I’ve been looking for a sunburst mirror for about a year now.  Ideally, I wanted to find an antique piece, but I also was in the market for a large mirror.  Did I mention I wanted to find it dirt cheap?
That’s a long list, and after a year, I began looking around for ways to make my own.  My inspiration was Ballard’s Wine Barrel Mirror.
I wanted the points to be made of wood and different widths and lengths.
Here’s what I came up with…

 

It cost me $8.

 

I’m hopelessly in love.
Want to know how to make your own?

 

While shopping for paint for the downstairs in our local building supply, I spotted this bundle of kindling for $5.  I knew immediately they would be the mirror I had been longing for.
Gather your supplies…paint, glue, brush…not much, and I did have this all lying around.

 

Because I am a completely visual person, I laid the mirror facing up so I could see what the finished product would really look like.  I picked the top and bottom points first and alternated lengths from there.

 

I would, however, recommend lying your mirror on the underneath…it will be much easier to put weight on each piece.
But, if you’re like me, it’s certainly still doable.  I carefully lifted the mirror and this is the hot mess that was underneath.
Don’t sweat it.  We’re just going to work backwards.
🙂

 

You won’t need very much Gorilla Glue; the kindling is very light.  Since the back of the mirror is a slick surface, slightly dampen both it and the wood before applying the glue.
This is where things got weird.

 


Because I chose to lay the kindling on top, I had to all but stand on my head to get each stick glued to the mirror.  I did learn this…with a little leverage one can accomplish much.
🙂

 

 

 

All glued and ready to paint.  (Note: it might be much simpler to paint your wood first, but after I had laid each one into the perfect spot, there was no way I was moving them to paint.)

 

I chose a dark gray acrylic for the base, brushing on one thin coat.

 

I then dry brushed a little white paint along the edges and in random spots.

 

For now, it’s propped on the mantel, but it will be hung soon.  I’ll snap some pictures of the process so you can see how we hang it.

 

 

There you have it.  My version of the wine barrel mirror.
Don’t you love this business of DIY?  I love being able to create beauty on such a budget, and to know that my work shapes into happiness.  And that mirror is making me one happy mama.
🙂

 

Tip Junkie handmade projects

 

The Lettered Cottage