Art Nouveau Mirror

Simple and stylish, this mirror would be equally at home in a traditional or modern home.

Steps 1 to 4

Surprisingly simple to make, this project can easily be adapted to fit any shape or size of mirror. The shape of the mirror and frame should complement the shape of the stamp. So if you want to use a long, thin stamp, choose a narrow rectangular frame and mirror.

You Will Need

• Box picture frame with mount


• Art nouveau stamp


• Permanent black ink pad


• Household scissors


• 1/8 inch - (33mm-) wide self-adhesive lead


• Boning tool


• Craft knife


• Piece of mirror cut to fit the frame. (This should not be too tight a fit or you might break it when fitting it.)


• Pen


• Pale green vellum


• Clear paper adhesive

What to Do
1. Take the box frame apart. Lay the glass in position over the picture mount and stamp onto it twice, positioning the stamps so that they overlay the inner edge of the mount.





2. Using the scissors, cut two lengths of lead slightly longer that the sides of the stamp. Stick one length down along two opposite sides of the stamp. When sticking the lead, hold one end down in position and gently pull the lead straight with your other hand, then stick it down.




3. Stick longer lengths of lead along the other two sides of the stamp. These lengths should run off one side of the glass.






4. Use the boning tool or a wooden clothes peg to rub the lead down onto the glass. Concentrate particularly around the overlaps so that they are well stuck down.

Steps 5 to 8

5. Use the craft knife to cut off the protruding ends. Lead the other stamp in the same way.






6. Lay the mount over the mirror glass and mark its position with temporary pen marks. Stamp once onto the mirror, positioning the stamp so that it will lie partly under the mount. Lead it in the same way as the stamps on the glass.




7. The finished stamp should look like this.







8. Stamp four times onto the green vellum and leave to dry.

Steps 9 to 12

9. Cut out the stamps and put a little clear glue on the back of each one. Put the glue on the stamped areas so that it doesn't show on the front.






10. Stick one square onto each corner of the mount. Align a corner of the square with an inner corner of the mount.






11. Stick four long lengths of lead right across the mount in one direction, aligning them with the edges of the squares. Rub the lead down, and trim the ends as before.





12. Stick down four more lengths, running in the opposite direction and aligning with the outer edges of the squares. Reassemble the frame.