Shabby Chic Mirror

This piece has to be the favorite I have made so far. I found the mirror at the peddlers mall, and I already had my supplies at home, so this was a very cheap project anyone can do. I wish I took before pictures but things seem to slip my mind when I am absorbed in my ideas, or I simply am a forgetful person ha! Promise to try and be better at this blogging thing. Try to picture this. A dingy, gold frame with a even dingier mirror. After cleaning, painting and distressing here are the end results. 

My supplies:

• Sandpaper
• Vintage White Paint - I use the craft paint from Wal-Mart
• Vaseline
• Clear Finish Spray
• Thick Bristled Paint Brush

Directions

-Start by cleaning the surface with wash cloth of paper towel, and sand. This prepares the wood for the first coat of paint.

- Apply the first coat of paint and let dry.

- Dab Vaseline on the corners and other places where the wood would naturally wear and chip.

- Paint second coat and let dry.

- Take sandpaper and lightly scrape over the places where Vaseline was applied. The paint should very easily just chip away. Scrape and chip to your liking.

- Spray one coat of clear finish over the frame. This holds the paint in place and gives a natural shine. 

Ta Da! A shabby chic mirror. I love the simple white, chippy look of furniture and it's so easy to do at home relatively cheap.

Shabby Chic Obession - Candle Holders with Mirrors

Thanks to Pinterest and Etsy, I discovered decorative awesomeness! Shabby chicness has invaded my thoughts and can be darn expensive. However, upon further investigating it can be done at home. I hate when I get obsessed with projects because I can't stop. Its a love, hate relationship. I found a couple of gold candle holders at the goodwill. They were in perfect condition but I did not like the gold, and thought this would be perfect for a little project.

Here are the materials used:

Sandpaper

Vintage white paint- I used craft paint from Wal-Mart

Vaseline

Clear finish spray paint

I first sanded the surface of the candle holders, and did my best to get in between the floral designs. Following by applying my first coat of paint with a small paint brush.

After drying a couple of hours I then dabbed small amounts of Vaseline on the corners and other random places where I wanted to distress and give that shabby look.

I then applied the second coat of paint and after allowing to dry another hour I took the sandpaper and lightly sanded the places covered in Vaseline. This made chipping away the paint very easy. After I distressed the paint to my liking I finished with one coat of clear finish spray. This gave a slight shiny surface and will hold the paint in place

  Even Steve loves them!