Sunburst Mirror
As promised – here is the tutorial for the sunburst mirror I made last weekend.
Once again though – I want to give credit to The Nester. It was on her blog that I first saw
and fell in love with this, and decided I had to make one! Here is a link to hers -
My husband and I put up wainscoting in our hallway this past Saturday. As soon as I saw it
going up I knew I had to make this white sunburst for the wall. Do you ever get determined
to do something and finish it in one night no matter what? I got home from work on Sunday at 5:00 pm
and decided I had to make it that night… after a 10 hour work day.. crazy lady:)
Here are the supplies for this project – oh, plus a glue gun.
No really – that is it!
Posterboard, black foam board, and a mirror.
Coffee and chocolate are helpful too:)
I got the supplies at Michaels. The posterboard was .59 cents a sheet – and although
it is hard to tell proportion in this picture – it is full sized posterboard.
One tip I got from the Nester was to make sure to get the kind of paper that is the same on
both sides. Some of them are matte on one side and glossy on the other. Mine was
matte on both sides. Then I got a piece of thick foam board, and a circular mirror.
The mirror was $2.99, and had a pattern around the edges, almost like a ruffle.
I ended up spending about $6 to make this project.
The mirror was about 6 inches in diameter, so I took a 7 inch plate and used it to
measure the circle I needed to cut out of the foam.
Then I began working on the paper.
I made a pattern out of paper towels. I used two continuous sections of paper towel,and cut it free hand.
I made sure to measure the wall I was putting it on, to make
sure I didn’t make the rays too long. I folded the paper towel in half and then cut the ray shape.
Now I had a pattern, I was ready to cut out the paper. I cut all of the rays on the fold of the paper,
so that I would have a consistent shape. As the Nester also stated, it is almost like the paper
has a “grain”. It will fold and cut more neatly if you fold it from the short side instead
of long sides together. ( I so hope I am making sense! I should have taken more pictures!)
Here you can see what I mean – I have the paper folded, and I traced around the pattern on it.
When you open the cut-out up, it has that fold in it that gives the shape/dimension to the rays.
I cut 16 of these in this size, then made 4 in a medium size, and 4 in a smaller size.
Now I began gluing the ray’s to the foam circle.
I started out with the 4 smallest rays, and put them on the back in the 4 “corners” of the circle.
After that I placed the 4 medium rays on the foam in the sections between the small rays.
At this point I turned it over and began placing the rays underneath from
the front so I could be sure of proper spacing.
I also hot glued the mirror to the foam circle.
I kept alternating rays this way until it looked the way I wanted it to.
This is what the back looked like when I was finished.
I took a piece of black felt and cut a circle out of it to glue on the back.
It gives it a more finished look, and also gives me something to mount a hanger on.
This last step is a very important one in my opinion.
I put the Sunburst on the wall and took a picture.
It is nighttime so the lighting is bad, but good enough for my purpose.
I took a look at the picture to see what I thought, and noticed
immediately that I needed to do some evening up and trimming of the rays.
Now I will say that I could see some of the problems by simply standing in front of it
and looking at it, but I have learned that taking a picture can sometimes give me
more of a perspective than looking looking at something live. I use this
process often with my decorating, and even with my clothing choices!
So – that is about it. I got out my scissors and trimmed the rays up carefully to make it
more symmetrical. Then I took some pictures in natural light the next morning.
I am loving it!! All that impact for around $6!
Let me know what you think – and if you decide to make one yourself
I would love to see it!

































Les
448 days ago
Lurve it! I will SO be making one.
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The Lumberjack's Wife
448 days ago
Awesome, per usual, Ms. Brown House!
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Allison
448 days ago
absolutely love it! Looks amazing! Great job!
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Erin
448 days ago
Simply stunning! I love it and will definitely be giving it a go! TFS!
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ldh
447 days ago
Stopping by for the first time for Show & Tell Friday. Love the sunburst mirror! You did a fantastic job! It is perfect at the end of the hall. Completely draws your eye.
Kindly, Lorraine
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Patty
447 days ago
What a great look for $6! And the size could be adjusted for just about any space.
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Kathy
447 days ago
Wow – looks fabulous. Can’t belive it’s just poster board. I may have to make a smaller version for my mantel. Great project.
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Maryann @ Domestically-Speaking
447 days ago
You did a great job… I saw Nester version too… I might need to make my own.
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TidyMom
446 days ago
this is awesome!!
Thanks for linking up!!! I featured your post on my wrap up! http://tidymom.net/2011/spring-decor-ideas/
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Jenn
446 days ago
I’ve had all the materials sitting around for a while to make a different kind of sunburst mirror, but just haven’t been motivated to make it. Well, I’m glad I didn’t because I like this one much better than the one I was going to make! Thanks for sharing, I’m your newest follower!
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Lisa
445 days ago
You did a great job! It really looks perfect in that hallway…Love the beadboard! Saw you on SAS.
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somedaycrafts
444 days ago
Wow! I love this version of a sunburst mirror! So stunning. I am featuring this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com. Grab my “featured’ button.
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Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage
444 days ago
Gorgeous version of the sunburst mirror!! Great job!!
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Jenn
444 days ago
I am in love with this!! I am going to have to try to make one too! Thanks for sharing how you made it!
Have a great day!
Jenn
{redberrybarn.blogspot.com}
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Trina
444 days ago
LOVE IT! You are so creative! Beautiful wainscoting too. Please, can you tell me the color you used on the walls above the wainscoting? It is gorgeous!
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Rosanne
443 days ago
Lovely! Thanks for sharing!
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Denise
442 days ago
It looks great
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Lina
438 days ago
Awsome! I want tobtry this for my sons surfer room!
Lina
http://www.fancyfrugallife.bloodspot.com
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anna see
437 days ago
Wowza! I am LOVING your mirror! Great job.
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Joy
436 days ago
It looks great!
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Lucy Designs
436 days ago
that is gorgeous!
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Mustangkayla
436 days ago
Wow! Very cool!
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vicky
434 days ago
I made the same mirror – 2 different times!!! I made a pink one with big fat petals for my daughter’s room and I made a white one with longer, thinner petals for my hall. Great minds think alike!!!! Hop on over to my blog and take a boo.
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Sommer
433 days ago
This is a FANTASTIC project. Great idea! I would be delighted if you would link this to my VIP party today! http://designergarden.blogspot.com/2011/03/vip-party-6.html
Cheers!
Sommer
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Shannon
433 days ago
WOW! I love this. What an easy way to jazz up a mirror. Fabulous job.
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Inspire Me Heather
420 days ago
Your mirror turned out just gorgeous! I linked it up to my sunburst mirrors project post too, it’s fantastic!
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Claire Rose
413 days ago
wow- so little money with such a big impact-what’s not to love=fabulous!!
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alkaline water
350 days ago
So simple but so beautiful! I must make!
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Brandy
114 days ago
It’s super cute! Great job!
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Lisa
107 days ago
I loved your sunburst mirror. Will certainly try to make 1 or 2 myself. I was also wondering what paint color you have on your walls? I am not creative at all and often wonder in awe at how people come up with so many creative ideas. Found you on Pintrest, and will remain a fan forever.
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Katie
48 days ago
Looks VERY nice!! Good job. I have the same light in my hallway-we have good taste huh?!!
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