Frame a mirror in rope for beach-house chic

Add a maritime note to a plain mirror by decorating it with a crisp rope surround. Maybe you came across the rope while doing a bit of beachcombing? In this case, you might want to rinse it down first to remove the salt water of ages, which will also make it easier to bend; if it's covered in seaweed, it might wash away with a gentle scrub and rinse or you might decide it's easier to look elsewhere... You can find new rope at a chandler, if you're starting from a seaside location, or a specialist rope supplier.

All you need to do is...

Cut a length of rope to fit the exact circumference of a plain round mirror. Glue the rope to the edge of the glass to make a frame. Disguise the join in the rope by binding it with a mixture of cord, raffia and ribbon, and thread pierced shells and sea glass onto the ends to overlap the mirror. Hang it where it will have pride of place in your home or garden wall or wrap it up in tissue paper and present it to a friend as a gift.

Styling tip

If you want to hang the mirror on a fence or wall, fix a wire plate hanger to the back of the mirror. Wire plate hangers are available for 90p from John Lewis.

You will need:

Rope - Ropes Direct has a good selection.
• Sea glass - choose from Etsy or keep your eyes peeled

for weather- softened glass on the beach.
• Starfish - ours cost £1.95 from Buy the Sea.
• Ribbon – Jane Means has a great selection.
• Evo-Stik Epoxy Rapid fast-set adhesive, £3.59 for 2 15ml tubes, Screwfix.

Find more country craft ideas at Country Homes & Interiors

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