Mirror Re-Do

I've had this mirror in my dining room since I lived in my lake house several years ago.  I *think* it came from Home Goods.  It was a dark, almost black espresso color and it's *very* heavy.  The frame is slightly convex, but it's hard to tell from the photos (mainly because the blasted light fixture is in the way!)

Anyway, I like it, and it's been serviceable, but I wanted something different for the dining room.  I really like wall messages, but even though I have fabulous landlords, I'm still leery of painting graphics and text directly on my walls.  I also like the chalkboards at French Country Cottage, but my dining room is rather small and only has one window, so I felt I needed the mirror to make the room look larger. So - I started to look towards the rather broad mirror frame as a background for text.

First step:  I had scored a sample of Valspar "Snow Cap" at Lowe's; 1/2 pint for $1.50!  I painted the frame with two coats that pretty much fully covered the entire original color.

Step Two:  I sanded and distressed the Snow Cap layer.

Step Three:  I wanted a phrase that captured the spirit of dining together with friends, but I didn't want to reference food in a direct manner.  So, I ended up with "...with friends...the wine is sweeter".  I used BabelFish (excuse me...Bing Translator) to translate it into French.

I used Word to type it out in Kunstler Script, and then cut and taped the pieces together to get the layout I wanted.  I used a pretty rustic method of transferring - I used a piece of artist's charcoal and coated the back of the strips with that and then used painters' tape to hold the strips in place.

I then traced over the letters with a pencil.  When I lifted the strips, the charcoal left streaks and marks on the frame which added more depth to the distressing - I love how that turned out.  I then traced the outline of the letters again with a Sharpie paint marker, then wiped off most of the charcoal - leaving the marks I liked. Finally, I painted the lettering with Martha Stewart Acrylic Gloss Paint in "Beetle Black".  After the lettering dried thoroughly, I lightly sanded it to fade it some, and then dry-brushed over it with the Snow Cap.

Step Four:  I painted and distressed the outer top & sides of the frame the same way I did the inner frame.

It turned out exactly as I had envisioned.  It looks really great on my newly painted "Natural Elements" dining room walls.

(how the *heck* do you photograph a mirror, anyway?!?)


Linked to:

Mod Mix Monday @ Mod Vintage Life
Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style
Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House