Friday, March 4, 2011

Lazy Man's Silver Leaf

My house is definitely a work in progress - just like a lot of homes out there - and so there are several pieces I use or display not because I love them, but because they work. I need to make the most of the items I have until I win the lottery. Just wait, it'll happen. Or maybe I'll just become rich and famous the old fashioned way... decisions, decisions.

This mirror is one of those work-with-what-you-have items:
 
 
It's just not practical for me to run away and find true love with my secret boyfriend right now (or maybe ever. It's clearanced! Le eek!). I decided it was time to make peace with my less adventurous, sort of nerdy and boring prom date of a mirror.
 
I got a wild hair to silver leaf Mr. Respectable Mirror, and quickly started researching techniques. I even found a great tutorial at Little Green Notebook. And then...and then. I decided to try a shortcut. Sometimes shortcuts work, sometimes they don't... but I figured that even if it was an epic fail, I could just silver leaf over it.
 
Out came a can of spray paint I had purchased early last year for another project: Krylon's Original Chrome.
 

This paint is a part of Krylon's premium metallic line. They are available in smaller cans, and they're supposed to resemble actual metallic plating as opposed to paint. When I used the Original Chrome paint a year ago for my original project (whatever that was), it wasn't brillianty shiny and chrome-y enough for me and so I put it away and forgot about it.

When I stumbled across it again and decided to give it a try, I honestly wasn't expecting very much.


I'm happy to announce that I was pleasantly surprised!




I think it's pretty convincing, especially for a can of spray paint. It has a metallic sheen and it reflects light just like it should. In the above picture, you can even see the reflection of the lampshade -- hello, regular metallic paint doesn't do that, people. Love it!


It's brilliant! Just not for knocking off a chrome finish -- if anyone can figure that one out, give me a call. Ignore the name of the paint, people. We should call it Lazy Man's Silver Leaf.

(P.S. Thanks for the hair love yesterday... I'm working through my shock. I think I like it now, I'm such a complicated creature.)

Sharing this post at:
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Krafty Kat
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23 comments:

  1. I'm amazed at how fantastic that looks! Chrome? Not so much...but silver leaf? Yep!

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  2. Wow, that looks wonderful! Love it with the lamps and the new glass floats.

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  3. Love me some Krylon =) That paint is baller! I'm for sure going to pick up a can next time I find a really cool frame or mirror to paint! too flipping cool =)

    xoXOxo
    Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

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  4. awesome results! Thanks so much for the tip, I think I could (maybe) try this with one of my less than fabulous mirrors. We'll see. Have a great weekend :)

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  5. So pretty! I tried some metallic paint last month and was pleased with it as well.

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  6. I love that color! Right now my fave is Krylon nickel finish, but I might have to try this chrome! I love the whole table. The lamps are gorgeous and where did you find those balls? Stopping by from Just a Girl.
    Jen

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  7. Nice vignette! I like your lamps. I totally understand about using what you have. :)

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  8. That is gorg!!! I'm now looking around my house for a mirror to spray paint silver :)

    Saw you on DIY Show Off!

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  9. I love this idea! I found your blog at the DIY Showoff. You have such great ideas and I'm your newest follower! I'd love it if you'd follow me back: http://stillwaterstory.blogspot.com/

    Again, you did a fantastic job with your mirror! I've used nickel and silver metallic by Krylon but haven't seen the chrome...I'm on the hunt now!

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  10. yay, what a great after! i have a love for metallic spray paint, too. clearly much simpler than silver leafing. and super cute haircut, too!

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  11. That turned out so great! He's not a nerd anymore- he's hot! Thanks for sharing at Gettin' Krafty With It!

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  12. That turned out great. I have a can of chrome spray paint and havne't used it yet. Now after seeing how pretty your project turned out I will definately be spray painting something chrome. Thanks for sharing. Karie

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  13. the silver looks really great with the blue lamps. great job.

    megan
    craftycpa.blogspot.com

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  14. Stopped over from Censational Girl and found your fabulous blog. You're very inspiring. Lots of beautiful DIY projects here. I'll be back to your site again and again.

    Moni

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  15. I'm loving this mirror! I have a gold mirror I've been wanting to paint for about a year but can't decide on a color...

    Please check out my blog when you get a chance: www.decoratingdiy.blogspot.com

    Kristen
    Turning a House into a Home

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  16. Amazing work. And when it comes to getting rich, as long as the will to make it happen it will in due time. Constant saving is important and the perseverance and the mind set should be present too.

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  17. Hi - I never seem to get good results with spray paint. Have experimented with metallic ones and I still get the tell-tale "spray paint look". Blotches, lines, whatever you call them. Does this paint eliminate that? Would like to paint a piece of furniture and the larger the piece, the more apparent the blotchiness would be. Could you use a stippling brush and stipple the wet spray paint? Or would that be just a mess?

    Thanks so much!
    Vanessa

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  18. Hey Vanessa... I think this paint is going to respond the way any other spray paint would. I would say your best bet would be to read up on spray paint tips and technique to help avoid the blotchiness -- the higher the gloss, the more prone to blotches (differences in sheen). There's a few quick tips here: https://www.takethesidestreet.com/2011/09/black-door.html and then just be sure to do several lighter coats?? Hope that helps :)

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  19. absolutely fabulous mirror. i am a fan of mercury glass also. come link up your mirror at our party, http://www.finecraftguild.com/party

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  20. Gorgeous! "Lazy man's silver leaf" sounds right up my alley!

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  21. Love the results! Pinterest and Google have led me in several directions regarding which paint I want to go with the jazz up a nerdy wood table into a foyer table, but your pictures are so amazing I am going with your paint choice. Would like to know, did you sand or prime or anything else non-lazy? ;)) I want to just spray it on (heard, light coats.) lol Please let me know. <3

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  22. Hi! I'm considering doing this to a large mirror that has some design to the frame. Can you share how you covered the mirror? I sprayed one for my daughter and used newspaper to cover the mirror (wouldn't come out of frame) and some residue leaked through the mirror. Thanks so much!

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  23. I'm glad to see the great work here!.
    Robinets de Cuisine

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