How to Make a Laser Cut Haunted Mirror with UV Printing and LED Lights

Halloween is the perfect time to get creative with your laser cutter and UV printer. This year, we finally made a project that’s been haunting our idea list for years: a spooky haunted mirror that hides a zombie until the lights turn on. By day, it looks like an aged antique mirror. Flip on the LED lights, and BOOM — the hidden zombie face appears through the glass!

This DIY Halloween project is an absolute showstopper for your home decor, haunted house setup, or craft show booth. In this post, we’ll walk you step by step through how we made it using our AEON NOVA 14 CO2 laser, LogoJet UV printer, acrylic from Houston Acrylic, and Foxy Hues paints.

Why Make a Haunted Mirror?

A haunted mirror isn’t just a fun craft — it’s a fantastic conversation starter and seller at craft fairs. With the hidden image technique, your mirror can look totally normal until the lights flip on. This surprise effect makes it perfect for:

• 🎃 Halloween parties and haunted houses

• 🪞 Front porch or entryway decor

• 🧟 Craft shows (where you can sell them with battery packs attached)

• 👻 Personalized spooky gifts (add custom names or designs)

The best part? You can swap out the hidden zombie for anything: skulls, ghosts, text like “Welcome Foolish Mortals,” or even family portraits for a quirky twist.

Materials You’ll Need

Here’s everything we used for our haunted mirror build:

• 1/4" MDF (for the mirror frame and backer)

• 1/8" clear acrylic sheet (from Houston Acrylic)

• UV Printer (LogoJet 24x36) and Print Pro software

• AEON NOVA 14 CO2 laser (for precision cutting)

• LED strip lights (with adhesive backing + battery pack option)

• Adhesives: Starbond Thick + Accelerator

• Paints: Foxy Hues paints (colors used: Goose Gourmet Gray, Midnight Bandit, Twilight Train, Ash Avenger White)

• Foam rollers & woodgrain tool (for aging and texturing the frame)

• Hair dryer or heat gun (for drying between layers)

Step 1: UV Printing the Hidden Zombie

The trickiest part — and the coolest! — is how you print the images. We printed both the mirror face and the zombie on the same side of the acrylic:

1. Load both the mirror graphic and zombie graphic into Print Pro.

2. Print the mirror image first (face down), using two layers of white behind it. This ensures the zombie stays invisible until the lights are on.

3. Next, print the zombie image, also mirrored, with a single white layer behind it.

💡 Pro Tip: Two layers of white are key! Without them, your hidden image will “ghost” through even when the lights are off.

Step 2: Laser Cutting the Frame and Acrylic

Using our AEON NOVA 14, we cut out both the MDF frame and the acrylic insert. Registration marks ensured perfect alignment.

• Frame: cut from 1/4" MDF for durability.

• Acrylic insert: cut to 9" x 11" from a 12" x 24" sheet.

• Spacer: an extra 1/8" MDF piece helps seat the acrylic and LEDs evenly.

Step 3: Painting & Distressing the Frame

We wanted that old, haunted mansion vibe. Using Foxy Hues paints, we created layers of depth and texture:

• Base coat: Goose Gourmet Gray + Midnight Bandit rolled on with foam rollers.

• Woodgrain: Dragging a graining tool through wet paint for faux wood texture.

• Accents: Dabbed Foxtail Tie with a crinkled paper towel for a hammered effect.

• Skulls: Painted with Ash Avenger White and aged with light washes for a bone-like finish.

• Purple accents: Twilight Train gave it a creepy, haunted hue.

💡 Painting Tip: Always dry each coat fully before layering more color. A hair dryer helps speed up the process and keeps textures crisp.

Step 4: Assembly & Lighting

Now the fun part — putting it all together.

1. Assemble the MDF frame with Starbond Thick glue and accelerator.

2. Place LED strip lights inside the frame (adhesive backing makes it easy).

3. Insert the acrylic (printed side in), using the 1/8" spacer to level it.

4. Add a reflective panel to the back to boost brightness.

5. Connect to a USB battery pack for portability (perfect for craft shows).

Flip the switch — and watch the zombie appear like magic.

Step 5: Show Off Your Haunted Mirror

When turned off, the acrylic just looks like a distressed, aged mirror. With lights on, the zombie image glows through — spooky, unexpected, and perfect for Halloween.

This project is a great way to combine laser cutting, UV printing, painting, and lighting techniques into one killer build. It’s advanced enough to impress, but approachable for anyone with access to a laser and UV printer.

Business & Craft Show Tips

If you’re looking to sell haunted mirrors at a craft fair or online:

• ✔️ Bundle battery packs with the mirror for convenience.

• ✔️ Offer custom images (family photos, pet portraits, or spooky quotes).

• ✔️ Price according to size and detail — haunted mirrors can command premium pricing thanks to the wow factor.

• ✔️ Make multiples in different designs to draw attention to your booth.

Tools & Supplies We Used

• AEON NOVA 14 Laser Cutter

• LogoJet UV Printer + Print Pro software

• Houston Acrylic clear sheets

• Foxy Hues Paints (indoor/outdoor, UV-resistant, weather-safe)

• Starbond Thick Adhesive

👉 Grab Foxy Hues Paints and other laser crafting supplies at kandgmakeit.com

Watch the Full Haunted Mirror Tutorial

We filmed the entire process so you can follow along and make your own haunted mirror. Watch it here on YouTube:
🔗 Haunted Mirror Video Tutorial