Have you ever had a great project in mind, but it just didn't turn
out to be as easy as you thought it would be? My easy mirror-to-chalkboard
project took a turn for the worse when I found out the mirror was glued to
the frame. I needed a new idea. If I couldn't get the mirror out what was
I supposed to do?
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Enter etching cream and a stencil. You're supposed to pounce it on
like paint with a stencil brush, but I found that a regular old
watercolor paintbrush from my kids' painting stash worked better for me. The etching creme is
more liquid than creme, so I found that the little brush smoothed it
out a bit better than a pouncer.
TIP: The beauty of stenciling onto glass is that if you
accidentally spread the etching cream underneath the stencil and
it bleeds over the lines, you can always carefully scrape the excess dried
cream off later with a carpenter's knife. Just be careful not to scratch
the glass in the process.
After stenciling I still had to paint the frame,
which requires taping off the mirror so as not to accidentally
get paint on it. But it was round! Taping off a
mirror inside a square or even rectangular frame is relatively
easy. But when it's round you can't expect to be able to tape
it the same way.
Enter frog tape. I call it frog tape but I guess it's
technically what they call
painter's tape. It's a blue tape you can find at any hardware store, or
even the Dollar Store or Dollar General. (Frog Tape, which
is green, is a registered trademark or something so ssshhhh, I
didn't even say those words, now did I?)
Due to the arc of the frame, you'll need to rip many small pieces of
tape over and over and keep applying them to the mirror right
inside the frame, all the way around.
After stenciling I still had to paint the frame,
which requires taping off the mirror so as not to accidentally
get paint on it. But it was round! Taping off a
mirror inside a square or even rectangular frame is relatively
easy. But when it's round you can't expect to be able to tape it the
same way.
Enter frog tape. I call it frog tape but I guess it's
technically what they call painter's tape. It's a blue tape you can
find at any hardware store, or even the Dollar Store or
Dollar General. (Frog Tape, which is green, is a
registered trademark or something so ssshhhh, I didn't even say those
words, now did I?)
Due to the arc of the frame, you'll need to rip many small pieces of
tape over and over and keep applying them to the mirror right
inside the frame, all the way around.
It's a bit tedious at first, but once you get going it can go pretty fast
until you end up with this.
Just keep layering until the whole mirror is taped.
And there you go. She's all ready for painting. And here's the finished
work.
Not bad for a Plan B, huh?
Well, that's it until next time, friends!
I hope you enjoyed reading about
How To Frog Tape and Etch a Round Mirror
and that I've inspired you in some way.
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Leave a Comment!
Very clever! You made lemonade out of a real lemon.
Oh I know, taping a round or oval mirror...Pain in the butt! I have not tried the etching yet, thank you for the great idea. I think your mirror is adorable!!
Carol
Great idea - thanks for sharing! Daughter is working on a mirror project now - may need to pass this info along to her.
Oh my word, I totally love this, how fabulous. Thanks for the tutorial. Thanks so much for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty
Very, very nice! Really like the lettering on the mirror!
Warm Hugs,
Jemma
So pretty! I haven't tried the etching cream yet, but want too. I love your mirror! Thanks for all the great tips! I love your Hydrangeas; mine are gone now, so it's nice to see your's!
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