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Linda! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
That IS a great color for the transfer, Christy! I thought it looked almost white before, now you can really see the pretty blue.
Christy says
Thank you, Marcie! It did look really light probably because I was photographing it at night, but it is such a pretty blue! XX
Joanne H says
The mirror turned very pretty. I like how the transfers can get in the curves and crevices and around the edges.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Joanne! XOXO
Michele M. says
WOW!!!
How can that possibly be the same mirror??? Well done, Christy!!
Christy says
Right?? Ha ha! Thanks, Michele! XOXO
Jan Fowler says
Christy! OMG that blue! It is so light that it almost looked white until the finished mirror was placed over that white dresser. How beautiful! And making the back pretty as well is just, ummm, so YOU! I love how this turned out. Thanks for another seed in the idea garden!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Jan! You know I have to finish off the back lol! Glad you enjoyed this one! XOXO
Petra says
I love what you did to this mirror – you’ve taken it from plain jane to glamorous 🙂
Christy says
Thank you so much, my friend! XOXO
Mary says
Wowza Christy! A great transformation of the mirror! Its beautiful! How do you keep the edges of your transfer so straight with the edges of the frame? Your attention to detail ( insides of drawers, backs of mirrors, etc) is really a great asset too! thank you for inspiring me/us!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Mary! I guess I just line it up, but if it doesn’t go on quite straight, you can always layer pieces of the transfer to fill it in. It is so thin that it will blend right in! Have a wonderful weekend! XOXO
Rose Lefebvre says
I usually avoid mirrors but I would definitely hang this one in my home!
Christy says
Thank you, Rose! Yes, you could just focus on the pretty frame instead of the reflection lol! Happy Thanksgiving, my friend! XOXO
Karen says
OMG!!!!! This is the best mirror yet! I am swooning over the transfer and the color. Thank you for sharing. After I am finished looking at your posts, I can’t clear ANYTHING out of my basement! LOL Everything has a second life with a transfer and some Dixie Belle. So many projects!!!
Christy says
Thank you SO much, Karen! Ha ha no…don’t get rid of anything ha ha! XOXO