Faux Vintage Mirror Tray

​text by Vicki     ​Sign up to get Mother Daughter Projects updates in your email!

Recently we were challenged by Rust-Oleum to create an upcycle project using a variety of paint products that they sent to us. We created two upcycle projects for the challenge--one to enter into a blogger contest and this one just for fun!

The goal was to upcycle something from "found" objects. For the tray we used an old vintage frame, backing from an old desk, and a pair of vintage drawer pulls. Take a look at how it all came together. 

Materials:

• Chalked paint Aged Gray (Amazon)
• Mirror Effect paint in gold (Amazon)
• Varathane Wood Stain in Briarsmoke (Amazon)
• Krud Kutter (Amazon)
• We also used a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water
• Sandpaper
• Scotch Brite cleaning pad
• ​Glass cleaner/paper towels

First things first, remove the hardware and clean...

Next, to get the vintage mirror effect, we laid the well cleaned frame glass in a box and misted with water/vinegar...

The frame was sprayed with the Chalked paint.

Lipstick was used to mark the placement of the handles on the frame...

Everything is clamped down to drill the holes...

The screws needed to be flush with the frame so the backing would fit flat.

Use a Phillips screw driver to attach the handles.

...Krud Kutter and a Scotch Brite pad made quick work of the cleaning step.

...we sprayed two coats of the mirror spray, making sure the first coat was dry. You can do more coats for different looks.

The handles were cleaned only to bring out the original patina.

...with the lipstick markings, we know exactly where to make the screw holes.

...a countersink bit was used to recess the screw heads.

Notice you can't see the top of the screw, everything fits nice and flat.

After hot gluing the glass in place, felt was added to the back.

The frame ready for the backing.

RapidFuse was used to attach the back...

Screws were added for extra security...

...everything was clamped into place.

...along with felt pads.

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Sandpaper was used to distress the frame.

A little stain was also used to distress on the edges.

Because this is glass, it can be used as a dry erase board!

Even though this tray is made with "found" vintage items, it can also be made with new materials. The mirror paint also comes in silver so you can make a tray with a mercury glass effect too. This is a project that lends itself to creativity.

​What would your tray look like? Would you use it as a dry erase board? #TryLearnShare

Please note: We are not sponsored by Rust-Oleum. We were given some of the Rust-Oleum products to try out. All thoughts and options are our own and based on our experience.

FYI: We are not professionals, and we don’t claim to be. This is what we found worked for our project. Yours may need a little different approach. Safety first!

FYI: Affiliate links are being used on this page. Purchasing via these links help support MDP!

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