Uses for Old Records

Some old records have value, but some are either too scratched or too common to be collectible. There are ways to reuse old records to make them into something new and wonderful. This is a guide about uses for old records.

Solutions: Uses for Old Records

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Vinyl Record Bowl Instructions

This is an easy recycled craft that you can make in 20 minutes or less. It makes a hip container for that small potted plant that you are planning to give someone as a gift this Christmas.

Uses For Old Records

Here are some ideas for old vinyl records.

A Record Clock

My husband made a clock out of one of our old records. It's pretty cool!

By Diane

Make a Record Bowl

I have an idea for old records scratched a little or whatever; I remember years ago when we put the records in the oven at a very, very low heat, not enough to melt, but just barely enough to make the record bend; if you have another easier way to warm the record. Bend the sides upwards to form a basket shape; then you could put a decal or design in the middle & paint as desired.

By Beulah

Art From Record Shards

You can break some into pieces and decorate some frames for the person in your life that loves to dance or that loves music. You can even splatter the pieces with some paint before you glue them to your frame.

By Deb in Canada

Bake Sale Plates

I cover mine with foil and use them to put bakery items on for our school/church bake sales.

By Jan

Table Decorations

The high school graduating class of 2004 used old records on the tables, one for each graduate. They had been spray painted silver. Each grad was given a black marking pen and boy did they have fun going around the room getting other grads to sign their record. Their name was written on what looked like the thing they snap down in front of the camera when making a movie to tell which scene is next. The theme of the grad was Hollywood. A few antique cars were also brought into the room to be used in the background when taking pictures.

By valleyrimgirl

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Uses for Vinyl Records

Simple use for vinyl records! 45 RPM record placed over a glass of water with flowers placed through the hole.

Approximate Time: 5 minutes

Supplies:

old vinyl records (any size)
vases
glasses
plants or flowers

Instructions:

Simply place records over a fancy drink glass or vase and place flowers in the middle. Pretty for a party.

You can also do this with houseplants (keeps them moist longer) or even in your garden to hold down weeds around your growing corn stalks/veggies. 45 RPM over a small potted plant. Corn stalks growing up through center hole of record.

By AHA! from Sterling, PA

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Questions

Here are questions related to Uses for Old Records.

Record Album Purses

I desperately want the instructions for the vinyl album purses, can anyone help?

Evonne from Smithville, TX

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Most Recent Answer

By Sandi/alan (Guest Post) 01/15/2009

There are more than 1 patent on the"recordpurse" Each one is different enough from the others that patents were issued. Three that I know of. The patent states that if the item has a,b,c and d parts and you make one that's a,c and d (skipping the d part)or abc and e parts (again skipping a part plus adding one of your own)you are not infringing on the patents. The key is to drop at least one aspect of the patent. If something requires a washer and you can make a better product by not including it, you do not infringe.

Vinyl Record Craft Ideas

Anyone have cool ideas for repurposing old vinyl records?

By Donna

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Most Recent Answer

By angeltea9 07/09/2012

I see above a link for a bowl. I made one! It's really cool with colored candies like those bright licorice ones w/the pink, blue & yellow with black in it or for nuts & stuff for a party. You could also follow that (bowl) for the heating instructions & fold almost in half to make a wall rack for mail or other paper things to get out of the way & organized. Just drill 2 holes through it at each side - inside on the top & screw it in the wall. Good luck. : D

Making Snack Bowls From Old Record Albums

I have some old albums. I have seen them made into bowls by melting them in a regular oven, over oven proof bowls and bent into shape.

I would like someone to tell me how to do this, as I would love to make some bowls from these old albums to put homemade cookies in for gifts. I love to give unusual gifts.

I know these bowls can only be used for cookies and snacks because of the hole in the middle, but I would rather recycle the albums instead of throwing them out. I like to recycle as much of things as I can. Can anyone help me with this project? You can contact me through this site. Thanks in advance.

By Peggy in PA

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Most Recent Answer

By Anonymous 05/25/2011

There is also this link from the ThriftyFun archives with lots of how to information:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf895928.tip.html
Please be sure to line the vinyl bowl with a cloth if placing food in it because the type of plastic the vinyl contains can leach it's chemicals into the food otherwise.

Uses for Old Record Albums

Does anyone have any ideas on what to do with old record albums? These are classic albums some warped and some in pretty good condition. I was thinking about maybe framing some for interior decor or selling them online, but I have never even been on eBay or anything. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

By Joanne A.

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Most Recent Answer

By JAZZYJULS 08/07/2011

I've also seen alot of record albums lately in antigue shops organized according to genre. We get a kick out of going thru them and finding cool albums.. make sure they play well first before ttying to sell them. We get them for a few bucks a piece in antique shops.

Next: Lead Battery Recycling

Kool-Aid Jammers Purses

Does anyone know how to make the purses and bags that are popular now out of juice pouches, record album covers, basically any cute paper or cardboard label? They appear to be laminated and then sewn together? It feels more like a flexible vinyl though. Any thoughts? My daughters like the ones from Kool-aid packets and I thought it might be a neat project.

Thanks for any help!
Elizabeth

RE: Making Purse Out Of Record Album Covers

Here's what I know about these type purses.

Most people that do the record album purses sandwich the album between two pieces of clear vinyl. I learned the basic on another crafting forum, but can't seem to remember when or where. You basically take the medium weight clear vinyl (Approx. $2 per yard at Wal-Mart) and sandwich the record album between two sheets. Some people cut the album cover in half and have the front on the front of the bag, and back on the back. Depending on how wide you want your bag, you cut strips with a half inch seam allowance added for the sides and bottom. If you're familiar with purse sewing, it should be pretty easy to eyeball.

Onto the Kool-Aid pouch purses. I'm selling about $200 worth a week and barely keeping up with orders. Prepping the bags is the most time consuming part, as it only really takes about 20-30 minutes to sew the purse once the bags are prepped.

I cut the bottoms out of each pouch and drain the drink into a pitcher (yes the kids are now SICK of koolaid). Soak the empty pouches in warm soapy water to get the sticky juice out, then drain upright. I leave them overnight so they can get good and dry.

With a pair of scissors that you don't care about dulling pretty quickly, cut the backs off of the pouches. They should be a smooth, flat, single layer of aluminum/plastic when done.

The hardest part for me, and maybe someone knows a better way to do this, is removing the sticky from where they stuck the straw on the pouch. I use jojoba oil. I lay out about 10 bags at a time and put a drop of oil on each sticky spot, then leave it for about 15-20 minutes. Then I rub off the sticky with my thumbnail.

I bought a Kool-Aid purse for $20 to figure out the pattern and was HIGHLY disappointed about a week later to have little black spots all around my purse where the lady didn't remove the sticky. It is very important to remove the sticky.

Once the sticky is off it's time to get to the easy part of Kool-Aid purses. I use Wonder Tape to assemble my purses for sewing. It keeps the pieces together so they don't slide once on the machine. I use a jean needle and set my machine for a close set, wide zig zag stitch.

Lay out the bags according to how you want your purse to look. The wonder tape is 1/4 inch wide, and the seams on the koolaid bags are 1/4 so it makes a perfect guide for lining up the bags for sewing. The most common size purse is 1 bag high X 2 bags wide X 1 bag deep. Stick two pouches together side by side threes time and sew a zig zag stitch down the seam. If you are lining the purse, take the 3 2-pouch sets you've sewn and the 2 single pouches you have left to use as patterns for cutting the lining material.

Take the two "side" pouches and line them up on each end of one of the pouch sets you've just sewn together. You will lay the bottoms of the single pouches wrong sides together running top to middle on each side of the bottom pouch set. Sew both sides to the bottom of the bag leaving 1/4 inch edge unsewn at the top and bottom, then trim off the excess bottom.

You're really almost done. Folding back the side pouches where you left the 1/4 inch open, line the front (from the other 2 2-pouch sets you sewed together) panel up with the bottom of the bag, wrong sides together, and zig zag together leaving 1/4 at beginning and end of stitch. Repeat for the back panel.

Line up and sew all four of the side seams wrong sides together top to bottom. Some people use the folded up bags to make the handles, but I prefer poly-pro nylon webbing. It's sturdier and more comfortable.

Also, the coin purse that accompanies the Kool-Aid purses are simple. Just fold one pouch over about 3/4 from the top and run a 1/4 inch seam across the top. Line that pouch on top of another pouch wrong sides together. Zig zag around entire full pouch. Fold top flap down. IF you're using velcro to close the coin pouch, sew the velcro before you sew the two pieces together. I use magnetic clasps, so I can skip a step.

Now, if you haven't gone blind from all this writing, GOOD LUCK with your Kool-Aid pouch purse. If you'd like, I'm making a few tonight and can take pictures of the steps for you. Hope you can understand the directions. They really are quite simple once you've done one or two. (03/08/2005)

By MsMischf

RE: Making Purse Out Of Record Album Covers

Your directions sound great! I'm very much a visual person, though - if you would take a few pictures and post I'd love to see it made-in-action! My daughter loves these and I'm looking forward to making us each one. (03/10/2005)

By Sarah

RE: Making Purse Out Of Record Album Covers

Juice Purse Instructions:

First slit the bottom of your juice pouches and rinse out with warm soapy water.

You can let dry overnight or use a paper towel and dry them by hand. Now, take 2 pouches and sew them together using a zigzag stitch side by side overlapping the edges.

Do that again with 2 more pouches. These 2 panels are your front and back. Now, take 1 by itself and place it backside to backside of one of the 2 panels and stitch up the side starting from the top going down leaving about a 1/2 inch un-sewn at the bottom.

Open it up and this should now look like a corner, not overlapped like the 2 that is a panel for the front and back of the purse. Now connect the rest of them together adding another single side panel.

You now have 6 pouches sewn together, 2 in front, 2 in back and 1 on each side. Now, you will have to measure carefully and get 2 more pouches and figure out how wide your bottom is now that you have the top sewn.

Make sure to leave enough to sew and don't just set the purse on the pouch and cut that way, the bottom will be sewn like the corners so you will need a tad extra.

Once you have cut the 2 pouches almost in half but to equal the bottom width sew them together in the middle overlapping them but make sure you over lap enough but have enough to go to the ends for sewing to the purse sides, front and back.

Now, this is the tricky part. Start with a long side and place bad side to bad side and make flat and sew all around the purse.

It will sort of pucker out b/c you are sewing on it making it flat. But, remember when I said not to go all the way down the sides when sewing, this allows for you to be able to fold up the bottom of the pouches to sew onto the bottom panel.

Now for handles I went to a local retail store or you can go to a fabric shop and buy nylon belt type material in the fabric dept. if they are out, you can go to the automotive dept and buy a strapping belt made of the same stuff and I think it is actually cheaper too.

Now, I duct taped it down on the inside of the purse once I figured out the length and then stitched it down at the top. Your fabric lining will cover the duct tape. Of course you do not have to have a lining and can stitch down the nylon handle to the purse and the purse is finished. Your purse is complete.

Tip: If you can't wait to make the purse because your juice pouches aren't empty you can slit the bottom of the pouches and pour them in a pitcher for later. (07/06/2006)

By SOMEONE!@

Record Album Purses

I am looking for instructions on how to make a purse out of record albums. I have seen purses made from the front and back of the album cover and have seen purses using the record, itself, for one of the sides. If possible I would like instructions on how to make both kinds. Can anyone help?

Thanks,
Joni from Colstrip, MT

RE: Record Album Purses

Here's one we have on ThriftyFun:

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf81185662.tip.html (04/29/2007)

By ThriftyFun

Record Album Purses

How do you make record album purses?

Rena from Harrisonville, MO

RE: Record Album Purses

Hey I made a record purse too()! I made mine with less clear vinyl (because I wanted to save for another purse) so I used pleather (vinyl). This way I was also able to make inside pockets for pens, glasses, snacks and phone, etc. So it would take 3 vinyl pieces for one record side:clear vinyl,insert front record cover, colored vinyl facing record, and pocketed vinyl facing away from record. I would then sew it together to keep it from shifting. I used the clear vinyl used to protect furniture, tables: the thinner kind. Good luck. I don't have pics on this computer, sorry. If you are interested please search record purse in craft tips, or if you want to see the pockets just write me and I will find the photo.

Editor's Note: Here is Starchild's record sleeve purse craft project: