How to bedazzle a mirror

What to know first

Most mirror frames are hard plastic, so the method is the same as a phone case. The difference is the mirror itself: stray glue on the glass is obvious and solvent smears are hard to remove, so masking comes first. Character designs, such as a Hello Kitty face on a vanity mirror, are usually built from a printed template laid under a clear frame or traced on the back.

What you need

• Mirror with a hard plastic or metal frame
• Resin or glass flatbacks
• E6000-type adhesive
• Painter’s tape
• Fine sandpaper and isopropyl alcohol
• Wax pick-up pen

Step by step

1. Mask the mirror glass with painter’s tape right up to the frame edge.
2. Scuff the frame lightly and clean it with isopropyl alcohol.
3. Outline the inner and outer edge with a single row of stones.
4. Fill between the rows in small glue patches.
5. Remove the tape before the glue at the edge cures.
6. Let it cure fully before use.

Avoid

• Glue on the mirror glass
• Soft rubbery frames
• Heavy glass stones on a thin frame