DIYer Makes A Broken Secondhand Mirror Look Straight From World Market
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Thinking of boosting your home's first impression with an entryway mirror? You may need a looking glass fixed in an ornate frame to impress your guests. Alas, buying such a large decorative piece from World Market will easily cost you hundreds of dollars. Another route is to get a secondhand mirror from a thrift store or online marketplace to achieve the desired look for a fraction of the price. Bonus points if you find the vintage mirror everyone wants. But what do you do when the intricate piece you bought has a broken corner? Instead of blaming the thrift gods, follow in DIYer Paige Sechrist's footsteps and use polymer clay to fix the frame.
This genius idea will make your secondhand mirror look like it's from World Market without burning a hole in your pockets. Better yet, you don't have to be a pro-level DIYer to undertake this project. Have a little patience and invest in the right supplies as well as tools to restore your mirror's antique charm. But don't worry; you don't need a lot of items. Start with a pack of polymer clay, go with the oven bake or air dry variety based on what you're comfortable working with. You'll also need a rolling pin and some basic clay sculpting tools, like a ball stylus and carving tool (Yeyetuo's set of 27 tools includes everything), a strong adhesive like E6000 (or go with wood glue if the frame is made of wood), and some spray paint to camouflage the newly sculpted part. You might even need sandpaper (the creator uses her nail Dremel) to perfectly align the broken corner with the molded piece.
How to fix the broken corner of a thrifted mirror with polymer clay
First off, clean your mirror's surface and frame to ensure the sculpted piece doesn't have dust and debris embedded in it. Grab a dry microfiber cloth (steer clear of paper towels to avoid scratches) to take off the top layer of dust. Also, keep a Q-tip or soft-bristled brush handy to get into the nooks and crannies. Then, use a glass cleaner, like Windex, or combine filtered water and distilled white vinegar in a 1:1 ratio to polish the mirror's surface. Coming to the frame, a wooden frame will benefit from a soapy water solution while a damp cloth will be enough for a metal one. Either way, set your mirror aside to air dry.
@paige.sechrist how I fixed my thrifted mirror🪞 spray paint: champagne bronze @Rust-Oleum clay: @Sculpey oven bake clay #diy #diyhomedecor #thriftedhome #marketplacefinds #mending #upcycledfurniture #fixingstuff #thrifttransformation
In the meanwhile, grab a little clay and roll it out. Now, press it down firmly on the corner of your frame that's whole to mimic the broken part. Add in the missing details with your sculpting tool and let it air dry or put it in the oven per the manufacturer's instructions. After it hardens, spray paint it in the exact shade as your mirror and glue it in place (you may have to sand the edge a bit). However, if you can't find the exact shade or wish to upgrade the frame as a whole, glue the missing part first before gilding your thrift store mirror. Use spray paint to hide the seams (adhere strips of painter's tape to the corner to protect the glass from overspray) or go with liquid gold leaf, like Wadities Gold Leaf Gilding Adhesive Set, for an ornate finish. You can even rub a little black gilding wax, such as Amaco's Ebony Rub n Buff, to age your mirror and make it seem vintage.