DIY Nautical Rope Mirror

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Make your own rendition of a favorite decor item, like this DIY nautical rope mirror, on a budget!

Here’s where I started….

Nautical Rope Mirror - Inspired by Ballard Designs - Thrifty Mirror - #thrifty #inspiredby artsychicksrule.com

Happy Monday!

I have a really fun “inspired by” project for you guys today.
My friends and I got together and created a few projects for you….and mine is VERY thrifty!
This DIY Nautical Rope Mirror inspired by Ballard Designs.

(I am totally sure their’s are too! That’s the whole point. ;)  You’ll have to be sure to check their’s out at the end of my post)

Here’s mine….

DIY Nautical Rope Mirror - Inspired by Ballard Designs - Hot Glue Rope - #thrifty #inspiredby artsychicksrule

I saw this really pretty mirror at Ballard Designs but knew I’d never spend that much!
( because I am thrifty girl after all ;) )

It looked pretty simple to make ….so I did!

And…as luck would have it (but it doesn’t always! ;) )… I found this mirror on my very first visit out looking for one.

Nautical Rope Mirror - Inspired by Ballard Designs - Thrifty Mirror - #thrifty #inspiredby artsychicksrule.com

$5.25 for the mirror.
It was pretty much exactly what I was looking for….except for the flowery design along the edges.
I decided to grab it up anyway.
And…the flowers kind of grew on me like I knew they might.

I knew I needed to put it on some sort of board backing so I could attach the rope.
So I found this old board (it’s a scrap piece of bead board) in the garage and had my husband cut it about an inch larger than the mirror.

Then I glued the mirror to the wood base with E6000 (I wanted it to be very secure).

Nautical Rope Mirror - Inspired by Ballard Designs - Glue to Support Board - #thrifty #inspiredby artsychicksrule.com

Then I got started hot gluing the rope around the edge.
(I already had this rope on hand and ended up using about only 1/3 of the roll)

Nautical Rope Mirror - Inspired by Ballard Designs - Hot Glue Rope - #thrifty #inspiredby artsychicksrule.com

See my sweet girl in the background. She was keeping me company. ;)

I decided to cut and do sections in the middle top where the loop was going.

Nautical Rope Mirror - Inspired by Ballard Designs - Wrap Rope Around - #thrifty #inspiredby artsychicksrule.com

I just cut and started a new section of rope to go around the mirror each time.
You might also notice I decided to round the edges of the corners so they would not show.
Just hit it with the sander to do this.

Nautical Rope Mirror - Inspired by Ballard Designs - Wrap Layers of Rope Around - #thrifty #inspiredby artsychicksrule.com

I left it “loose” in the center so I’d be able to wrap the small twine there at the end.

I did this 5 times. (5 layers of rope)

For the fifth and final layer of rope (the edge piece), I glued from the backside.
Nautical Rope Mirror - Inspired by Ballard Designs - Glue Last Layer from Behind - #thrifty #inspiredby artsychicksrule.com
It was mainly going along that wood edge so I could see it better from this side.

Then I hot glued the edges together and attached a loop at the top.

Nautical Rope Mirror - Inspired by Ballard Designs - Glue Center - #thrifty #inspiredby artsychicksrule.com

Notice the rope is not attached to the base in that spot.
I will be looping through with this white rope ….

Nautical Rope Mirror - Inspired by Ballard Designs - Decorative White Rope - #thrifty #inspiredby artsychicksrule.com

I couldn’t find a smaller twine/rope like Ballard Design had on theirs (that was the same color as my larger rope) and decided to do the white instead.
I love the contrast so it actually worked out very well! :)

Nautical Rope Mirror - Inspired by Ballard Designs - Wrap White Cord around Center - #thrifty #inspiredby artsychicksrule.com

I just wrapped it around a few times and then finished gluing everything down into place.
Then I glued one strand of the white all the way around the inside.

That’s it! 

Nautical Rope Mirror - Inspired by Ballard Designs $259 - My version $9 - #thrifty #inspiredby artsychicksrule.com

All done. I didn’t attach a hook for the back since I decided to just set it on the chest.
But you can add screws with wire along the back to hang.
I would suggest that style of hanger since it did end up being pretty heavy.

Nautical Rope Mirror - Inspired by Ballard Designs - DIY for $9 - #thrifty #inspiredby artsychicksrule.com

I just love how this turned out….

Nautical Rope Mirror - Inspired by Ballard Designs - Save $200 by making yourself! - #thrifty #inspiredby artsychicksrule.com

And it was so easy too!

Nautical Rope Mirror - Inspired by Ballard Designs - $9 instead of $259! - #thrifty #inspiredby artsychicksrule.com

I’m loving it over top of my “Knots Nautical” chest.
You can read about that makeover here (and see how I created that graphic) …. —> Coastal Themed Chest

So, for the cost, I just estimated price of each rope and the amount I used.
It is somewhere in the ballpark of $9, including the thrift store mirror.

Nautical Rope Mirror - Inspired by Ballard Designs - $9 compared to $259! - #thrifty #inspiredby artsychicksrule.com

Not bad at all!

Nautical Rope Mirror - Inspired by Ballard Designs - Theirs $259 Mine $9 - #thrifty #inspiredby artsychicksrule.com

A savings of $250. 
That’s my kind of thrifty. :)

Be sure to see what has inspired my friends below!
(and check back in tomorrow for —>>  some seashell crafts!)

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24 Comments

    1. Thanks Christy! And yep, most of our things are interchangeable!!!
      And HAHA…um, not quite and why I didn’t mention them yet again! lol But very, very close! ;)
      (I did put some things up on the shelves for Mother’s Day dinner though!)
      xo
      Nancy

  1. Thanks for sharing this Nancy! I have been wanting to make one for a long time, and you have encouraged me to do so. You did an amazing job. Pinned :)

  2. Nancy, looks just as great as Ballards! And waaay cheaper! It looks so wonderful above your chest! Awesome job! xo

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