A Mirror Refurb

I've started work on the collection of things that desperately need makeovers. Here is the first piece. It's a mirror.

The mirror story. Unfortunately, I do not have a "before" photograph of the mirror. Imagine, if you will, a chocolate-brown version of the pure white one below. I bought the chocolate-brown, 24-inch (60 cm) diameter mirror six-ish years ago, hugely discounted at our local Pier 1 Imports. I didn't like it when I bought it. It was the roundness combined with the cheapness that made me do it. Had it been square, I never would have bought the thing. But, as I was into round things at the time of purchase, it fit the bill. I forked over the dough, and left with a looking-glass for which I harboured very little fondness.

Fast-forward to a year ago-ish. I gave the mirror several coats of white paint as above. Still, I didn't love it. Oh, it was okaaay... But it didn't speak to me. It had no "oomph". Disheartened, I left it. Until this past Wednesday.

This past Wednesday, I couldn't take it anymore. I broke out my acrylic paints. Painted all the dots and divets. Stained it with a black stain. Sanded it by hand. Repainted some of the dots and divets. Applied a second layer of stain. Nothing worked. Out of frustration, I took the power sander to it. It was a bold move. But it needed doing.

The sander gave it an edge. A warm patina. Which is more like it! Now I have a mirror that I appreciate. It's playful, it's swank. You know, I actually really like how it turned out. Is there a lesson here? Don't give up maybe? There's potential in everything perhaps? Definitely. These are lessons I keep having to re-learn but what good lessons they are. I am glad I kept the mirror. And now, there's only one like it in the world. Bo-nus!

Alrighty, well I'm off. Have yourself a weekend of delights. I'll see you Monday!

This post linked to The Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday!

Series 2: Part 1 - AND THEN THERE WERE TREE

I'm starting a new series! Yippee! I ranted a teensy tiny itty bit the other day about my 10 part series (The Feast of the Flower which is still going on btw... and, yes I'll finish it...). But I can't help myself. I have a 3-part series that's taking up valuable space in my tiny brain and I have to purge it to make room for thinking.

This series is called "And Then There Were Tree". Because it's about making trees. I like plants, K? AnyWAY, I was inspired by Arlette over at the wondrous crafty blog Polka Dot Pineapple. She makes these really cool recycled denim coasters using the remnants of jeans. And so I ran with the denim disc idea and came up with three simple little crafts of my own.

Series 2: Part 1

Today I begin with a tree mirror. Place the mirror in your child's room or gift it to them as a back-to-school locker decoration!

You will need:

• the long jean seams that SEEM useless but aren't (I used the seams from 2 pairs of jeans for all 3 crafts in this series.)
• those little decorative metal buttony things on jeans
• a small round mirror (I thrifted mine for pennies.)
• box board (I used a cereal box.)
• craft paper (A gift from my artist friend Bubby.)
• pencil
• craft glue and a glue gun
• scissors
• pins

1. Making Denim Discs:

Take a jean seam.

Apply a dab of craft glue on the end of your seam.

Start coiling the seam around itself.

After some coiling add another dab of glue.

Continue this glueing and coiling process until you have a disc. Pin the end in place. Let dry.

Make a bunch of these discs of all different sizes.

2. Mirror Design:

• Take your mirror and play with the arrangement of denim discs around the mirror.
• Once you have your design, draw out the shape onto the box board and the craft paper.
• Cut out both the box board and the craft paper shapes. Don't forget to cut out the hole for the mirror.

• Make a hanger by sewing a loop of denim onto the top of your box board shape.

• Now glue the back of the mirror to the box board shape.

• Using a glue gun, glue the craft paper shape to the front of the mirror, and THEN using craft glue attach your denim discs to the craft paper.

• For a final fun touch, glue on those little decorative metal buttony things from your jeans.

And your arboreal mirror is DONE!

Have yourself a great day!

P.S. Today I'm linking!

Handmade Monday @ Olga's Home and Garden Blog