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    Home » Repurposed Items » dresser mirror ideas

    dresser mirror ideas

    Published by Gail | Published October 3, 2012 | Updated April 9, 2019
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    My-Repurposed-Life-plastic-mirror-chalky-paint-makeover



    I love working my magic on discarded items destined for the landfill.

    Look at the difference some DIY chalk paint can make. You're going to love these dresser mirror ideas.

     

    plastic mirror redo While I was vacationing in California this summer, a friend dropped off two of these plastic framed mirrors.

    plastic mirror chalk paint chalkboardYou may remember a plastic mirror I picked up in the spring. I removed the mirror and made a chalkboard out of it. You can see it in the post titled Plastic Dresser Mirror Repurposed Into a Chalkboard

    I got a comment from:

    Linda@Coastal Charm said...

    Gail,
    What a fun looking chalkboard...love the words. I had her twin,a few weeks back, but I kept the mirror in it. I painted it and sold it for $69 two days later:)
    Blessings,
    Linda

    So, for these two mirrors, I decided to leave the mirrors alone.

     

    plastic mirror redo -wash the plastic frameThe mirror frames were quite dirty. I removed the mirror and the cardboard backing, then I simply hosed them off.

     

    plastic mirror redo Although this one doesn’t look very black, this is black DIY  chalk paint.

     

    plastic mirror redo I painted this one with white chalk paint.

     

    plastic mirror redoI didn’t take any in progress pictures. I used dark ASCP wax on this one. I don’t know what color to call it, it looks like a scrumptious brown now.

     

    plastic mirror redo I used ASCP dark wax on the white one too.

     

    plastic mirror redo (11)I prepared to put the mirrors back in the frames. While they were stored in my garage, each of the mirrors had slipped out of their inner frames, and you could see the top edge of the mirror when looking at the front of the mirror/frame. I just happened to have a couple of bi-folding door slats laying around. I used it to brace the mirrors so they won’t slip.

     

    plastic mirror redo (12)You can see that I’ve already used this slat as a paint stirrer. Winking smile

     

     

    plastic mirror redo (15)I’m testing it out on the DIY Easel.

     

    plastic mirror redo (19)Both mirrors are very dirty.

     

    plastic mirror redo fish foamWashing windows/mirrors is one of the things that hurts my shoulder the most. So, I grabbed my Fish Foam because it really does make easy work of cleaning glass.

     

    plastic mirror redo See how the mirror shines? It is nearly impossible to take a decent picture of a mirror.

     

    plastic mirror redo This picture shows how pretty the color is on this one.

     

    plastic mirror redo large display easelYou can see how well it fits on the easel.

     

    plastic mirror redo Not the best camera angle, but the sky sure looks pretty!

     

    plastic mirror redo I really do love these easels! I doubt if I can get anywhere near $69 for these mirrors like Linda did, but they will be going to Glendale with me.

    After I finished with these mirrors, I hauled them into the house at the end of the day. As I did that, I noticed that both mirrors were a little wobbly. A few days ago, I decided to tackle them again, and try to make them more stable. I hauled them back outside, one at a time. (these things are heavy!)

     

    plastic mirror redo I took them on with this handy new drill from The Home Depot and Ryobi-pronounced  ree-o-bee. (did you know that Ryobi is exclusive to The Home Depot?) When I was in Michigan for the Celebration of Service at Stiggy’s Dogs, the nice folks from Ryobi were kind enough to give us bloggers a drill and charging kit. At the demonstration, one of the guys showed me this great feature where there is a magnet, and it holds your screws for you. Let me tell you that was handy for this project.

     

    plastic mirror redo (45)Why was it so handy? Because there were a bazillion screws, and on this particular mirror I put the screws in and out at least 5 times. YEP, all those screws in then all those screws out again, over, and over, and over. I just could NOT get the mirror right. I tried using some very strong permanent double stick tape…

     

     

    plastic mirror redo (46)…I also tried using another shutter slat.

     

    plastic mirror redo (47)I even tried placing some bubble wrap to secure it. BUT if you look closely you may notice what I did not notice the first 4 times I put it back together. Do you see it? The mirror had shifted a little to the left, and was not quite in between the little ledges. Seriously—why did it take me so long to figure it out? Oh well, I got to break in my new drill really well!

    Okay, back to the problem. In the end, I got the mirror situated, and I did not use the bubble wrap. The cardboard had warped, and was bowed—I ended up turning the cardboard over and reinstalling it for the final time inside out. whew! Sometimes I sure can be dense!

     

    plastic framed mirror DIY chalk paintHere’s the before and after one more time.

    Have you redone anything plastic? Have you made your own chalk paint? If you haven’t, you really should!

    gail

    sharing here:

         

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    1. Linda

      February 26, 2015 at 6:43 am

      I love what you do. I also have the Ryobi and love it! It's mighty cold here in Buffalo NY, so I have to hold off on many projects but can't wait to jump in and spend my time re-doing and repurposing things. Thanks for the inspiration.

      Reply
    2. Tracy Snyder

      October 06, 2012 at 1:47 am

      Your mirrors look great! Nice work! Hard to believe the are plastic until you show the back.

      Reply
    3. Hena Tayeb

      October 04, 2012 at 12:08 pm

      Wow.. i would have never considered plastic as a viable option.. they look amazing.

      Reply
    4. Toqua's Crafts

      October 03, 2012 at 5:19 pm

      Beautiful, as usual, Gail!
      I've never used any chalk paint of any kind... store bought or homemade. Of course the paint projects I typically do don't involve a lot of paint. 🙂

      Reply
    5. Linda@Coastal Charm

      October 03, 2012 at 2:47 pm

      Gail,
      What a surprise to see my comment here on your post:) Both of your mirrors turned out great and I am sure they will go fast. These plastic frames that we update, do look darn good.I have made homemade chalk paint, and it didn't go very well:(

      Blessings,
      Linda

      Reply
    6. Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures

      October 03, 2012 at 1:59 pm

      Another fabulous makeover; what a huge difference paint can make. This project was a real labor of love and I certainly understand your need to get it right. Now they're all ready for a new home and you don't have to worry about a mirror mishap.

      Reply
    7. Mad Maine Vintage

      October 03, 2012 at 1:20 pm

      Love reading about your transformation projects. Would never have thought that plastic can turn into something decent, but in your hands it seems anything is possible! BTW, do you usually leave the backs unpainted?

      Reply
    8. Nadine @ Chic with the Kool-Aid Mustache

      October 03, 2012 at 1:13 pm

      I just passed up a beautiful mirror because it was plastic and now I'm kickin' myself cause these turned out so great! I've been experimenting with chalk paint using ooops paint from Menards (it's only $1 for a quart!) and Plaster of Paris I bought at a yard sale for .50. I just finished a side-table turned dog bed for a friend using the chalk paint and wax and it turned out pretty darn good. I'll be blogging about it soon.

      Reply
    9. Sandi @ The Primitive Skate

      October 03, 2012 at 1:01 pm

      These look wonderful Gail. You did an awesome job! Love the colors! Loving that new drill too!
      Have a wonderful day!

      Reply
    10. Laurel

      October 03, 2012 at 12:19 pm

      Love these! You should enter them at our Lessology challenge - it is mirrors this month!

      http://lessology.blogspot.ca/2012/10/lessology-challenge-19-mirror-mirror-on.html

      Reply
    11. Terri

      October 03, 2012 at 12:15 pm

      Nothing is worse than seeing a cool mirror, only to pick it up and find out it is plastic. Once again you have worked your magic and now you can't even tell! These will all sell quickly, I am sure.

      It seems most everyone has success stories making their own ASCP...for me it was an epic fail. I keep saying I am going to give it another go, but have yet to do so. Kudos to you for getting it to work!!

      Reply
    12. Full Circle Creations

      October 03, 2012 at 12:00 pm

      Great remake! I hope they sell quickly for you. I've never made chalk paint...it's on my list of things to do. One of these days I will.

      Holly

      Reply
    13. Pam Jackson

      October 03, 2012 at 9:25 am

      I just wished I had the insight you have to see the things you see and to make them come out as nice as you do! Great job....

      Reply
    14. Christine @ Let's Get Crafty!

      October 03, 2012 at 9:18 am

      Gail,

      I've tried to make my own chalk paint and it was a fail. 🙁 Although, I've never used the real stuff so maybe I just don't know what it's suppose to look like....

      I really can't wait to try again!

      http://www.letsgetcrafty.org/chalk-paint-fail/

      Reply
    15. jeanetteann

      October 03, 2012 at 8:36 am

      These are so nice. I think you will easily get $69 for each one. I haven't done anything plastic,but I do make my own chalk paint. hope the shoulder gets better soon

      Reply

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