Introduction: Starburst Mirror

This Instructable will show you how to build a custom Starburst Mirror. I found this tutorial online and decided it lacked some pictures and a few instructions so I am re-posting it.

I don't have a picture for every step as I was not planning on making an Instructable, but this is a pretty easy craft so you will understand the concept.

Step 1: Go Shopping

You might have a few of these things around the house (as I did), but you can pick up everything from a craft store or better yet, Wal-Mart. I will list where I got mine and where I could have gotten it cheaper.

Before I list off materials, I will give you a few options. The site I got this from used silver leaf to cover the dowels and I thought that would take way too long and be a pain, so I bought metallic craft paint and applied it with sponge brushes. This was okay, but it took 4-5 coats. I think metallic spray paint would have been a lot faster, so that is up to you.


You will need:

-Scissors
-Scrap Cardboard (anything around your house will work)
-A pen
-Hot glue gun and glue sticks
-Sponge brushes
-Metallic craft paint (97 cents a bottle at Wal-Mart)
or
-Metallic spray paint
or
-Silver leaf (I didn't do this so you're on your own if you want to use it)
-15 Kabob skewers (I had these at home but Wal-Mart had them for $1.97)
-15 12' wooden dowels (I found a bag of 20 at the craft store for about $3.50)
-2 packages of craft mirrors (Wal-Mart had the various size bag of 25 for $1.97)
-A convex auto mirror ($1.97 in the automotive department of Wal-Mart. My best purchase!) -Mounting hardware

Step 2: Paint

First, you will need to transform your wooden skewers and dowels into faux metal rods. To do this, I used a sponge brush and applied 4-5 coats to each dowel. The skewers needed less paint as they were kind of rough and the paint adhered better. If you're hardcore, you might sand your dowels down a bit - I didn't.

Don't worry about painting the whole dowel or skewer as the one end will be hidden - about an inch. When painting the skewers, don't paint the pointed part. Make sure you do, however, paint the top of the dowels and skewers.

Once all the dowels are painted, you should let them dry completely. The last thing you want is some little finger prints in the wood while you're applying them to the mirror.

Step 3: Pre-construction

Open your convex mirror. Again, I found this at Wal-Mart in the automotive department for under $2. It was the best buy I made for this whole project.

The back of the mirror has a really sticky stick-em. You will need to apply cardboard to the back of the mirror so you have a surface to glue the dowels on. I cut a 2 pieces of cardboard about 1/8 of an inch less than the size of the mirror and stuck one right on the back. The second one will be used to cover the back of the project.

Grab a pen and divide the mirror up into 30 ticks.

Step 4: Construction

Using a hot glue gun, apply the dowels on every other tick you just made on the cardboard piece. You can hold the edges of the mirror to keep your fingers out of the way.

Once all the dowels are glued in place, you and glue the skewers in between the dowels. I cut the pointed edge off. You will notice that the skewers don't need as much glue and they will fit right between the dowels. Don't worry if they're not all the same size - it looks better that way anyways.

Once all the dowels and skewers are glued into place, you can apply the second piece of cardboard. Use a lot of hot glue and then slap that puppy right on there lined up with the first piece.

Step 5: Decorating

To snazz up the already sweet looking starburst, you will apply little craft mirrors. Note none of the skewers have mirrors - I felt it would look way too cluttered. I followed this pattern to keep it balanced;

-Large dowels had one large mirror each.

-Starting with dowel #1, I applied a medium and small mirror.

-On dowel #2, I used a medium mirror only.

-On dowel #3, I used a medium and small mirror again.

-On dowel #4, I used a small mirror only.

-On dowel #5, I used a medium and small mirror again.

-On dowel #6, do the same as dowel #2.

See the pattern? Both, medium, both, small, both, medium, both, small, etc. Once you get to the end, you will be placing 2 mirrors next to a dowel with 2 mirrors. Just space them out so you don't notice.

I went totally random with mirror placement. Feel free to place them however you like. You're doing the craft, remember? Geez!

Step 6: Mounting

Your mirror is done! You should be proud... you just pulled off a $80 look for less than $20. Martha Stewart couldn't have done it any better.

At this point, you can use whatever you like to mount it. I used double sided foam tape (found at the dollar store), or you can use a hook, a nail, anything really. Well, probably not anything, but you know what I mean.

You're done! Enjoy.

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