Mom didn’t want this vaguely European oval mirror with a scrolly top any longer and gave it to me. What a windfall. I suppose it dates from the 1920s or so judging from the yellowed newspaper that backs it. I just swoon over the damaged edge that reveals it.
It used to be dark wood, but that was easily covered with a coat of white paint, in this case leftover China White semi-gloss from painting the Shabby Streamside Studio. If I ever need to antique mirror glass, I’m glad I have a fabulous example of the real thing. (I saved this article in case I ever need it.)
It’s been my laboratory for experimenting with crackle paint. I apologize, but I don’t have the crackle paint any longer as I left it in the barn and it froze, but it had cartoons of men painting on it and stated, “This is the one that works!”.
This is interior semi-gloss China White paint on China White paint. You’re meant to apply the crackle paint in the opposite direction you’ve painted the surface and it’s dry, but it only crackles like this if you put it on raw wood.
I prefer putting the crackle on in the same direction when the paint on the surface is still damp, like this.
If you hit it with a hair dryer, it’ll bubble up and make blisters. Most of the distressing was done with an old pair of scissors.
If you try to use crackle in an unheated studio when it’s below 50, nothing happens, so don’t bother.
Then, I discovered Cindy’s My Romantic Home blog, and reading back through it learned employing Rub 'N Buff on your project makes the finishing touch by ‘aging’ the brightness of fresh paint. Michael’s didn’t have the color she loves, they just had ‘Patina’, which turned out to be this aqua color I had to rub off. It was a blessing in disguise. A wet paper towel and vigorous rubbing gave me this effect, and I did the same around the edges and loved it. Harder than using sandpaper, but rewarding.
I returned to Michael’s and bought the right Rub N’ Buff, and used it to mellow the white successfully.
These pictures weren’t taken in my studio, it's in my old house, and the mirror is actually stored away at the moment, but I hope to do something with it in my studio’s loft.
Until next time, stay shabby!
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