Make Your Own Chic DIY Sunburst Mirror

Nothing says summer like sun motifs and shapes. For an unconventional way to welcome the new season, make a classy DIY sunburst mirror with spray painted wood dowel rods. Between the chic design and glistening gold paint, this DIY looks more expensive than it really is! Keep reading to learn how to make it.

DIY Sunburst Mirror Supplies:

• Darice 5-inch Round Wood Plaque
• Darice 5-inch Round Mirror
• Darice 1/8 x 12-inch Wood Dowel Rods (about 40)
• Darice Wood Glue
• Heavy Duty Hardware Pliers
• Metallic Gold Spray Paint
• Tarp or Scrap Newspaper 
  

Step 1.  Head outside and spray paint the wood dowel rods. Don’t forget to protect your work surface with tarp or scrap newspaper! Because only one side of the rods will be visible in the finished project, don’t worry about spraying the back sides.

Step 2.  Using the cutting portion of the pliers, cut the rods into random lengths. My finished rods measured anywhere from 4 to 7 inches long.

Step 3. Using wood glue, attach the mirror to the top of the wood plaque. Leave to dry.

Step 4.  Turn the wood plaque upside down so that the back side is facing you. Glue the wood dowel rods so all the ends meet in the center of the circle. During this step, don’t forget to face the spray painted sides of the rods down.

Here’s a tip: imagine the circle in segments – like a pie with big slices! – and glue rods accordingly. This will help the rods “fan” out around the circle evenly.

Step 5.  The first few rods will serve as a guide. Once you glue those down, fill in the spaces with more cut rods. Alternate between long and short rods to vary the “sun rays” on your DIY sunburst mirror.

Step 6.  Continue adding rods until the you like the way your DIY sunburst mirror looks. You can make it look as full as you’d like; it’s totally up to you!

Once the glue is completely dry, your new DIY sunburst mirror is ready to use. I decided I’m going to simply prop mine up on my bookcase; it brings in such an awesome visual.

If gold isn’t your thing, you can use silver or copper spray paint; matte opaque colors would also work just as great. You can even use colors to match your bedroom, living room or office!

About Kirsten Nunez

Kirsten is a lifestyle writer and craft book author focusing on DIY, food, health, and creativity. Since 2010, she has been sharing DIY projects at WildAmor.com (formerly Studs & Pearls). In May 2014, Kirsten published her first book, Studs & Pearls: 30 Creative Projects for Customized Fashion; you can find it at Barnes & Noble, Amazon & select independent bookstores. She spends most of her time writing, crafting, traveling, and dreaming up new recipe ideas. Kirsten is a born and raised New Yorker currently living in the Bay Area of California.

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