Making your Plastic Spoon Mirror:
1. Check your home for any materials you may already own. Then gather the rest of your supplies during one shopping trip to save yourself from having to run back and forth for more. (I took a few different trips...)
2. Cut your cardboard box so it lays flat on the ground or table.
3. Decide the diameter for your mirror using a ruler or yard stick. (I made one large, 22 inches, and two small, 13 inches.)
4. Cut a piece of string and tie one end onto the tip of your pen. Measure the string to the radius you desire and then tie the other end to your scissor.
5. Using your pen, string, and scissor you have created a drawing compass. Hold your scissor point firmly on your cardboard box and draw your circle.
Hint: Keep your pen and scissor pointing straight up and draw slowly. Also remember to keep the string taut as you are working your way around. You may even have a roommate or spouse hold your scissor in place.
6. Once your circle is drawn, simply cut it out.
Hint: If you do not own scissors sharp enough, try using a pocket knife or an x-acto blade.
7. Repeat steps 3-6 for your inner circle.
Hint: If you are creating a 22 inch large circle, draw a 12 inch inner circle, no smaller. (I made the mistake of drawing a smaller inner circle and had to change my plan once the spoons were glued. Will explain more later with photos.)
8. Using your duct tape, tape along any creases on both sides of your cardboard to add stability.
Hint: To create clean, smooth edges on your cardboard, tape around the perimeter of your outer circle and inner circle. I did not do this with my large mirror but with my two smaller mirrors and the smaller ones look polished and complete.
10. Cut the ends off of your plastic spoons.
Hint: Shop around for the most inexpensive spoons you can find--the "heavy duty" are impossible to cut through! I found bags of 48 spoons at Family Dollar for a $1.00 each.
11. Begin gluing your spoons onto your cardboard.
Hint: Practice spacing them out in alternating patterns first.
12. After 8 rows on your 22 inch cardboard circle, your spoons will appear to have run out of room.
Hint: This is what I was referring to earlier. I still had more room for spoons before reaching my inner circle but my spoons began to overlap each other and I did not like that.
So I cut my inner circle to make a larger, 12 inch circle leaving just enough room for one final row of spoons.
13. For your final inner row of spoons, cut the ends to form a nice oval shape because you will see the bottoms.
14. Use your rough sandpaper first to sand down your inner row spoons and then the finer sandpaper to smooth out your spoons. This step will take the longest but is worth the effort.
15. Glue your inner row of spoons slightly overlapping each other.
Hint: Take your time and you will be able to line them up just right!
16. Spend 5-10 minutes removing all of your glue gun "hairs".
Hint: Repeat this step after priming your work, the "hairs" will pop up all over!
17. Take your plastic spoon circle outside and spray with a primer made to cover plastic.
18. Once your primer is dry, spray paint the color of your choice!
(I used: Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Multi-Purpose Spray Paint, High Gloss, Apple Red)
Hint: Double check to make sure your spray paint is meant for plastic! This spoon mirror will test your patience. It takes many many light coats to cover every nook and cranny but it's fun and shows instant results!
19. When your spoons are painted and dried, bring them inside to glue your mirrors to them.
Hint: Because of weight purposes, lay your mirror front facing you on your table. Place hot glue along the perimeter of your mirror and then place your cardboard spoon circle on top of mirror. Press firmly (and carefully) with your fingers and let sit.
20. When your mirror is in place, tape a few sections of the mirror onto the cardboard for extra security.
21. Hot glue your sawtooth hook to the back of your cardboard mirror. Again, let sit.
Hint: For my large 22 inch mirror, I used 3 sawtooth hooks and only 1 each for my smaller mirrors.
