The Sleek Mirror DIY No One Would Guess Is Dollar Tree Foam Board And Glue

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who says you should be boring and plain at all? With a few Dollar Tree items and crafting supplies, you can create a DIY mirror frame on a budget and transform it into a stylish and expensive looking decor piece for your home. This DIY comes to us from the crafting YouTube channel Yoduvh Essentials, who demonstrates a savvy method to upcycle a plain mirror into something truly inspiring. The YouTuber created a stunning black and gold mirror frame using nothing but a Dollar Tree foam board, parchment paper, black contact paper, spray paint and glue. Though you may not find black contact paper at your local Dollar Tree, there are plenty of affordable alternatives online.

Using the foam board and contact paper as the base of the frame, this DIY takes an unconventional approach to hot glue, repurposing it to create an elegant decorative statement. Using hot glue for this purpose requires a steady hand and some artistic skill. Thankfully, there are many ways to simplify this step to be more beginner-friendly. This DIY is also completely customizable and we have tons of ideas for how you can modify it to suit your style.

First, position the mirror in the center of the foam board and trace its outline, leaving plenty of space around it to create a stylish frame. Use a crafting knife to cut the foam board to size. To recreate the look from the video, cover the border with black contact paper, or any color of your choosing. Next, create your textured decor on your parchment paper. For this step, you will need to measure the width of your border and trace it onto the parchment paper so that the decorative glue pieces fit evenly onto the surface. Then, use the hot glue gun to draw horizontal swirls onto the parchment paper within the borders that you traced. Continue until you've covered the entire area thoroughly, then wait for it to dry and carefully peel it off of the paper. The hot glue should be applied generously to make it less fragile when it's removed.

The next step is to lay down a sheet of plastic or take the molds outside for spray painting. While the paint is drying, attach the mirror to the foam board using durable mounting tape, placing it squarely within the borders you traced. Now, you'll be ready to attach the hot glue pieces directly onto the contact paper frame around your mirror. Grab that hot glue gun once more and attach your border one piece at a time. Now that you understand the process, you can experiment with different creative ways to design a mirror that's uniquely yours. 

There are many ways to customize this DIY to make it your own. If you're not confident enough in your artistic abilities to create a decorative border with hot glue, take the stress out and use silicone mold instead. Silicone is heat resistant, making it an ideal container for handling hot glue. Choose a mold designed for decorative borders, like this set on Amazon. Ensure that it is compatible with your preferred size and fill the mold with hot glue. Once the glue is dry, it can be removed as one solid shape. You can also use silicone molds to create corner accents for your frame. Choose molds that are designed for ornamental corners, such as this set on Amazon. 

Of course, you can always skip the hot glue altogether and create a frame from other materials. You can make a luxe Dollar Tree wall mirror by simply attaching wooden game tiles together into a makeshift border. Another option is to replace the silicone molds with stencils and spray painting directly onto the contact paper. Those who are adept with scissors can trace and cut a wavy border instead of the rectangular one as shown in the video. Consider covering the frame with other crafting items like bamboo rods, faux flower bulbs, or stained glass tiles for beautiful results.