Monday, March 5, 2012

Make A Mirror With Antique Ceiling Tiles

Use antique tin ceiling tiles to frame a mirror.


Antique ceiling tiles are artifacts of a bygone era that you can find at antique stores and restoration-related salvage businesses. Tin ceiling tiles produced in the 1800s came in sheets or individual tiles. Collectibles-Articles.com says that these affordable, embossed, patterned tin tiles replicated the grandeur of affluent European plaster decorated ceilings. Aside from tiling a ceiling or a kitchen backsplash, you can use antique ceiling tiles in a variety of craft projects, such as framing a mirror. Make a mirror framed with antique ceiling tiles to accent your home d cor.


Instructions


1. Lay the plywood on the table. Center and glue the mirror to the wood using a silicone-based adhesive. Apply adhesive with a caulking gun, if applicable, or squeeze it directly from the tube or bottle. Look for adhesive at hardware and home improvement stores.


2. Allow the glue to dry for about 12 hours and cure for 24 hours.


3. Place the antique ceiling tiles flush along the outside edges of the mirror. Ceiling tiles do not have to be identical.


4. Hammer finish nails into each corner of each ceiling tile and into the plywood.


5. Lay a newspaper rectangle over the mirror. Tape the newspaper to the mirror to protect the glass from paint.


6. Paint the antique ceiling tiles with oil-based paint intended for metal. Allow the paint to dry. Paint the ceiling tiles with a clear coat. Use clear spray paint if desired, but be careful not to apply too much paint to the tiles. Excessive paint will pool on the metal and within the embossed design. Allow the clear coat to dry.


7. Remove the newspaper and tape carefully to avoid lifting paint from the ceiling tiles.


8. Turn the mirror over. Measure 2 inches toward the center from each top corner. Use finish nails and a hammer to install sawtooth hangers in the top right and left corner.

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