How To Save A Plastic Mirror from the Yard Sale
I am getting ready for a yard sale, in fact I was supposed to have…
Another thing I have is this awful oval mirror with a plastic frame. Honestly, I wouldn’t have given it a second glance except that the kids took all of the mirrors from my room and so I made myself a bet. I would give it one last shot and try to up-cycle this sad sack of a mirror and if I don’t like it, then I can still sell it at the yard sale. Now let’s see how I intend to save the plastic mirror from the clutches of the yard sale.
Disclosure: The items below are affiliate links. If you purchase any of these products through the links, I receive a small commission, that way I can continue to provide you with lovely content. There is no extra charge to you for purchasing through my affiliate links.
What I Used:
The How To:
I also mixed the Neutral Gray into the Everlasting chalky finish paint to come up with this soft gray which I then applied to the 5 rope pieces going around the oval of the mirror.
Finally using the Raw Sienna mixture I painted over the scallops and the framed piece which was right next to the actual glass, on the right side of the image below.
You can still see lots of the white peeking out from underneath the brushstrokes.
And here they are on the top of the oval. It’s starting to look very shabby chic!
And now I have a new mirror!
Is it shabby chic? Does it look vintage? I don’t know what to call it. You can see the drop cloth pleated curtains that I made a few months ago, reflected in the mirror.
Oh and the object next to the oval mirror, on the right, is the farmhouse chippy mirror I refinished a few months ago. The actual mirror has fallen off – talk about Murphy’s Law, after all that work – but I will find a way to glue it back on.
And it’s certainly a much more robust frame that really shows off all those twists, turns and scallops.
I’ll be showing you more of the furniture as we go on. Or maybe I’ll even be brave and make a mood board. I’ve never made one before. Any advice on how to do it?
Maybe…
Ok now I need an honest opinion here. Should I keep this plastic oval mirror, or should I sell it at the yard sale?
And while we’re at it, do you want to see a mood board for this grey and peach bedroom?
Linking up to these Link Parties
This blog is for entertainment purposes only; my DIY tutorials are not professional advice. Read my full disclaimer here.
I love it when I get your comments and I will try to reply to every one of them. Please do not add a hyperlink to your comment, otherwise it cannot be published.
Awesome Mary. You’ve added detail and layers that a “flat” plastic frame could never get close too. It looks beautiful now and I really love the way you mixed the different effects to create a frame within a frame -hope that makes sense.
I think so Michelle. I really went all out and had fun with this one, thinking that if it worked fine, but if it didn’t that was fine too. I guess sometimes you get it right.
This is such a beautiful upcycle!! You were featured on our Link up this week and we’d love to have you join us again! Our inspired Collection Link Up!
Thank you so much Haley. I will be coming over this week.
Mary this turned out beautifully! Thank you so much for linking up!
LOVE!! It looks like real basket weave now with a lot more dimension. Very chic.
Thanks Amy, it was either improvement or out the door it went.
It looks great! I especially love the little empty frame beside it too!
Amber that used to be a mirror but then the glass part fell out. It still looks pretty though.
WOW! I wish you could set up a camera and film people who are gonna come up to it and tap it and say, “Oh, it is JUST plastic. It looks SOOO real! Great save. The peach is an awesome idea. I know I’ve past by them in yard sales and GW; I’m gonna buy the next reasonably price (read cheap!) one I see. I love drybrushing…white and aqua for a beachy vibe…shades of brown for rattan…hmm!
You’ll have a lot of fun doing one Kathy. I really enjoyed all that dry-brushing. I hope you find one soon.
Mary,
Love how you updated this mirror. Fabulous job. Stop by Over The Moon party tomorrow since you are being featured.
Hugs,
Bev
Thank you so much Beverly.
The updated patina looks great! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Thanks Cecilia, I couldn’t look at that plastic any more.
This is a great makeover, Mary! I love the subtle details you added with the chalk paint. It creates a bit of drama and turns that plain old mirror into a vintage treasure. Beautiful!
Thanks so much Jelica. It definitely needed something it was so boring before.
What a great save and transformation Mary! Don’t you just love the power of paint!
I swear by the power of paint Sam. It’s transformative powers are extraordinary!!
Yes love what you did and should be a keeper as not likely you would get the $$ if selling at a sale anyway. Question…….I bought one of these from a resale shop for cheap, however, the mirror has been impacted with specs of some kind – I think the mirror needs to be replaced……how else to address sprucing the mirror so I can then do what you did to the frame?
Hi Julie, I have never seen this done before. I think people usually try to age their mirrors not the other way around. However after some research I found these posts that addresses the problem of black spots.
https://abeautifulmess.com/2015/10/4-soloutions-for-dark-spots-on-vintage-mirrors.html
http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-black-spots-on-mirrors/
https://www.hometalk.com/24836536/q-suggestions-to-camouflauge-black-spot-on-mirror
Good luck!
Great makeover, from drab to fab. Pinned
Thanks Anita this one really needed lots of love.
I know exactly that burnt yellow colour your referring to and it’s awful. Your new vintage mirror looks wonderful Mary worth every dry brush stroke.
Don’t you just love being able to transform things with paint!
Mary, I love the character and patina you gave your mirror. What a beautiful transformation. So fun to give an object a whole new life, and you’re always very good at that! It’s funny, we both posted mirror rehab projects this week on Waste Not Wednesday 🙂
I have more mirrors than I know what to do with Heidi!
That looks amazing! I love it when people revive things from yard sales!
It is always a shame to just throw useful things away when you can give them a new look with a bit of paint.
I’d definitely say, “Shabby Chic.”
I think I have to agree with you Michelle!