Any ideas on how to make an oddly shaped mirror frame?

Question

I just had a large mirror break and I love the shape of one of the large chunks. I know how to build a rectangular frame, but this one is a billowing kite shape and I was looking for ideas. Please don't just tell me to cut it to a square piece and then tell me how to make a frame, that's not what I'm looking for!

I dont have any saws so if I buy any wood it'll have to be pre-cut to what I need. I was also wondering what other materials could be used. I want to be able to attach it to a wall, otherwise I'd leave it the way it is. Creative solutions welcome!

Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

Can you glue your salvaged piece to a piece of wood?  If so, get a rectangular or round piece of wood a few inches larger than your mirror.  Glue the mirror on, then glue something around the edges to cover them.  I'm thinking of something like seashells or those flat glass blobs (about 1/2" or 3/4") that come in a bag to be put into large glass dishes or even polished river rocks.  Those are available in the same mesh bags like the glass blobs.  Even beads would work.  Wood moulding strips would do well, too, for a different look.

This would make a very unique conversation piece out of your mirror piece.  Many lumber stores will cut a piece of wood to fit your specifications if they are not too unusual.  Yours sounds pretty normal.

Answer 2

You could make a frame by molding clay around the edges

Answer 3

You might get some good ideas from the "Frames & Mirrors" page of my site:

http://glassattic.com/polymer/frames-mir...

(... the first half of the page...)

My site is about polymer clay (and you could use that for the whole backing or over other things like papier mache shapes, or just as embellishments, etc), but you might get ideas for other materials from there too.  Don't forget that you could make the main part of the backing from something like a piece of matt board or plywood, etc, then just build out the edges of the shape with other materials (papier mache, wire mesh, or any of those covered with polymer clay... etc.).

HTH,

Diane B.