Looking Glass Art

I've had this vision in my mind for quite awhile now, of a slightly distressed, ancient-looking mirror, with beautiful flowers showing through in the rubbed off sections.

So today I decided to go about creating that vision, using a really gorgeous, ornate brass frame I bought from a neighbor's garage sale, years ago!

After getting glass cut to size at Lowes, I returned home and used decoupage glue to attach a piece of patterned paper (in this case, I used my own design, which can be purchased through my shop, Lilyoake, on Spoonflower, here)

After it dried, I waited still longer for a dry moment outside (this is, after all Seattle) and ran outside to put on 5 light coats of Krylon's Looking Glass spray paint.
I have seen it used on many DIY blogs for homemade mercury glass effects.
I'm not even sure I used it on the correct side of the glass - as this was a first time experiment!
But in between each coat, I spritzed it with vinegar water and blotted off the paint in areas where I wanted my roses pattern to show through.

After it dried, I put it into the frame and lit the candles - its rather ghostly, and very romantic!

I will try a second time with new glass and try a different technique.
But I thought my first try was worth sharing!

Exploring Wallpaper Looks

Spoonflower has a fun feature that allows you to see what your design will look like on a wall, as wallpaper ( or even on a wrapped gift, as wrapping paper).

Here are a few favorites of mine. I am quite sure I will choose Rococo Roses, blue on white, for my family room walls.

But its still fun to see what certain designs might look like on a wall, to scale!

Free Favor Box Download for Holiday Gift Giving

   I am linking this post to TPP today - The Pink Pagoda, one of my favorite blogs to read, showcasing fabulous blue and white!!
Click HERE for the direct link to her blog, where you can explore the many other fabulous links!

To celebrate my newest fabric designs, I am offering up a few free downloads today of a 2" cube favor box!
The dark blueberry violet design is my newest fabric "Violetta", available here, on Spoonflower.
These would be fabulous in a stocking or to put at place settings during a special dinner with friends and family!

   The lighter stripe and rose bouquet is "Jane's Rose Stripe", available here, on Spoonflower.

And the third is "Ella Lace", available here, also on Spoonflower.

   Simply click on the image to enlarge it, then right click on it and save to your computer.
   Its best to print on at least an 80# card stock, for a sturdy enough box.  I put small markings on the outside of the die line so you can use them for scoring at the folds, and not worry about the lines showing up on the printed box.

   These favor boxes (both the template and the pattern) are copyright Lilyoake (that's me) and by downloading them, you agree to use them for personal use only.  They are not to be used for resale or to be given away for free on any other graphics website or blog.
   If you feature them on your blog, I'd appreciate a link back to my blog at Lilyoake.

Other then that, enjoy!
   They'd make great wedding fave boxes, tea party favors filled with dried lavender or a petit four, or to hold a small gift for a friend.

Let me know what you think!