I want to share a project with you that I worked on last week and finished up over the weekend.
I love the look of a small convex mirror inside a thick, chunky frame. I wasn’t willing to pay retail for one, so I decided to try making one myself!
It was easy and here’s how I did it.
Supplies you’ll need are:
16″ (or any size you prefer) ceiling medallion
{I purchased mine at Lowes for about $20 and didn’t care what color it was since I knew I’d be painting it.}
5″ truck mirror
{I purchased mine at an eighteen wheeler type truck supplier for about $6. If you don’t have a supplier near you, just Google “5 inch convex truck mirror” and several places that sell them will pop up.}
Rustoleum Metallics spray paint in the color Aged Brass
Rub n Buff in color Antique Gold
Craft paint in color Burnt Umber
respirator mask for breathing protection while spray painting
hot glue gun
pliers
box cutter
Here’s a closeup of the convex truck mirror box.
Step 1. Spray paint the ceiling medallion. It took two coats for me to get sufficient coverage over the dark brown.
Step 2. Glaze the ceiling medallion using Burnt Umber craft paint that has been thinned down with just a tiny amount of water. I used the wipe it on, wipe it off method until I achieved the amount of glazing that I liked.
Wipe it on…
…wipe it off.
Completed look.
Step 3. Very carefully, remove the mirror from the metal encasing by first cutting away the rubber gasket with the box cutter. Make sure you cut away from your body not toward yourself!
Step 4. Again, very carefully, pull back the metal edges with the pliers. Do this all the way around the mirror. What you’re trying to do is to free the mirror from what is holding it in place.
Step 5. Ever so gently, slip the edge of the box cutter behind the edges of the mirror to gently lift it out. This is what you will be left with.
Step 6. Hot glue the mirror to the back of the ceiling medallion.
You’re done!
I used stick on Velcro Command strips to hang the mirror on the wall. It doesn’t weigh very much at all.
I actually made two of these and will show you where I hung them later in the week.
Update: Click here to see where I used these mirrors!
Nancy Carroll says
April 10, 2012 at 11:24 AMAwesome! You are so smart!!! I can’t wait to see the entire wall grouping!
Our Pinteresting Family says
April 10, 2012 at 11:42 AMWhat a great idea!! I love this project and it looks wonderful on your wall. Megan
Cynthia says
April 10, 2012 at 12:25 PMWow, great job and a fantastice idea. I love it!
Cynthia
annemarie says
April 10, 2012 at 1:06 PMI love this idea – looks so nice on your wall.
Audrey-eleganteconomies.blogspot.com says
April 10, 2012 at 1:17 PMWhen I first saw your mirror on the thumbnail I thought you had found a wonderful treasure! But, you made a wonderful treasure instead! Very nicely done!
Shirley@Housepitality Designs says
April 10, 2012 at 11:22 AMWow Suzy…this is a great project…How did you ever come up with such a creative idea!!??…Looks wonderful on your wall!
Tina says
April 10, 2012 at 1:30 PMOh what a great idea! I have always loved convex mirrors but they are expensive.
Richard Cottrell says
April 10, 2012 at 9:07 PMSo very clever. Richard from My Old Historic House.
Chatty Chics says
April 11, 2012 at 1:14 AMOh my gosh! LOVE THIS SUZY! Great job my friend!
Melody
One Chatty Chic
Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR says
April 12, 2012 at 2:16 AMSuzy, what a clever idea!! Convex mirrors can be so pricey; but you did a wonderful job on this! Awesome!
Helen's Decor says
April 12, 2012 at 4:49 AMSuzy, I think I know where they are hanging. Love it. Glad to know another Rub ‘N Buff fan!
Jennifer L. Griffin says
April 12, 2012 at 3:46 PMBrilliant! Pinning this one for future reference.
Carolyn says
April 12, 2012 at 5:26 PMOh my goodness … that is genius!
Carolyn
{my simple messterpiece}
SavannahGranny says
April 12, 2012 at 9:41 PMSo Great, So Simple. I can do this. I am going to show this to my daughters. You can do anything.
Love ya girl, Ginger
Madge Bloom says
April 14, 2012 at 11:57 PMWow, what a cool project! I like it a lot…
Jen Lossing says
April 17, 2012 at 3:53 AMVery clever, love the way it turned out. P.S I have those same counter tops! He he Ha Ha
Shannon @ Cozy Home Scenes says
April 17, 2012 at 5:48 AMWhat a clever idea! I never would have thought to use the truck mirror, but I love the finished look of your project. Thanks for sharing this tutorial at Your Cozy Home Party so others can learn how to make their own mirrors on the cheap!
Mrs. Handyverger says
April 17, 2012 at 4:33 PMGorgeous! I love the idea of using a truck mirror. 🙂 Rub N’ Buff is so addictive! 🙂
Visiting from the Your Cozy Home Party. 🙂
Heather Graham says
April 17, 2012 at 7:18 PMI love this! Makes me wonder why I didn’t think of that! 😉 Would love for you to share with my readers at my linky party!
-heather
stringtownhome.blogspot.com
Revi says
April 18, 2012 at 1:44 AMClever, clever! And it looks great. 🙂
-Revi
Ashleigh says
April 18, 2012 at 4:52 AMOh that is just beautiful!!!
Shelley {Crazy Wonderful} says
April 18, 2012 at 1:38 AMGenius! Absolutely love that you used a truck mirror!
Heather says
April 18, 2012 at 12:03 PMWhat a clever idea!! I have one of these medallions I bought with the same idea, only I used a flat mirror and it looked so…flat! You’ll find me at the auto parts store tonight.
Donna says
April 19, 2012 at 10:27 AMGorgeous mirror! I love it. Your tutorial makes it look doable even for clutz’s like me. Thanks.
Richella says
April 19, 2012 at 10:31 AMWow! What a great idea!! I’ve thought of using ceiling medallions for things before, but I never would have thought of actually getting a convex mirror to do a project like this one. You’ve created a very high-end look–so smart! This is just beautiful. 🙂
Thanks so much for joining Grace at Home!
Tamsyn says
April 20, 2012 at 4:58 AMI really love this, you did such a great job!
~ Tami says
April 20, 2012 at 10:45 PMLove the convex affect, very pretty! I would love to invite you to link up at our Friday Block Party at Curb Alert! and share your inspiration with us. http://tamicurbalert.blogspot.com/2012/04/friday-block-party-2.html
Thanks, Tami @ Curb Alert~!
Bonnie and Trish @ Uncommon says
April 22, 2012 at 2:54 PMA truck mirror? Genious! This is an awesome project! Thanks for all of the tips and pointers, too!
Take care,
Trish
Vidya @ Whats Ur Home Story says
April 23, 2012 at 12:06 PMWhat a great idea. Already pinned it.
Tracy says
April 23, 2012 at 1:56 PMThis comment has been removed by the author.
Tracy says
April 23, 2012 at 1:56 PMReeeeeally???!! That is just genius! Look out Mack® Truck Company! You’ve got three mirrors I want for a weekend project!
Thanks so much!
Becolorful says
April 24, 2012 at 7:11 PMI was late getting my post up this week at BeColorful but I wanted you to know that I featured you on this week’s Motivated Monday
pam
Kelly says
April 25, 2012 at 2:20 AMThis is fantastic! That is some great creativity – good thinking about the truck supply shop.
Bonnie and Trish @ Uncommon says
April 25, 2012 at 2:50 AMFeatured this tonight!! Stop by and grab a featured button!! 😉
Lauren -aCommonersCastle says
April 27, 2012 at 11:49 PMI love this! I saw you featured on addicted 2 decorating, and I just had to stop by and check out your blog. I am your newest follower. truck mirrors=genius c’mon, how’d you think of that one? brilliant. anyway. I have been wanting to make a mirror with a ceiling medallion for a while, but never would’ve thought of using a convex mirror (i wouldn’t have known where to find it) wow, I’m blown away. They look just great in your dining room!
Rachelle @ Adventures in Creating says
May 1, 2012 at 2:48 AMAwesome idea! I have 2 truck mirrors I bought at a thrift store ages ago and haven’t done anything with them. Now I have some inspiration!
Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says
May 3, 2012 at 12:00 AMLove it! Very unique and beautiful. Thanks for linking to the Open House party. xo, Sherry
✿ⒹⒺⒺ✿@ A Lapin Life says
May 3, 2012 at 12:04 AMSo clever and beautiful.
Dee
brendavr says
May 9, 2012 at 4:03 PMcan you use a regular mirror to do this instead of a truck mirror??? looks awesome
Good Time Charlie says
June 11, 2012 at 12:36 AMThis is one of the most clever ideas I have seen in so long!!! I am pinning this next and making one for myself, and a whole bunch to sell! I love it when someone shows how to make something out of average things, that are just so out of my price range in catalogs. Thanks for sharing!
{Hi Sugarplum!} says
August 28, 2012 at 7:48 PMSuch a great project! I love convex mirrors! I used a similar one for an outdoor mirror…had to order it from a security company! 🙂 Funny where we find our supplies! Thanks for sharing!
Lani @ MeSoCary.com says
October 15, 2012 at 1:56 AMAwesome!! I’m so going to try this..thank you for sharing1
Michelle says
October 18, 2012 at 6:53 PMHello, I came accorss this wonderful project while working on a Baroque project for my interior design class. I’m definately going to try this — if only I knew where to put this in my house. I am very impressed with the finished product. Looks quite high-end.