For the winter, I really wanted a mercury glass or antiqued mirror for our mantle, but I couldn’t find any in a wood frame that I liked, in the size that I wanted. A few quick searches online yielded plenty of DIYs that were just the solution I needed! We used the method provided by Rustoleum.
Here’s how we made our mirror:
We bought a clear pane of glass from the hardware store– they have a few size options, and luckily one fit the bill.
When the paint is still wet, use a spray bottle to spritz vinegar onto the glass. Spray where/how much you’d like.
Blot with paper towel. Continue these steps until it is antiqued to your liking.
When dry, spraypaint with a darker color (this way the distressed parts show through darker on the front side of the mirror.) We used a brown that we had on hand.
For the frame, we simply cut pine boards to size. We created a bevel so the mirror would fit snugly inside the notch and used mirror clips to secure everything in place.
We used the Kreg Jig and wood glue to attach the boards.
Use any stain you’d like to finish it off- we used a mix of Early American and Provincial because we had some from previous projects.
I love how my magnolia leaf looks hanging on the mirror!
So over the past few weeks I showed you how to Age Terracotta Pots, create a Moss Covered Letter, and emboss some paper goods. All of these crafts were part of a bridal shower, hosted by my mother-in-law for our cousin Justine. The theme of the shower was vintage garden and boy did the house transform and play the part beautifully!
Here are a few shots from the shower—it’s amazing what a bit of planning, creativity, and elbow grease can accomplish! I think it was beautiful and the pictures do not even do it justice.
I just love this sign. My mother-in-law hand painted the letters and distressed each one—I thought it was a printable it looks so perfect! The raffia is a great touch to add to the vintage feel of the shower. Since this sign isn’t customized to the bride and groom, the family can use it for future weddings.
There were lots of small chalkboards throughout the shower—with cute wedding related phrases or quotes. This just solidifies the notion that chalkboards are the perfect décor for any occasion.
The laundry room underwent a transformation and became the drinks/dessert area. Never underestimate the power of white tablecloths and a burlap accent runner. A few garden related items were all that were needed to connect this room to the theme.
The desserts served were mini pastries, cookies, and that gorgeous cake—made to look like a terracotta pot with flowers! It was not only pretty to look at but pretty delicious too.
The cookies were made by yours truly. I have been dying to try out the frame cookie cutter (from Karen’s Cookies) and thought that this was the perfect occasion. Given the natural theme, I wanted do to more subdued and simple cookies. It was my first time writing with icing, and I think they came out pretty good!
As the shower was in the mid afternoon, the food served was light and refreshing. The greenery of the different salads enhanced the theme and looked lovely on the table.
Check out this moss covered gift box that my sister-in-law, Lauren, made. Is it not the cutest thing ever? It served as décor right up until Justine opened it as a gift. Lauren is a graphic designer and extremely artistic/clever. Not only did she make the box, but also the gift inside—a cute frame that acts as a wedding ring holder. Maybe one day Lauren will feature some of her talents on our blog
The Moss Covered G that I posted about earlier looked great in the dining room. In addition to being décor, it serves as a personalized gift for the bride and groom.
Aside from the food in the dining room, there was also a table full of fruit, cheese, grilled vegetables, dips, etc. Again, all finger food that was light and well suited for an afternoon shower. I thought the table scape was beautiful.
See this statue? Can you believe my mother in law aged this herself?? Incredible!
The bride and groom received many well wishes on the wishing tree. The embossed tags from my earlier blog post looked great on the tree. The tree was a gift for the bride and groom for their new home.
Remember those terracotta pots we showed you how to age? Here’s the final product! Each guest received an herb to take home—the pots/herbs were a huge success, everyone loved them. Talk about a perfect favor for a vintage garden shower!
The shower was a wonderful day for everyone—especially for the bride and her family. It was a lot of fun making some of the crafts that were featured in the shower. With lots of younger siblings and cousins in our family, I’m sensing that there might be more happy family occasions to plan and craft for in the future!
Here’s another craft that I made for the bride-to-be at her shower. After the vintage garden theme was settled, I knew right away that I had to make a moss covered letter. It was the perfect fit for the theme of the shower and could also serve as home décor for the bride and groom in their new house!
Choose a font for your letter. Again, since we have access to the LCD projectors at school, I used that to trace my letter onto paper. No LCD projector? Print out your letter on two pieces of paper and tape them together. Trace your letter onto your wood.
Note- I was working with a remnant piece of wood, so it was already cut into a square shape that was close to the border of my letter. You don’t want too much excess wood getting in your way as you cut.
Step 2:
Cut out your letter using the jigsaw. Use some sandpaper to smooth out the edges.
Step 3:
As with my other wood crafts, I decided to spray paint my letter in green. The moss won’t cover the sides of the letter and I wanted the wood to match.
Step 4:
Trace your letter onto the back of your moss sheet and carefully cut it out.
Step 5:
Using your glue gun, apply your moss. Make sure you have newspaper or toweling down to catch the many pieces of shedding moss.
Step 6:
Tie burlap or whatever ribbon you choose around the letter and it’s ready to hang. I think this looked just awesome on a mirror at the bridal shower.
This is a great craft for yourself or even as a gift!
This is a great craft for yourself or even as a gift!