This vintage mirror makeover is 10 years in the making. Yes, I bought this mirror for $2.50 in 2009. You can see the original makeover in my post Mirror re-do.
The poor little thing was in sad shape. After it’s makeover, it hung around the house for years. After I opened my booth at Vendor’s Village I listed it for sale there. It never sold.
Vintage Mirror Makeover
This is how the vintage mirror looked when I brought it out to work on it. It’s pretty, but I guess it’s outdated?
Prep Thrift Store Project Prior to Painting
Using painter’s tape, I covered the edge of the mirror.
Before painting, I removed the hanging hardware.
Spray Paint Vintage Mirror Frame
I used more tape and brown paper to cover the mirror while spray painting. The spay paint is from Behr, and the color is Miniature Rose. I got it at a blog conference in July.
It’s a good idea to paint the back of the vintage mirror first.
Are you loving it as much as I do? I really think the paint color is perfect for the vintage mirror.
Make Necessary Repairs
As I was finishing up with the mirror, I noticed the it was flopping around a little. Upon removing the back, this is what I saw. The wooden supports were loose under the backer board. I had to address this somehow. After having to remove the back, I was wondering why I just didn’t do that instead of taping it off. That’s the way you might want to go if you do a vintage mirror makeover.
Note: I have a sheet down on my work table to pad the front frame of the vintage mirror as I work on it.
Use Bubble Wrap for Padding Mirror
I tried several things to pad the mirror. First, I tried to replace the wooden supports, then I tried mirror clips. But after screwing in the mirror clips, I couldn’t figure out how I would reattach the backer board with the screws in the way.
Finally I opted for some thin bubble wrap. It worked like a charm!
I replaced the backer board using my Airstrike Staple Gun, and reattached the hanging hardware.
Diluted Dish Soap Cleans Glass
The glass on the mirror isn’t in perfect shape, it’s old. I prefer to clean mirrors, glass and windows with diluted dish soap. This bottle resides in the garage for quick cleanups, so I grabbed it to clean the mirror. Having diluted dish soap on hand in the shop is handy in oh so many ways! I highly recommend you add this to your craft room or workshop.
Vintage Mirror Makeover
After all of this, I’m not sure I’m totally in love with it. Maybe it wants to be a chalkboard? What do you think? When you’re faced with a makeover similar to this, remember, it’s just paint! It’s nothing that can’t be changed.
gail
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