Everyone knows that old or scratched CDs make good coasters and bird-scarers, but did you know that they can be turned into beautiful and original art pieces as well?
The steps are simple:
1. Paint the shiny silver side of an old CD with acrylic paint. Any colour (or combination of colours) you like. We like dark ones best because the contrast with the shiny silver is greatest.
Tip: don’t forget to wash out your paintbrush in the sink before the paint dries on it. Acrylic paint is water-soluble so this is easy.
There is a great Instructable by Swapnal.
2. Leave the painted CD(s) to dry completely. This will take a few hours at least. It’s best to leave overnight.
3. While you are waiting for the paint to dry (what could be more fun, right?!), draw around another CD on a sheet of paper or a sketch pad. Sketch out some designs - this way you know they will fit exactly onto the CD.
4. When the paint is dry, use the scraper tool to carve your design into the paint layer, exposing the shiny metallic layer beneath. Use a combination of fine lines and wider ones - try using different edges or ends of the scraper to get different line styles.
5. When you are happy with your design, you can hang it up, glue it to the lid of a treasure chest, turn it into a unique greetings card etc. There’s a neat way to attach the CD to a flat surface like a card so it can spin freely. Here’s how:
Cut a small circle out of card that’s a bit thicker than the CD. This piece should fit inside the CD hole. Cut another circle that is too big for the hole. Glue the small one to the backing piece, put the CD over it and then glue the larger one on top to hold the CD in place. Make sure to only use enough glue to stick the card layers together. If you use too much it will ooze out and stick to the CD, preventing it from spinning. Put a book on top and leave it for a few hours to set. Birthday cards featuring spinning reflective circular art are a big hit, believe me!
