5-Minute Craft: Mirror Picture Frames

Sometimes a gal just wants to make something in a hurry. No fancy tools, no laundry list of steps. In my new column, "5-Minute Craft," I'll show you some cool ways to get your craft on in a jiffy. This time: repurposed mirrors.

This green mirror is one of my all-time fave flea market finds. I got a sweet deal on it because the glass has a little scratch in it. This tiny imperfection didn't bother me, though--I was more sold on the wavy edges and cheery paint that still allowed the wood grain to show through. But as much as I loved this piece, it's just been collecting dust in the back of my closet. I don't need any more mirrors!

Jason and I have put off adorning our walls because we wanted our home to tell our story. As much as I want our place to feel totally "settled," I do like the fact that our decor is constantly evolving as we have more adventures together. We recently hung up a print by an artist I worked with, and a collage I made one afternoon. We wake up each morning to the sight of exciting things we've done on other days--and it gets me excited about what this one might have in store. 

I collect postcards and old photographs because I love stories. It's fascinating to me to look at a picture of a place I've been from the perspective of another person's lens. I decided to repurpose this old mirror (and another faux-antique one from the sale bin at Anthropologie many years ago) as a frame for some of the snapshots I've amassed. You can do it, too! 

You'll need:

• A mirror (or old frame)
• Patterned paper
• Double-sided tape
• A ruler
• A pencil
• Scissors
• Postcards or photos

Make it:

1. Measure your mirror or frame. Use your patterned paper to make a mat that covers that glass. Attach with double-sided tape, in case you ever decide to turn this frame back into a mirror! (You can clean up the surface with goo-gone.)
2. Attach your photos to the mat with double-sided tape.

In the green mirror, I hung postcards depicting my favorite spot in Central Park (the way it looked in 1905!) and the Met's facade. This other mirror holds one of my favorite found photos: a trio standing in the Coney Island surf sometime around 1940. These are places that Jason and I love--and it makes me giddy to wake up to them each day.