Repurposed mirror into Garden ART

I saw this mirror at a friend's pre-garage sale and thought it was lovely. I was thinking it would be great for display in our booth. She graciously offered it up to me. I was shocked to discover it was plastic!! Doesn't it look like a vintage plaster mirror? So, I was really excited to have it and use it. It, btw, measures 22" x 26".

And THEN.....I started thinking about it. Can you see the sly little grin than was accompanying these thoughts?? Yep, the one that comes when a repurposing idea is forming in my brain. So, what could I do with this for the garden......to sell at the next show???? Hmmm.....then my brain says, "You could etch a design on it." Well, that has potential.....but how to make it special?? Well, anyone who knows me (English and Writing Major) will know that WORDS are everything to me. I LOVE them. So, words it is. But "what" words? I turned to best friend, Google Chrome and began sifting through some ideas. I knew I wanted a quote or phrase. I knew I wanted it garden related and inspiring. I knew it needed more than JUST words. So, here is what I came up with:

"The Garden is a Mirror of the Heart"

Okay.....love that. Enter my SCAL software and my Cricut Expression. I designed the quote, along with some gorgeous roses and cut it from white contact paper. It looked amazing. Now, how to transfer this......this step is NOT for the faint of heart!! LOL Somehow, Hubs and I managed to place this onto the mirror fairly well. This is one of those times where you find out just how well your marriage is working. 2 people, armed with exacto knives, working in close quarters, doing the almost impossible. We (and the mirror) came through relatively unscathed!! :::Smiling::::

So, I covered the rest of the mirror with my trusty blue tape to protect the surface. Hubs put on the glass etching cream.....we waited impatiently for 5 minutes and rinsed it away. My fave part of etching is how it NEVER looks good at first. It has to dry. Then we clean it with glass cleaner and let it dry, again. Then, I stand there, like a 4-year-old gasping in wonder and just how cool it looks!! [Yes, I do this EVERYTIME we etch something.....kind of like shrinky dinks 'ya know].

So, without further fanfare.....here she is? Is she not now gorgeous and so far from her humble beginnings of life at a garage sale??