Things You'll Need:
- Framed garage sale mirror
- Sandpaper
- Soft cloth
- Primer
- Thick bristled paint brush
- Sand or gold colored paint
- Petroleum jelly
- Antique white paint
- Varnish
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Step 1
Prepare your garage sale mirror for it's shabby chic makeover by first lightly sanding the frame. If the frame already has a thick coat of paint, you may need to sand a bit more to ensure that the new layer of paint sticks. Once ready, brush off any dust with a soft cloth.
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Step 2
Apply a coat of primer to the frame, using a thick-bristled brush to create subtle lines in the paint, giving the frame the illusion of wood. Allow the primer to dry completely.
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Step 3
Choose a sand colored paint for the base coat, applying an even layer to the frame and allowing it to dry completely. If you would like a more glamorous shabby chic look, try gold paint instead. Once the base coat is throughly dry, apply a very thin layer of petroleum jelly to any raised surfaces, edges and details where you would like the base coat to show through the final coat.
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Step 4
Paint the frame once again, this time using an antique white and working directly over your application of petroleum jelly. Allow the final coat to dry thoroughly, adding a second coat if desired. Because you will be roughing up the surface a bit, you may want to allow the paint to set overnight so that it is thoroughly cured.
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Step 5
Wipe the surfaces of your garage sale mirror thoroughly with a soft cloth, removing the layer of white paint applied over the petroleum jelly application. Once the petroleum jelly is completely removed, use sandpaper if desired to smooth any rough edges and increase the broken in look.
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Step 6
Protect your shabby chic mirror with a coat of varnish if you like, or simply leave as is, allowing nature to further the look with everyday wear and tear.
