I decided to recycle old scratched up or non-useable CD's. So I made these into centerpieces and cake toppers and sell them for extra money. Each one is different and one of a kind or sometimes I have doubles of some figurines.
The CDs are my base and then I go from there. I buy my figurines from thrift shops and yard sales and dollar stores, and I save all my scrap material and lace to glue to my base. I also have people save me their old CDs, including thrift shops where people donate their things. The owners said they end up just throwing them away, but now they save them for me.
By Myra from Allenhurst, GA
This page contains the following solutions.
Christmas wall, window, and tree decor. Drill a hole on an old CD and tie a ribbon or a yarn through the hole. Hot glue a poinsettia/leaves or any Christmas symbol on the CD.
Do you have a bunch of those free CD's laying around? Turn them over, the backsides are mirror like, use double sided tape and attach them to the back of the bedroom door for a funky full length mirror. Your teenage daughter will love it.
This "CD" is fun to make. I print a photo sent to me. Position the CD over the center of subject and draw around the CD. Cut it. I used Mod Podge to adhere it to the CD.
In order to make the picture of this craft work, without an intense reflection, I have covered the CD with invisible tape. Your actual project will allow the shine of the CD to show and reflect holiday lights.
I saw an interesting window treatment the other day. A computer shop had used CDs to cover a window; overlapping two layers, to create a sort of round pane effect.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
We all have lots of old floppy disks and cds around thanks to AOL and CD Burners. Do you have any good uses for them?
This is something that I have done with those old CD's we all seem to get in the mail. I painted the advertisement side black. On the computer I made a "birthday label" on card stock, which is better than a label, cut it out and glued it over the center hole area on the shinny side of the CD and hot glued twelve pieces of hard candy around the disk. To the back side, I used one of those FREE heavy duty magnets that some pharmacy's give out, to the back.
Just use your imagination.
"Syd - who's always thinking!
I also decorated my home office Xmas tree with CD's. I guess you could use the floppies as well. I prefer the CD's.
Make a wind chime. Glue two CD's together, shiny sides out. Drill small holes for stringing the wind chimes, etc. Hang in a covered area of a porch where you get breezes. You can copy off some commercial wind chimes for ideas.
Syd Barr - never at a loss for an idea!
I have a great use for old CD's. Last Christmas, my grandaughter and I made gifts for her teacher and parents, by cutting pic's from old Christmas cards and gluing them onto the shiny side of the CD. Then, we glued bits of fake Christmas trees or weaths, to make little trees. (This makes it look 3D) When the glue was dry, we used craft paint and painted snow on the ground (if you used outdoor scene) and also painted small dots of snow all over the pic. We then glued narrow red ribbon onto the backside for hanging; and/or used small pieces of magnets so they could be displayed on the refrigerators. This was such a big hit with the teachers, etc. we do this every year for Sunday School projects, etc.
I put small stakes in the ground and put a CD on each one along my walkway shiny side up. They pick up the light from the porch light and make energy free illumination along the dark walk.
- Marianne
Use the shiny ones in your straawberry paatch. Hang them on a stake to scare the birds away.
3 ideas:
1. With spray adhesive or any good craft glue, attach a circular cut out of a snapshot in the center of the shiney side of a CD disk. This makes a nice shiny rim. Glue four small magnets around the rim of the back of the disk, at 12, 3, 6 and 9 O'clock and attach it to the fridge.
#2. Glue felt to the dark side of the disk and us it shiny side up under a flower pot on a windowsill.
#3. OR save lots them; find a mirror, round or square..... and, overlapping the disks, hot glue them as a modern looking rim round the edge of your mirror!
I use the cds when I crochet to make CD hotpads. There are many different patterns to chose from. They also make wonderful gifts.
- Margaret Fraleigh
During the Christmas season,hang your CD's from wire on a tree to decorate. They make great outdoor decorations. When the lights hit them the shine.
- Elaine Miller
My husband is not only a computer user, but also a webmaster and a programmng student. As you can imagine, he gets piles of those throw-away cd's from a-oh-well, and other companies that advertise that way. So, I went looking for ideas on how to use them.
I thought they would be pretty and effective tied in long cords and hung around berrry bushes, etc where you don't want the birds stealing your garden goodies. They twirl in the wind and flash gloriously, as good a treat to the eye as a diamond tiara or a crystal chandelier. You do want to pull the cords rather taut to get the most dynamics, so you'll need some kind of stakes or poles.
Just as they are, they make tolerable coasters. You can improve them a bit by gluing a circle of felt to the lable side.
I'm also considering how I can make Christmas ornaments with them. I have a few ideas, but I won't list any, so that you can let your own imaginations run away with you. Instead, I'll just suggest that they could show off thread-crochet, or just about anything could be glued on.
I read that some people warm them on cookie sheets, and make bowls (with holes) when they are just soft enough to droop over a form. This might also make an interesting flower dish with a drainage hole. I have not tried this.
I saw a picture of a home-made gazing ball, done by breaking them in pieces, and pasting the pieces onto a bowling ball or something, with that adhesive/grout used to make mosaics. If you do that, you might like to cover other shapes, too, and incorporate other materials like broken plates, marbles, seashells, etc. Can you picture those reflective fragments under water as a bird bath? Or on stepping stones, on tables or storage cubes, on large flowerpots, on mirror/window frames etc? (Mirrors are wonderful in the garden. Display one, and you have an instant "secret garden".)
Rose B, mother of three, in NC
glue label sides together with spray adhesive
string them together with fishing line, from ceiling to floor, then
use as hippie-beads; those curtain-type things, around a bed or to
divide a room for a teenager.
I take old CD's and cut them into tiny pieces. Sometimes they break so you may want to warm them a little then cut. Then I take a styrofoam ball and use use straight pins and put a length of ribbon around the ball to secure the ball for hanging. Then I glue all the tiny pieces on the ball and make my own DISCO globe!! I hang them from the ceiling fans for light pulls and they shine pretty when the lightis on.
The disks that I will never I use as coasters. I have one by night stand and one by computer to place a coffee cup or soda on. It prevents lots of discolored circles on wood furniture. Also makes a good mirror too!
By Annette
Editor's Note: You can also decorate the CDs with contact paper or paint to match your decor.
Since I've been stringing old CDs from the trees in my backyard, I haven't had any DEER in the yard to eat my plants! I live on 2 acres of land which back up to the woods. I started the CDs from the trees IN the woods, all the way up to my gardens. So far, so good!
Barbara from Toms River, NJ
You can cut a piece of cardstock to fit and attach with glue. Paint and then add a pic/clip art ect. Makes great ornaments. I had written in earlier about how to make these and sent in a picture.
if anyone wants to see the pictures I made I will send via email
ucmelaffn @ aol . com (take out spaces)
hang them over your strawberrys. it scares the birds away. ARDIS
I have so many CDs from my daughter growing up. I need ideas on what to make or do with them. I don't want to throw them away, but my daughter no longer wants them.
By joy from Montgomery, AL
I have a lot of CDs and I am looking for craft ideas for them. I was making coasters out of them, but I am tired of making them and would really like some different ideas. Thanks.
By CHRISTY from Waukegan, IL
I'm looking for directions for making a hanging mobile using CDs and some foam-type of material. A friend had one hanging in her child's room and it was really cute. The body of the fish was a CD, a plastic eye was glued to it, and heavy-type material was stuck thru the CD to make a fin. Does anyone have specific directions on how to make these? Thanks!
I would like to find complete directions on how to make costume jewelery pins out of 'free' CD's. I know you 'warm' them before you cut shapes and use acrylic paints but does anyone have any more tips or directions?
I am looking for butteries or other animals, like fish, made from compact discs. Thanks.
By susan hubbard from Morrow, GA
How do you make candy dishes from old CDs?
By Fostina
I need the directions for the fourth and half angel made out a CD.
By christine from Indiana, PA
Use old CDs or DVDs to make these pretty suncatchers. Decorate them to look like all sorts of iridescent butterflies. A great project to do with kids.
Take old computer or music CDs and make these pretty bookmarks in a feather shape. These could also be hung as suncatchers or as part of a wind chime.
Use recycled CDs to make these shiny hearts. They are great for Valentine's Day or to show your love anytime.
Take old CDs and a recycled glass bottle to make this pretty mosaic vase for small floral displays. This is a good project to do with your kids and makes a great gift.
Many of us have some old CDs lying about the house. Learn how to reuse them to make these beautiful butterfly decorations. Your kids can do the creative part, but may need help cutting them out. Hang them anywhere.
Learn how to make a lovely recycled CD ornament by following the instructions on this page. A detailed list of supplies is also included.
A CD, some lace, and a faux flower are used to create this pretty wall hanging. This is a page about CD wall hanging.
