Mirror Crafts

Transform a plain-Jane mirror into the fairest of them all—with a frame built from spoons.

For an 18-inch round mirror, you'll need a hot-glue gun and about 105 colored plastic spoons ($3.45 for 24; amazon.com).

Step 1: Place a generous dot of glue on the back of the base of the handle of your first spoon. Press the spoon onto the mirror so that its bowl sits just outside the mirror's edge and the handle points toward the center.

Step 2: Put another dot of glue on the back of the second spoon's handle in the same spot, and lay it on the mirror next to the first spoon, so that the widest part of the second one's bowl nestles into the neck of its neighbor.

Step 3: Repeat steps 1 and 2 all around the mirror's perimeter—just be sure to keep the handles pointed at the mirror's center. Then sit back and admire your gorgeous handiwork.

To fashion this pretty piece, print out our template, sized to fit an 11¾"W ×16"H mirror ($19.99; kmart.com). Trim the template as directed and place the resulting hand-mirror shape atop contact paper. Outline; then cut out. Peel away the backing and center the shape, sticky side down, on the mirror. Spray the mirror's surface with a coat of no-prime acrylic paint — we used Montana Gold's Bazooka Joe ($6.83 for 13½ ounces; dickblick.com). Let dry for 30 minutes; then peel off contact paper.

Repurpose mirrors as trays by applying felt backing to their undersides.
—Jonathan O'Hea, Jonathan O'Hea Antiques & Design

A ghost mirror presents an alternative to an expensive glass mirror.

Instructions: Make a Ghost Mirror

Take a racket to a glass shop and ask for a custom-cut beveled-edge mirror that fits inside the rim — this should cost $30 to $50. Then following the package instructions, squeeze Liquid Nails Mirror Adhesive ($4.97; lowes.com) onto the back of the looking glass and firmly press it onto the strings (be sure to protect your work surface with newspaper). Let the adhesive dry overnight before hanging this decorative ace from a nail.

To make this mirror, start by painting a circular wooden plaque ($13.99; 11½"D; Michaels.com for stores) and 32 clothespins. When dry, use hot glue to affix a smaller round mirror ($19.99; 9"D; target.com) to the center of the plaque; let dry. Place a dot of hot glue one inch in from the closed end of a pin, and adhere to the mirror. Space the next pin ½ inch over and adhere; repeat to fill all the way around the mirror, making sure to fan the pins outward as you go. To finish, screw a large sawtooth hanger to the plaque's back and mount.