DIY Upcycled Painted Mirror: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and the Lesson I Learned

After my mother-in-law saw a few of the mirrors that I've been accumulating for future projects, she asked me to paint one of the mirrors that I had for her closet so that she can use it while getting ready in the mornings.

After receiving the dimensions of her available wall space, I asked if she liked the mirror below that I purchased at a yard sale for $5.00.

She loved it! However, before I picked a paint color, I asked her several questions while getting a feel for the look she wanted without revealing the color that I was intending on using after considering her responses.

After speaking with my MIL, I knew that Provence by Annie Sloan was the right color, but before I started painting, I wiped the mirror down with white vinegar and water (50/50) and let it fully dry before I began with the first coat.

As you can see, there was a lot of dirt to clean off.

I applied the first coat with a brush while trying to get into all the nooks and crannies. However, after that dried, I had to go back with a partial second coat while covering the missed spots in the groves.

When painting this mirror, I did not mix water with the AS chalk paint like I had with my first two projects; however, when painting my next ornate mirror, I will mix three parts paint to one part water for better coverage. I feel that not watering down this chalk paint caused it to go on a bit too thick while I lost some of the detail.

Overall, I still think that it came out beautifully, and my MIL loved it, so it was a total score! 

Since this project, I've purchased several more antique mirrors and have even saved a couple mirrors from the landfill while trash picking, so I will have 12+ mirror projects in my not-so-distant future to share with all of you.

Much Love!

Priscilla