| Decorative Etched Mirror |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-301 |
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Q: I want to etch a mirror. Can you give me detailed instructions so I do the job correctly? A: (from Debbie Stapley, Ask DIY Crafts expert) You bet I can! Etching a mirror is a lot easier than you might think. You just need a basic product called etching cream to create your design. Materials: Framed mirror of the desired shape and size (frame should be unpainted wood)
Etching cream
Acrylic craft paint (two or three colors)
Paintbrushes
Craft knife
Plastic quilting shapes
Clear adhesive shelf paper
Ruler
Brayer (hand roller)
Large plastic container (half-filled with water) and sponge - The mirror shown here features a paisley design (figure A), but you can choose any shape or pattern that appeals to you. To find the perfect color scheme, look around the room where you'll display the mirror and choose shades from furniture, window treatments or other accent pieces.
- Since the unpainted wood frame (figure B) will be easier to paint without the mirror in place, carefully remove the glass from the frame and lay it aside. (Though the edges of most mirrors have a fairly smooth finish, double check for slivers of glass and wear gloves if the edges show any signs of roughness.)
- Next, paint or stain the wood frame in the desired color (figure C), applying a second coat if necessary for complete coverage.
- Once the base color is completely dry, you're ready to add the design. Here Stapley uses a paisley shape, which she creates by tracing around preformed plastic quilt shapes (figure D) with a pencil.
- Although most craft stores carry a wide variety of prefab shapes and stencils, don't be afraid to be creative -- freehand designs are a great way to express yourself!
- After outlining the shapes around the entire frame, Stapley fills them in using paint in a complementary copper shade (figure E).
- The final touches for the frame are tiny black accent dots applied to the paisley shapes; Stapley creates these by dipping the end of her paintbrush in black paint and "dotting" it carefully in place.
- With the frame complete, Stapley moves on to the design for the mirror glass. To create a stencil for the etching cream, she arranges several more of the plastic paisley shapes on a sheet of clear adhesive shelf paper (figure F). Then she carefully traces around them with a pencil (figure G) and cuts them out with a craft knife (figure H).
- When she's finished cutting out each of the paisley shapes, Stapley peels the backing off the shelf paper and smoothes it carefully onto the mirror glass. To make sure the etched design will have crisp, clean edges, she rolls over the surface using a brayer (a small hand roller used for spreading ink) to remove any air bubbles ( figure I).
- To apply the etching cream, Stapley uses a fresh paintbrush to generously cover each of the paisley cutouts. Then she sets the treated glass (figure J) aside to let the etching cream work its magic -- generally about 10 minutes, but always consult the label on the etching-cream container for specific instructions.
- Removing the etching cream is easy: Stapley simply places the mirror glass in a plastic container partially filled with warm water and uses a sponge to gently rinse the cream from the surface (figure K).
(Word of caution: Be particularly careful when handling wet glass -- a wet surface is much more likely to slip out of your hands.)
- After gently drying the mirror glass with a soft, lint-free cloth or towel, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly to prevent any irritation that could result from traces of the etching cream.
- Now you're ready to resecure the mirror in its frame and find the perfect place to show it off!
RESOURCES :
ITT Technical Institute
Special thanks to the ITT Technical Institute for providing the personnel for the Ask DIY Web site video.
ITT Technical Institute
Website: www.itt-tech.edu/
Mirror by Design: Using Reflection to Transform a Space
Model: 0471118338
Author: Pamela Heyne
(April, 1996)
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
New York, NY 10158-0012
Phone: 212-850-6000
Fax: 212-850-6088
Email: infor@wiley.com
Great 2 x 4 Accessories for Your Home: Making Candlesticks, Coatracks, Mirrors, Foootstools and More
Model: 1579901298
Author: Stevie Henderson and Mark Baldwin
(September, 1999)
Lark Books / Altamont Press
Website: www.larkbooks.com
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