We’re back with a fun, simple how to for our family closet we shared a few weeks ago. It’s been oh so freeing to organize everything in that space, and when we finished it up, I realized it was missing something.
Confession: I’ve been climbing up on the tub forever to see my outfit. And it was in an awkward fashion, as climbing a {now missing-see beercanpocalypse} gargantuan garden tub in heels or platforms was basically a death wish. It was the only place in the house I could see chosen wardrobe options and also a major tragedy that A. I had to look so awkward and B. a catastrophe waiting to happen. Can’t you see it now?
Hey… how did you get that black eye?
Uh, I fell off my tub trying to see what my outfit looked like… ::voice slowly drifts off as I realize how ridiculous I sound while I stare at my feet and shuffle away doing the obligatory fade-out because I’m just really unfortunate::
I did stumble a few times, and it was scary. Balancing is hard. If I’m going to get a black eye, it’s going to be from something adventurous like hang gliding or rock climbing or rescuing a kitten from a log truck accident and a satanic cult in the middle of the interstate. Not like the last time I got a black eye. Because that was when the minivan door was on automatic and it slammed on my head in the flea market parking lot. How did that happen, you ask? I actually walked into said closing door so the combined momentum of my body and the door met in one electrifying moment where I saw blue, and all I had was a diaper to stop the bleeding. Fun. Times. I think I stumbled around for a few minutes and I still have a scar. I need to contact that flea market and see if I can get the security camera footage. On second thought… there’s no way that place had a security camera so basically I was just stumbling around and no one noticed. I like to take risks with my shopping.
Why am I telling you this? Because regression from mirrors to black eyes are what I do best, and these things actually happen to me. One day my life will be a movie. Starring Kristen Bell. Not because I’m self important. It’s just that incredibly random, and that would also probably happen to me.
But back to the mirror. It’s kind of liberating to finally have one, because I can finally see what I’m wearing, and it’s like a best friend to stop me from making tragic mistakes like muffin top madness that I couldn’t previously see before exiting the closet. Let’s face it y’all: some top/bottom combos aren’t made for each other.
So, long stories aside, I was determined to get that mirror when I realized we had two that had been sitting in our garage from our furniture refinishing days.
If you have been reading since our furniture refinishing days, you may now cringe in second hand embarrassment because that’s pretty bad and the garage is next on our list for a major purge.
Mirrors can be expensive, and I wanted to combine two of them to make a full length one. And here we are.
So we decided to make a frame to join the two together- we needed something stable to hold them. And tada! We were pretty pleased with the outcome. We’re sharing this with you today in case you ever find something you want to frame out in your own home. It’s a super simple, quick solution for a one of a kind look.
Measurements will vary based on what you want to use, but here’s what we did:
Supplies: • wood glue • corner brackets • (1) 1 x 4 x 6 •(2) 1 x 4 x 8
We cut our 1 x 4 x 8’s down to 74 inches and our 1 x 4 x 6 down to (2) 27 inch pieces using our miter saw. {This measurement is the length of the mirrors plus the width of your board times 2, minus the depth of your rip. (See below) So mirror length + width of board (x2) – depth of rip = length of board.}
Next we set up a table saw and set the blade depth to 1/2 inch and the rip bar to 1/2 inch. We fed all 4 pieces down the table saw and then adjusted the rip bar to 1/4 inch and repeated the process. The point of doing this is to cut the groove you see below. If those two rips don’t give you a clean groove adjust your rip bar some more, and cut again.
Next we cut 45 degree angles on both ends of all 4 pieces. and used glue, our nail gun and corner brackets to secure it the frame together. {This measurement is the width of the mirrors plus the width of your board times 2, minus the depth of your rip. So mirror width + width of board (x2) – depth of rip = length of board.}
Then we placed the mirror down in the grooves we had created with our rip cuts and secured it with more corner brackets. It really is that simple.
It may not sound simple. But it is.
No more awkward stumbles in the name of fashion and vanity. No more unfortunate black eye mishaps where people totally give me the wonky eye when I’m not looking. At least for now. I’ll probably get nailed the next time we’re at the playground and all three kids want me to push them simultaneously. This mom gig is a high risk kinda thing. Who knew.
Let us know if you try it, and have an amazing day!
Anna @ A Good Home says
You would ABSOLUTELY be played by Kristen Bell. It’s crazy how much you look alike, which is definitely a compliment, pretty lady 🙂 Are you a Veronica Mars fan? If not, you should be. I watched the whole series for the first time in one huge binge of about 2 weeks (ok, it was a liiittle longer than that) and I’m 100% obsessed. We realized that all but the first season of the show aired while my husband has been in grad school. For 9 years. He just graduated this month. Geez, that was a long time.
Digression over. Love the framed mirror 🙂
Tania // Run to Radiance says
Haha I have totally climbed on the tub to see my outfit too. But then I have to do this awkward crouching thing so I can see my face. Not cute. 🙂 Full length mirror definitely needed!
JT says
Ya know… I don’t really want to learn how to frame a mirror, but you still managed to make this tutorial absolutely amazing. I love that you are a normal person just like everyone else! Hilarious!
Emma says
Some good easy to follow info! Thanks for the post 🙂 For something so simple, it really can make a big difference having a big, well-placed mirror with a nice frame.
capturing joy with kristen duke says
So did you get rid of your wedding bouquet? I must know!