Here's a crafty catastrophe if I ever saw one: Dropping an entire box of "sorted" beads on the tile.

When it happened, at first I fell to my knees, slapped my hands on my cheeks and screamed to the heavens (we artistic folks are dramatic). But then I took a series of deep breaths, calmed down and considered my options. I could either spend hours crying while putting the beads, one by one, back in their tidy compartments or I could make the best of a bad situation and create something with them on the spot. I opted for the latter and came up with this funky beaded mirror project.

I love it so much and totally agree with that "everything happens for a reason" philosophy. By being a bit of a klutz, I went from frustrated to fabulous with the help of a drill, wire and a wood mirror. Here is a tip: If you can't find a wood-framed mirror, you can always buy a piece of wood at the home-improvement store and glue on a mirror from the craft store. Let this be a lesson that any accident can be remedied with a bit of creative intervention.
Loopy-Do Beaded Mirror
Supplies
• 1 wood mirror or frame
• Paint, paintbrush
• Drill
• 1 spool of 36-gauge wire
• Assorted beads
• Needle-nose pliers
• Small crystals
• Craft glue

Directions: Drill holes around the edge of the mirror, leaving about two inches between each one. Paint the mirror in desired color and let dry. Cut a piece of wire about 24 inches long, insert the end into one of the holes and twist to secure. Feed the beads on the wire. The more beads you add, the bigger your "loop" will be, and the fewer beads, the smaller it will be. Insert the wire through the next hole and repeat the pattern. Keep going until you run out of wire. Repeat the process of adding more wire and beads until there are loops all around the outside of the mirror. Glue the crystals around the outside of the mirror. Hang and enjoy!

Variations: Use all the same kind of beads for a more uniform look, or use letter beads to spell out a phrase or family names. Decoupage the mirror or paint other designs on it.

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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: home decor, inside