How to Make Your Own Desk Mirror

Decorating your work space can make you feel at home, but you don't want to clutter your desk. Adding personalized items that also serve a purpose is a good approach. A desk mirror allows you to check your appearance easily before meetings. Add gems, ribbon or pictures to a small mirror to create a custom piece for your desk.

Things You'll Need

• Mirror
• Glass cleaner
• Soft cloth
• Embellishments
• Hot glue gun
• Tweezers
• Metal frame (optional)
• Tin snips
• Stand
• Craft knife

Instructions

1. Spray glass cleaner on the face of the mirror and wipe the mirror dry with a soft cloth. A clean mirror allows the hot glue to create a tight bond. Clean the back of the mirror as well, removing any dust and debris from both sides.

2. Lay out the embellishments to create a pattern on the mirror. Experiment with the pattern and decide whether to create a simple border or funky pattern. Use gems, buttons, pictures, broken jewelry or other household items to line the edges of the mirror. Position the embellishments around the edges or allow items to hang over the sides or into the middle of the mirror. If you are using a frame around the mirror, ensure that a border or pattern will not be hidden beneath the frame or interfere with the fitting.

3. Secure the embellishments to the face of the mirror with a hot glue gun. Use tweezers to handle small gems or buttons. If several small items are placed next to each other, allow the glue to dry before adding new embellishments to that area. This avoids accidental movement of wet embellishments and smearing glue on the face of the mirror.

4. Cut the frame for the mirror, if necessary. Use a metal picture frame that is larger than the mirror if it is oblong or odd-shaped. Pull the metal frame apart into four sides. Place one side piece onto the side of the mirror, positioning the bottom point with the bottom corner of the mirror. Add the bottom piece of the frame to the bottom of the mirror, matching up the diagonal edge with the diagonal edge of the side piece. Cut off the long ends of each edge with a pair of tin snips. Cut the edge at a diagonal angle in the corner of the glass. Use the end of a piece of the frame to determine the exact angle of the cut. Add the second side and the top of the frame to the mirror after each edge has been trimmed. Place a dot of hot glue under the ends of each piece of frame to hold them in place.

5. Add the stand to the back of the desk mirror. Use the backing for a stand-up photo frame with a pullout stand. The backing does not have to be the same size as the mirror. Position the stand in the center of the bottom of the mirror, ensuring that the stand sits evenly on a flat surface when it is extended. Apply hot glue to the back of the stand and press it into place. Allow the hot glue to dry fully before standing up the desk mirror. Trim the edges of the stand if they extend past the sides of the mirror. Use a craft knife to remove the excess backing.