More Sunburst Mirrors - "A Grouping of Sunburst Mirrors"

More SUNBURST MIRRORS to blog about.  I was inspired by this drawing I saw in the newspaper recently.  I liked the way the sunbursts looked on the wall.  I quickly visualized doing something like that on my foyer wall.  So I . . . . 

 gathered my supplies and began working on the first of many. For the backing I found a wooden plate at Hobby Lobby. Next, I decided to use wooden dowels (pkg. of 20) I found at Michaels, instead of skewers. 

I needed at least five packs. Whenever I go to Michaels or any craft or fabric stores, I always print out coupons to cut down on costs. I had to make several trips to get the items I needed at discounted prices. I figured the total cost (including mirrors) for this project, just under $20.00.  Wooden dowels are much thicker and easier to work with than skewers. Sorry to say, I've tried making a sunburst mirror out of skewers before and got very frustrated because I could not glue them on straight, no matter out hard I tried. I would start out placing them on, like clock hands, at 3, 6, 9 and 12, but once I tried filling the skewers in between, somehow they would become slanted. Thanks to a tutorial I found on sunburst mirrors, www.bystephanielynn.com, I was able to find and print out a circle template with "16 slices".  I really needed this!   Thank you Stephanie Lynn!!! 

After gluing the template to the wooden plate, I drew extended lines to the end of the plate.




I then used the lines  as a guide to adhering the dowels in the pattern shown. I didn't have to cut any sticks which made the gluing process move along quickly. I worked my way around the entire circle using the selected pattern.  

I quickly decided to add two more dowels to the pattern.
This made for a more interesting design.

 Using a hot glue gun allowed me to paint right after I finished gluing on the last dowel.  I picked out a Metallic Satin Nickel Finish spray paint by Krylon for my sunburst.  After spraying, I let it dry for 24 hours.  Sometime ago, I had gotten a 12 inch bevel mirror at  AC Moore. I was going to use it on this project, but since the wooden plate was 14 inches, I wanted a larger mirror and  found a 14" bevel mirror at Michaels. To make things interesting, I decided to glue the smaller mirror on top of the larger one.

After attaching a hanging claw to the back using two small nails, I hung my Beautiful Sunburst Mirror in my foyer where it is proudly on display in anticipation of the rest of the "Grouping of Sunburst Mirrors".

UPDATE:
I recently finished more sunbursts to hang in my foyer.     I am having so much fun in making these!!  

I tried different patterns in arranging the skewers or rods.

 I hung them on the wall and I'm very thrill with the way they look!  Not exactly what I started out to do.  I think because the area is wider, the look is different.  You can't get the full effect just by looking at the pictures. I don't know if it's my camera or my novice picture taking abilities.

Anyway, I love it!!  Now I'm thinking about making smaller sunburst mirrors and adding them to the wall.


ENJOY!

Jello Mosaic Dessert Bars

Today I made jello.  Not just any jello, but something called Mosaic Dessert Bars. My brother has lung cancer and isn't doing so well.  Right now, he doesn't have much of an appetite so I decided I would take him some jello. I've made this recipe before around Christmas using strawberry, lime, orange and lemon flavors. This time, I wanted to use flavors that might represent spring or Easter.
I gathered:
      







 
       6 1/2 cups       boiling water,  (1c for each flavor)
          1 pkg.          (3oz) JELL-O Peach Flavor Gelatin               
          1 pkg.          (3oz) JELL-O Grape Flavor Gelatin
          1 pkg.          (3oz) JELL-O Berry Blue Flavor Gelatin
          1 pkg.          (3oz) JELL-O Lemon Flavor Gelatin
          1 pkg.          (3oz) JELL-O Lime Flavor Gelatin
          2 env.           KNOX Unflavored Gelatin
          1/2 cup         cold water
          1 can            (14oz) Sweetened Condensed Milk

Add 1 cup boiling water to each flavor fruit gelatin mix in separate bowls or do each one at a time. Stir at least 2 min. until completely dissolved.  Pour each flavor of gelatin into separate small shallow food storage containers sprayed with cooking spray. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm.

Sprinkle unflavored gelatine over cold water; let stand 1 min.  Stir in 1-1/2 cups boiling water. Add condensed milk; mix well.  Cool slightly.

 Cut flavored gelatin into cubes.  Randomly place cubes in 13x9 inch pan sprayed with cooking spray.  Pour milk mixture over cubes.  If necessary, stir very gently to distribute gelatin cubes.  Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm.     

 The gelatin can then be sliced into bars . . . .

This really turned out pretty.  I'm packing it up and taking it to my brother.  Hopefully, he'll be able to have some. Just taking it one day at a time . . .