Make a recycled magazine starburst mirror!
This is one of my favorite projects I have ever made. And it’s no surprise why…it looks professional and the end result is a gorgeous starburst mirror that you can use as a focal point in your home. Have you seen starburst mirrors in stores before? Me, too! I came up with a great idea – make it using recycled magazines! Now you have a good reason not to toss those catalogs. The best part? Your new mirror is recycled so you’re saving the planet, too!
You can make a statement piece in just a couple of hours with just the most basic supplies. This is a great interior decoration and can take the place of a single large mirror if that’s what you’re going for. Make it more monochromatic for a farmhouse style or bright colors for a more eclectic look. Use vintage book pages or vintage magazines if you want more of an antique look. This is a great activity any way you slice it!
You have nothing but time, right? Well, then, this is the craft for you! This one is not an easy one but is great for older kids and adults. It is also not a quick one, but one that you can work on over time. Put aside all of those junk catalogs and magazines so you can make this beauty. Stay tuned for the full tutorial below.
What do I need to make a recycled rolled magazine mirror?
- MAGAZINES
- CHIP BOARD RING
- CRAFT GLUE
- PENCIL OR SKEWER
- GLUE STICK
- SCOTCH TAPE (OPTIONAL)
- HOT GLUE GUN (make sure you use either hot glue or a strong glue to secure the mirror)
- NON-DECORATIVE Plain MIRROR (if you do not want the end project to be huge, use small mirrors. Just be sure that you are using a circular mirror only.
Everything more or less can be purchased via a hardware store or a big box home store like The Home Depot in case you do not have an Amazon account.
Affiliate disclaimer: Although I stand by all of the products I use, I can receive a small commission from any products purchased via my affiliate links.
Here’s How to Make Your DIY Mirror Project:
Follow these steps to make your own mirror frame using recycled magazines. This is such a great project if you just follow these easy steps. Don’t focus too much on making a perfect mirror – just made it fun and colorful. Anything is better than an ordinary simple mirror.
- The first thing you’ll want to do is to tear or cut pages out of your magazines and rip in half the long way.
- Roll the magazines starting from the corner around a pencil or a skewer (see video)
- Use the glue stick as you go to keep the magazine from unravelling. You can also use scotch tape if that is easier.
- Make 30-50 of these magazine rolls (this takes time, but can be done a few each day)
- Tie a string to the chipboard ring so that you can hang it up at the end
- Glue the rolled magazines on to the chip board
- Hot glue the round, frameless mirror to the chip board. Be sure the back of the mirror lays flat. It is important that the chip board is a smooth surface. Since the mirror us a reflective surface, it is easy to make a big mess. If you want to use painter’s tape to cover the mirror temporarily, feel free! Sometime mirrors come with protective film – this might be a better option, too!
- One final step, using a hot glue gun, begin gluing the magazine rolls in a circular motion around the round mirror. This is the best method to make an inexpensive mirror looks absolutely fantastic. Be sure to glue over the outer edge of the mirror. You can overlap so that no one can see the side of the mirror. The hot glue gun will definitely be your best friend!
Once your diy mirror is complete, try it out using different size mirrors. Personally, I think round works best but feel free to try different shapes! Head to the dollar store to purchase cheap mirrors or to a thrift store for an antique mirror. Any old mirror will work – trust me! You can even do this using a picture frame if you don’t want to make another mirror. Initially I created this to be a bathroom mirror, but it looked better as a decorative mirror in my basement. It ended up coming out much bigger than I had anticipated, so it wouldn’t fit in the basement unfortunately.
If you love this project, you might also love the recycled rolled magazine leaves. Want more DIY mirror frame ideas? Check out this flower mirror. Please show me the creative ways you’ve made your own mirrors! Being creative is always a good idea. There’s nothing better than wall mirrors. I am currently working on another one for a friend’s beach house – she wanted some pops of colors since her walls are all white paint!
Affiliate disclaimer: Although I stand by all of the products I use, I can receive a small commission from any products purchased via my affiliate links.
HAPPY CRAFTING!!!
