As a mom with two young children, I look forward to decorating for each holiday season, but a tight budget and limited free time calls for creative measures. This Thanksgiving I wanted to take an old mirror and dress it up for the holiday in a way that would create a personal touch for our home decor while also helping to teach my children the importance of the holiday.
I was happy to learn that my local FedEx Office® store offers inexpensive custom vinyl lettering with a quick turn-around time. Here’s what you need to make my project:
· A framed mirror
· Custom cut vinyl letters
· Seasonal floral sprays
· Coordinating ribbon
· Candy tins
· Glue gun
· Thin metallic cord
· Tape
Getting this project started was as easy as calling my local FedEx Office and telling them the measurements of my mirror, what I wanted the vinyl lettering to say and what look I thought would be best for the font (in this case, a font called "black chancery").
While the FedEx Office staff was getting my order ready, I gathered up some fall colored floral pieces from my local craft store, some coordinating ribbon and four small candy tins.

Once my custom vinyl letters were ready, it was very easy to apply the letters directly to the mirror using the small squeegee tool and simple instructions provided with my order.
I had originally intended to add my family's names to the mirror but since I love to recycle whenever possible, I decided to cut strips for the names from the small paper bag my letters came in. Once the strips were cut, I added each family member's name and then taped those strips (with names on them) to each of the four candy tins I have collected recently.
Then, using tape and a small loop of silver cording, I fashioned a quick "hook" to the back of each tin. Because the frame around my mirror was wood, I was able to screw in inexpensive cup hooks from my local hardware store to hang the tins from.

Once the tins were in place, I asked each family member to think of something they were thankful for, write it on the remaining scraps of the paper bag and drop it in their tin. I hope this is a start to something that will be a continuing endeavor through the month of December.

With the tins in place, all that was necessary was for me to attach a bit of floral accent to the mirror to tie in the fall color theme (which was easily accomplished with a glue gun). I hung the mirror with the dangling mint tins in a prominent spot in our front entryway as a reminder to my family to continue adding notes about what they are thankful for throughout the season.

I think it will be a nice touch during Thanksgiving dinner to retrieve the notes and read them aloud as a family. With a quick change of floral and ribbon accents, I can quickly and easily update this mirror to keep it seasonally appropriate throughout the year. What better way to teach my kids that they should take moments out of their lives to think about what they're thankful for year round?
Related FedEx Office Solutions: Cut Vinyl Lettering
For more of Angela’s creativity, you can find her blog at www.angeladaniels.squarespace.com or watch her web series "The Guilty Crafter" (www.guiltycrafter.com) where Angela shares quick, inexpensive and mostly upcycled crafts. Angela is also now one of the contestants on the new TLC show Craft Wars. FedEx Office is compensating Angela to share her ideas for fun, creative projects on the Out of Office blog.
Comments
Such a cute idea!
Such a cute idea!
Fabulous project and
Fabulous project and wonderful new tradition Angela :)
Pretty!
Wow! Love the mirror and the idea of a place to discretely share thanks. Had no idea FedEx had vinyl lettering products. Are they a different color on the sticky side? Just wondering if they work for glass window signage.
Re: Pretty!
Hi Sean! The custom vinyl letters have the same color with a matte finish on the adhesive side. Angela had a great idea to use these on a mirror and they’ll also work for windows. Thanks for visiting Out of Office. - Blogger Kim
awesome, awesome! love it
awesome, awesome! love it ang ~ :)
Angela Daniels project
Love the letters you provided Angela for her project. This project is wonderful, but would not be nearly as impressive without the use of the lettering.
Fed Ex Solutions
I had no idea Fed Ex did this. I have to check it out-I have so many things Ineed to put vinyl letters on and I hate trying to cut them by hand.Great tip-thanks Angela.
I love this project what a
I love this project what a wonderful mirror and I had no idea fedex would do this for you . . . hmm thinking about getting it done for next year!
Thankful Mirror Project
Fantastic project Angela. But, I expect nothing less from Spider Woman!
Rustic and right up my alley. Great to know that FedEx has the vinyl. I'll have to zip over and check it out.
Thanks again,
Rae
aka Rj McFlat
www.wildwestpaperarts.com
What a great project!
What a great project!
This is such a cute idea~!!
This is such a cute idea~!! And it is nice that it can be used all year long. Thanks for sharing Angela~!!
Cute project
Great project (love the use of the candy tins as well) Wonderful way to be able to celebrate what you are thankful for. Thanks for the inspiration!
AMAAZING
WOW that is such a great idea Love it A great family tradition to pass down for ever!! LOVE IT!! Thank you for sharing this.. I did not know FED X did this This is good to know.. THANK UUU
Post new comment