How to Make Old World Mirrors

Give your household mirror an Old World look with just fabric and plastic foam. Follow these step-by-step instructions.

Old World mirrors like this are easy to create. See the instructions below for details.

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Materials:

1" plastic foam
magic marker
plate or other oval object to trace for pattern (if round or oval frame is desired)
steak knife
low-melt glue (regular-strength hot glue will melt foam)
corrugated nails
quilt batting
craft knife
putty knife
fabric cording
mirror

Optional Materials:

furniture stripper
steel wool
decorating cording

Steps:

Draw a pattern for the frame onto plastic foam. Trace an oval (or circular) shaped item shape (such as a plate) if an oval or circular mirror is desired.

Figure A

Score plastic foam with steak knife (figure A) and break over the edge of a table to cut out the pattern.

Figure B

Rub pieces of plastic foam together to sand the rough edges where it was cut (figure B).

Figure C

Glue two halves of the plastic foam together and support the seams with corrugated nails (figure C).

Draw a line about 1/4-inch into the foam from the center, and another line about 1/4-inch from the surface along the inside of the frame.

Figure D

Cut out the area between the two lines (figure D), making a small lip along the interior of the frame where the mirror will rest. Sand rough edges with another piece of foam.

Cut frame pattern out of quilt batting with a craft knife. Lay batting on top of the frame.

Figure E

Lay fabric on top of the plastic foam (figure E). Cut small lines along the inside of the fabric so that it will fold down into the center easily.

Figure F

Apply glue along the lip inside the frame, fold fabric and tuck it into the plastic foam at the lip with a putty knife (figure F).

Wrap fabric around outside edges of frame and attach to the back with glue.

If desired, "age" the mirror by applying furniture stripper and rubbing surface with steel wool.

Glue mirror onto the lip in the center of frame. If desired, add decorative cording around edge of mirror.

Resources

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- Betty Ann Lasley
  Styrofoam Designer / VP Marketing Party Success Inc., Creative Pastimes in Video
  1877 S Federal Highway, Suite 204
  Boca Roton, FL 33432
  E-mail: cpv@genevaonline.com