How to Glue Mirror Squares in a Kaleidoscope

Instead of cutting your own mirrored glass to use in your kaleidoscope, you can purchase small precut square mirror pieces at craft stores or at the craft department in a department store and glue them onto Popsicle sticks to create the 1-by-4 inch mirror required for your kaleidoscope. The following steps will show you how.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Purchase 1-by-1 inch square mirror pieces. You'll need 12 pieces of mirror squares to make a three-sided triangular mirror for a 4-inch long kaleidoscope.

2. Place a drop of hot glue on the Popsicle stick close to one end of the stick.

3. Press one of the square mirror pieces to the glue. Continue to press until it's securely in place.

4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until you attach all four mirrored pieces to the Popsicle stick. Try to cover it completely. If you have enough room left over, you can attach a fifth mirrored piece.

5. Complete two more sticks by gluing four mirrored pieces to the Popsicle stick.

6. Arrange your Popsicle sticks into a triangle and attach them with your hot glue gun.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of using these 1 inch pieces of mirror to create a triangle piece for your kaleidoscope, you can cut your own mirrored glass in long strips to make your triangle.
• Clean the mirror to make sure there are no fingerprints or smudges on it before you attach it to your kaleidoscope.
• Do not get hot glue onto the front part of the mirror.