Handcrafted Decorative Mirror

Materials and Tools:

scrap wood
finished frame pieces
primer
spackling compound
putty knife
water
cloth
foam
crafter knife
pencil
white glue
cardboard/thin wood
acrylic/latex paint
craft paint
paint brushes
faux glaze
clear spray varnish
mirror
cutting tool
cutting oil
ruler
glazier's points

Steps:

1. Choose pieces of wood and assemble into frame. Prime unfinished wooden frame. Let dry.

2. Meanwhile, make two stamps: Cut blocks of crafting foam 1/4 inch thick. Draw design with pencil, freehand, on foam. Cut around design with craft knife and glue foam onto cardboard or thin wood to stabilize. Allow to dry.

3. Using putty knife, apply thin, even layer of spackling compound to entire frame. Wet foam stamp with water and press gently into compound. Lift stamp and repeat until desired pattern is created on entire frame. Let stamped spackling compound dry overnight.

4. Paint entire frame with base color. Allow to dry.

5. Paint each stamped design one of two colors. Allow to dry.

6. Apply second coat, mixing paint with faux glaze--about 1/3 paint and 2/3 gold sparkly glaze.

7. Using cloth, wipe glaze paint entire top surface of frame. The depth created by the stamp will allow for gold paint to remain in pattern and wipe off top surface. Allow to dry.

8. Apply final coat of clear spray varnish. Allow to dry.

9. Attach pre-cut mirror to frame using glazier's points.