Tuesday, February 17, 2015

DIY Foil Mirror

Hello my dear reader,
Welcome to my post on DIY foil mirror.
This was an experiment that succeeded!!
You must have seen my previous foil work post Faux metal wall art
This one is on similar lines....Lets have a look at our center of attention here.....

DIY Foil Mirror

Let me show you the materials used:
  • Heavy duty metal(aluminum) foil.
  • Small round mirror.
  • Round wooden/ MDF base.
  • Wooden tool...I used scratch art tool.
  • Acrylic color-black.
  • Paintbrush.
  • Heavy duty glue... I used Fevibond.
  • Glue gun.
  • Hook/frame hanger.
  • Kitchen tissue (Bounty).
  • Clear Varnish spray. 
  • Lots of enthusiasm :)
Materials

Materials

Take the foil in an inch bigger in diameter than your base circle.
Keep it on the wooden base and mark the outlines.
Now place the mirror in the center and mark its outlines.
You get two circles, one inside the other.

Preparing the foil base

Now, make your design between these two circles by gently pressing with wooden tool.
Make sure your tool is really blunt, and keep a foam sheet under your work or it will not create the embossed effect.
I chose the simplest design as it was my first try.
Slowly and steadily I finished the embossing.
It looked like this...

Embossing method-Part 1

Embossing Method- Part 2

This is the embossed side with design completed...convex...

Completed design

This is the side with the work surface...concave...

Completed design

To maintain the shape of the embossed design, fill the concave/ scooped part with hot glue using a glue gun...

Hot glue

Hot glue

After the glue is dry, apply adhesive to the base and the foil...Then glue the foil with embossed side up...

Gluing to the wooden base


Smoothen out the sides of the embossing with a Q-tip/earbud to make the design pop out.

Smoothening

Then, press and glue the foil on the wood firmly.
When it is dry, turn it over and cover the embossing with black acrylic color..


Black acrylic color

When its dry, rub it gently with bounty or thin cotton cloth..
The black color comes off the embossing but stays in the grooves, giving the design a tarnished silver/ antique effect....

Antique effect

Now, spray it with 2 coats of clear varnish and let it dry for a few hours...
When its completely dry, glue the mirror on the base and the hook for hanging...

Glue mirror on base

Finished Foil Mirror

Hope you like this artwork...

This is copyrighted work, kindly give due credit if replicated...

Comment below to let me know you were here and thanks for visiting...
See you soon!!
Till then, happy crafting :)




Sunday, February 1, 2015

DIY Animal Magnets

Hi, welcome back.
I have been busy with some personal work that left me very little time for myself.
However, I had some free time on hand today with a snow day and all, and I decided to make something quick and easy. And thus, were born my little animal magnets.

Animal Magnets

They were so easy to make yet so much fun. You can let go anyway you want and every result is better than before.
Let me show you what you'll need.


Materials:

  • Transparent Glass nuggets (flat on one side)
  • Nail Polish (black, transparent)
  • Acrylic color (yellow, white)- You can use yellow/ white nail polish if you have one ;)
  • Paintbrush
  • Magnets
  • Glue- of good strength.

Materials

First and foremost, clean up the glass nuggets with paper towel to remove any residue.
Draw stripes and spots on different nuggets. I made one with spots and two with stripes.
Let them dry for an hour.

First Coat

When its completely dry, paint one striped nugget and the spotted nugget yellow. Paint the other striped nugget with white acrylic color. Again, if you have a nail polish in white or yellow, use it. Now, let it dry for another hour. When its nice and dry, give it a coat of transparent nail polish. This will really seal in the colors. Let these nuggets dry for two- three hours. You don't want any smudges.

Second coat

 When its dry and hard glue on the magnets with a strong glue and let them dry overnight.

Materials

Glue Magnets

 And finally, the final product on its destination- the refrigerator :)

Animal Magnets

Hope you have fun making these and don't forget to Share your pictures in the comment box below.
Thanks for visiting and come back for more.
Till then, happy crafting.