Copper and Pearl Ex Powdered Pigment Mirror Frame - a Tutorial

Copper and Pearl Ex Powdered Pigment Framed Mirror

I am not sure if I am the first to do this, but I kind of discovered this process by accident.  I was trying to do sort of an enameling effect, that didn't exactly turn out.  I had a few containers of Pearl Ex Powdered Pigments from Jacquard Products, so I thought that I would give that a try with the same process as copper enameling.  Being  a total novice at this technique, I really didn't know what it would do,  but was really excited about the results that I received!  So I had to run out and get myself some more colors of the Pearl Ex Powdered Pigments, because I was on to something really awesome! You can read about all of their products here.

So here is the process:

First I have to make some wooden frames.

I like to use pine 1 x's. I like for the frames to be kind of wide so there is more room for decorating. I usually get 1 x 8's or 1 x 10's.

Frame sections ready to be glued and screwed

After I have the frames made, I start to figure out what design I want to use with the copper.  While I am thinking, I paint the frame with flat black paint.  This particular frame I decided on 2 x  2 squares.  I start cutting the copper and laying them out to see how many I am going to need.  

I use the Kreg Jig to drill my holes  to join the frames - it makes things so much easier!

I buy my copper from Storm Copper Components, you can find it here.  I buy the 36 guage 2" wide rolls in the 50' lengths.  There is more than enough to do a mirror this size, and I will probably have enough left over to make a smaller mirror too.

50' Roll of 2", 36 gauge Copper 

Laying out the copper pieces

Next comes the fun part!  After I have all the squares cut, I need to take the shiny finish off of the copper, so I do that with my torch.  I have an area fixed up for this on my work bench.  I have a fire proof shield to support some fire bricks, and then under that I have a slab of marble. My dad gave me that slab of marble years ago, I never knew what to do with it until now!  Thanks Dad!   He probably bought it at an auction somewhere.  I lay out the pieces of copper and then use the torch to burn off the shiny surface.

Taking the shine off

After all the pieces of copper are torched I take them into the house and rinse them with water and then dry them completely. 

The next part of the process is to apply the Pearl Ex  Powder Pigments.  I do this by mixing the pigments with A-1 Klyr-fire.  I also decide which colors I want to use.  Actually, I like to use all the ones that I have, cause that is how I roll!  The more colors the better!  

A-1 Klyr-Fire

My stash of Pearl Ex Pigments

Here is a little tip about using the torch on the copper.  I swirl the torch around on top of the copper until I can see a  pretty rainbow color, then pull it off.  This rainbow of color will show through the Pearl Ex and looks really awesome!

The colors that I used on this mirror frame are Super Copper, Bright Yellow, Salmon Pink, Pumpkin Orange, Duo Blue-Green, Spring Green, Super Russet, Misty Lavender and True Blue.

With a paint brush I apply this mixture of Pearl Ex and Klyr-fire on the pieces of copper.  If it is a nice sunny day I set them out in the sun to dry.  The mixture has to be completely dry before you do the next step.  Don't ask me how I know that, but I do.....

Copper drying in the sun

After all the pieces of copper are dry I take them back to the torching station and fire them up again.  This time I use the torch on them long enough to get the copper glowing.  The trick is to keep the torch moving and not to get the copper too hot or it will start to melt!  After all the pieces cool off, then they go back into the house to be rinsed and dried.  Some of the pigment goes down the drain and you might think nothing stayed on the copper, but when you apply a poly sealer the Pearl Ex color's sparkle and shine comes out.

I am sure I am not the first to come up with this ingenious idea, but I use an egg crate for mixing the pigments

After all the copper pieces are dry I start to apply them to the frame.  I use an electric brad nailer.  The brad nailer doesn't push the brads in all the way so I have to use a tack hammer to persuade them in all the way.  This gives the copper a Industrial, distressed look.  Some times in addition to the tack hammer I use a small ball peen hammer for some more distressing.

Burning Pearl Ex onto the Copper Pieces

Starting to lay out the pieces of Copper

Almost finished!

My Persuader 

Mirror is attached to the back

Close up of the Pearl Ex Powdered Pigments Shining

After all the copper pieces are attached, I apply several coats of  poly sealer. On this mirror frame I wrapped the copper over the edges, so after I attach the mirror to the frame I attached a piece of felt, purple of course, to the back to cover any sharp copper edges.  This also helps in protecting the wall and your fingers while hanging!  I sign my work and it is done!

So what do you think?  Has anyone else used the Pearl Ex Pigments in this way?

Here are some of the other Mirror Frames that I had made:

The technique on this Mirror frame is a little different in this post.  On this frame I mixed the Pearl Ex with a Poly  Sealer and just painted it on the copper pieces.  This was the first Mirror that I Sold!

Same Technique as above, but the copper pieces are attached with black upholstery tacks

Close up of another design - same technique as this post

This frame I used a combination of copper with the Pearl Ex using the torch and Paint mixed with the Pearl Ex Pigments.  I also used a wood burning tool to define the different areas.

Same techniques as picture above.

Some of these mirrors are sold, but some are still for sale!

Thanks for looking!

K

Re-decorated Deck

It happened this fall.  We kept putting off taking down the fabric gazebo on our deck.  The weather had been so nice, I didn't want to put it away.  It was also the third year for this gazebo, and I was sure that with the weather and sun, it was not long for this world.  I heard a storm brewing one night, a lot of wind, and some clinking and clanking out on the deck.  This is what I woke up to!

My gazebo was done for, the wind had ripped it and torn it off the frame.  

This spring whilst talking to my "biggest fan" about getting a new one, he came up with the idea of building me a pergola!  Wow!  I was really happy that he was  think in the direction of something more permanent, but I wasn't too keen on the pergola.  Pergola's are beautiful and it would have really looked nice, but I really want something to shade from the sun.  The deck faces the West, and even though we are surrounded by large trees, the sun can be relentless here in Southern Indiana,  and frankly it is just no fun being on this deck with no shelter.  My biggest fan was not too excited about my idea of a regular roof, covered with corrugated metal.  He said he didn't want it to look like "Chicken Coop", what?  I assured him that it would not look like a chicken coop.  So after much figuring and sypherin' (his words) he came up with a plan.

This is just after the project started, the railing needed to be taking off.  By the way "my biggest fan" built this deck shortly after we build the house, and he did a pretty darn good job.\

Frame is going up!  Oh, I was so excited!   Our good friend Scott Helped get this part done!  Thank you Scott!

Since I was getting the new addition to my deck, I could put my old faded patio table and chairs back they way they were, soooooooo

I found this old swing at a favorite junk shop, so I drug it home.

Oh, but look at it now!

I covered the seats in this green stripped fabric, and made a pillow for necks during star gazing and

 chill-axing!

The cushions on my patio chairs were so faded from the sun, I looked into some new ones, but boy are they proud of those puppies!  No way was I paying those kind of prices, I could buy a new Patio set for that.  I couldn't find any the right shape for the backs of my chairs anyway, so I just decided to cover them.  It was really easy, I just made a sack for the cushions.  I sewed some ribbons at the opens to tie them shut and to tie them onto the chairs.  It was about $80 for the fabric, but waaaaaaay cheaper than new ones.  I think they look quite nice!

I found these grass rugs at Tree's and Trends for $10 each!  I was going to paint a border, but I think I like them just like this!  (it is a lot less work too)

This is another re-store find.  Doesn't every deck have a chandelier?  It was old and had very old wiring, so I took out all the guts, took it all apart, spray painted it this pretty green, and then TRIED to put it back together.  NOTE TO SELF:  take pictures of chandelier's before you take them apart.  I worked on that *%*($(# thing about an hour and a half, trying to figure out how it went back together, until I was ready to throw it OVER the deck!  Thankfully, "my biggest fan" came along and put it back together for me.  Still not sure if is right, but it is WAY better than I had it.  We only had a few parts left over! See my new roof above it?

I am going to put candles in the little cups for those candle light dinners or Wine parties!

Here are some more pictures!  

My oldest son made this chair for me when he was in High School.  One of these days I am going to make a foot stool for it. I spray painted it white, I believe it had a redwood stain on it before.

My grandson's little space.

My flowers are starting to grow!

I love my new Deck.  I have already spent more time out here in the last few weeks than I did all last year!!!

A big THANK YOU to my "biggest fan"  you inspire me!

I also think I need to have some girlfriends over for a Wine Party!  Any takers?

Thanks for looking!

K

Re-Invented Antique Cabinet

I have had this Antique Cabinet for a few years, but I had it on top of a counter top that was in my Laundry Room until I redecorated it.  You can see that makeover here.  I was wanted to hang it on the wall in the Laundry Room, but it was too wide for the space, and was not going to fit.  The backing of it was probably not going to be strong enough to use it to support the cabinet on the wall  anyway, so I decided that I would try to find something to sit it on.  I went to may favorite junk shop, and found this old piano bench. It was the right width and length, so I thought this just might work! It was not in the greatest shape, so I had to tweak it  a bit.

 

I decided to remove the top of the bench, because it was warped a bit and the veneer was chipping up.  Luckily I had a piece of MDF that was just the right width, but was a little too long.   My "Biggest Fan" wanted to help, so he cut it off with power tools (I don't think he trusts me with the circular saw yet).  I had to "sturdy up" the bench a bit so I added some bracing on the inside of the bench. The bottom was in pretty bad shape too, so I just took it out.

I cut those pieces of 2x4 all by my self on my compound miter saw, and then screwed them onto the the two pieces of wood that was supporting the bottom of the bench.

The Cabinet was already painted white, but I painted it so long ago I wasn't sure if I still had that can of paint any more, let alone, remember which one it was.  I wanted the top and the bottom to match so I repainted the cabinet.  Here is the before.  I almost forgot to take a picture, and I already had the doors off and the glass taped up.

The piece of MDF board that I cut for the top of the bench seemed kinda raw on the edge so I found some 1/4 round and attached it to the edge of the MDF board with my "new best friend" the Pneumatic brad shooter thingy.  That was so simple, I mitered the edges too.  I was so proud of myself! I decided to paint the top in a bronze/brown color.  I mixed my own paint for this, a little brown a little powder metallic mica, and some glaze.  I painted the piano bench legs and sides in a white, same as the top, did a little distressing, glazed it with my favorite dark Jojoba stain then waxed it.  My "Biggest Fan"  helped me carry it into the house, we attached the pieces and WALLAH!!  What do you think?? Here is the finished cabinet!

I love this key hole - no key though

Don't you love this detailed opening?

I love this cabinet it has such pretty lines and details!  How about you??

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