DIY Rust Effect on a Plastic Dollar Store Mirror

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I love a yummy, rusty piece any time I can get my hands on one… and it’s great when you’re out thrifting and you find JUST the piece!!! But that’s not always the case… sometimes we need something a bit more specific, for a certain space, or we don’t want to go on the “hunt.” That’s where Modern Masters Metal Effects Rust Oxidizing Finish Kit comes in, and makes it easter than ever to implement a DIY rust effect on a plastic dollar store mirror and get it decorating ready in no time!! I seriously can’t believe this stuff works on plastic, it’s incredible!!

Now, I don’t understand ANY of the science on this, so don’t ask… but that’s why I leave the hard stuff to Modern Masters and the fun stuff for me! Just wait til you see this, you’re going to be RUNNING to the store for this magic stuff! I want to thank Modern Masters for sponsoring this project, all ideas and opinions are mine alone.

implement diy rust effect on a plastic dollar store mirror

Grab a Modern Masters Metal Effects Rust Oxidizing Finish Kit (use the store locator to find Modern Masters Paints near you) You can also shop the products here:

Joann
Hobby Lobby
Home Depot
Amazon.com
Blick

2. I popped my mirror out and it was rather challenging and a bit scary, worrying that the mirror was going to break, so I wouldn’t recommend it! If I did it again, I would tape off the mirror to protect it, it’s just easier that way… but totally up to you!!

3. Now coat your piece with primer paint! Make sure to shake the bottle well, stir the paint, and apply the primer with the chip brush provided in the kit. You will want to do 2 coats of primer, allow the paint to dry completely in between.

4. Once the primer is dry, apply the Iron Paint. Make sure to shake and stir well, just like the primer. Apply with the other chip brush provided. Use two coats of this step as well. Drying completely in between.

5. Once the Iron paint is dry lightly spray the surface with the Rust Activator. Make sure to lightly spritz, do not drench! Practice squirting first. Once the spritz is dry you can spritz again and again to achieve the rust effect you want. Let it dry completely each time because the rust effect takes place as the activator dries. While you may think this process will be like watching paint dry, it’s actually kind of fun to see the change happening before your eyes! But be careful, because if you get too much activator it pools and gets kinda messy.

6. Once you get the desired results, seal your rusty creation with the Sealer Permacoat Xtreme to seal and protect that yummy finish!

It really is THAT easy!! Follow these simple steps and watch magic (really, science) happen right before your eyes! It’s fun in it’s own right, and especially neat that you can take a cheap-looking plastic mirror from the dollar store and give it that rust-y charm! You no longer have to wait years for a piece to become exactly what you’re looking for… and that is incredible if you ask me!