~SHABBY COTTAGE CHIC MIRROR...Romance for Pennies~

~Vintage 1940's Frame~

Shopping Estate and Tag Sales are one of the highlights of both spring and summertime living for me here in Oklahoma.  I'm not afraid to venture anywhere in our gorgeous Red Earth State if it means I just MIGHT find a deal that is too good to pass up!  Even so, there are times when I find myself slinking, slithering my way into what are often Grand Estate Auctions hoping against hope that I'll be able to come away with maybe ONE tiny little treasure.  Most times the merchandise goes sky high making it impossible for me to purchase a single solitary thing.  And so...I have a tendency to favor Sales that might not seem at first glance to be as grandiose.  I almost ALWAYS come away with something fantabulous! :)

Take the mirror you see above.  I found it last year at a neighborhood, family-run estate sale.  Back then it wasn't a mirror at all, but the picture you see below.

~Old Landscape Print~

Now...I love landscape artwork.  I do.  It's just I favor flowers and mirrors more.  Besides, this picture was way too dark for my home and besides it appeared to be faded and discolored...probably from smoke.

However....

The WOODEN FRAME with its bits of detailed plaster and corner accents was LOVELY!  Ticketed price was $10.  Originally the Frame was gold.  Flat, ugly, discolored Greyish-GOLD!!!  :(  Still, her lines were beautiful and I knew immediately I wanted to make her into a mirror.

 ~Gorgeous Details~

 ~New Mirror Cut for $35~

Originally I had plans to hang the fabulous aging piece in my bedroom, but~once our dining room makeover was underway because of her overall size I opted to hang her in our beautifully redesigned space

~Final Price...About $50~

Now...here are some tips when refashioning old framed prints or even mirrors.

If you don't like the outside color of your frame you can easily change it with paint.  I opted NOT to spray paint this frame because sometimes it can cause the decorative plaster and/or resin to chemically melt!  Instead I used a sponge brush (those cheap 2" wide ones at Home Depot and Lowe's) and lightly covered it with my Favorite Zinsser Primer.  I gave it too good coats (front, back and edges) opting to leave bits of the original color in place.  After allowing the frame to dry I then coated it with my FAV PAINT, Behr's Cottage White Satin from Home Depot.  Again, I purposefully left areas of the original color in place.

After curing for a couple of days I then went back and gently distressed areas of the frame that were raised.  Next, the new mirror was added (I found that going to a small independent glass shop is WAY less expensive than having a mirror cut at the big chain stores!).

Now...you can't see the entire room in this shot because I'm quite sure I'll end up moving some things around before I'm completely satisfied.  I've given you a few peeks here and there but now that the French Doors are painted I'll be sharing more with you soon!

I'm sooo happy you visited today!  Blessings for a wonderful Tuesday! 

Love to you~