Compact Disc Craft
Project 1 - Y Pattern
Compact Disc Crafts is Born
I was sitting at my craft table trying do decide which seashells craft to start. I found myself staring at this compact disc I had received in the mail. Not something I ordered just something someone else decided I should have.
I was trying to decide what I should do with it. I could just throw it out and add it to the local landfill. I could just keep it for a while longer, stashed on one of my shelves.
So I thought about this for a while and “POP” an idea surfaced. Why not use it as canvas for my arts and crafts? There and then I started my next project – compact disc crafts designed with seashells, pearls, and rhinestones.
This compact disc craft is designed to hang and has seashells in a upside-down "Y" pattern plus seashells that curl up and through the adjacent shells, rhinestones, and pearls. Two seashells set to either side of a larger faux pearl form the "V" of the "Y."
A couple of more seashells form the single leg of the upside-down “Y” pattern. Seashells are placed to either side of the Y and are in turn braced by yellow rhinestones. Two smaller pearls are at the top of the design just under the top seashell.
The other side of the compact disc craft has a very similar design, as close as I could get it to the first side. Check out the photos and you will see that although they are similar in layout there are differences in the seashells.
Materials:
1. compact disc
2. seashells
3. pearls
4. rhinestones
5. fishing line
General Materials:
1. white all purpose glue
2. polyurethane
3. hobby brushes
4. newspaper
5. drill & drill Bit
Prepare the Compact Disc
The first thing to do is clean any fingerprints, oils, and dust off the surface of the compact disc. I used dish soap and water, rinsed it very well, and used a clean towel to dry it completely. Clean both sides if you intend to make it free hanging.
Use a small drill bit, maybe 1/8” or so to make a small hole near the edge. I made the hole on my CD about ¼” from the edge. You will be tying your fish string to this hole, so it becomes your “top of the CD” marker. Brush off any plastic pieces and dust.
Now you are going to sand your compact disk. Place your newspaper or something similar under the CD to catch the leftover sand.
First apply some Elmer’s glue to the disk surface. Use a brush to spread or paint the glue all over the surface. Try to spread the glue out evenly. Now pour sand over the glue. Make sure you cover all of it. Lightly pat the sand down with your fingers. This will help more of the sand stick to the glue.
Set the whole mess aside to dry. A couple of hours should do, depending on the humidity of the air. When you think it’s dry, lightly shake off the loose sand. Gather it up and return it to your container. You’ll need it again soon enough.
Check the hole you drilled into the CD and clean it out if it’s clogged up with sand.
Guess what you get to do now? Yep, do the same thing on the other side of the CD. Apply glue to the surface, spread it out, apply your sand, let it dry, and shake off the loose sand.
You should now have a CD that is covered with sand on both sides. This is just the beginning of your compact disc crafts project. It sets up the background for your seashell design. Collect the loose sand and return it to your container. Clear out the drilled hole if you need to.
Now that both sides of the CD are covered in sand you need to seal the sand. Apply a coat of polyurethane. Pick a side and cover the sand with the polyurethane. Wait for it to dry, then flip it over, and cover the sand on the other side.
This seal will both protect the sand, bring out some shine, and help seal it better on the CD. It will make your compact disc craft sparkle! Wait for it all to dry and then go on to applying the design.
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Apply the design
Take another look at the photo. See how the seashells, pearls, and rhinestones are laid out. You may want to print the photo out so you can have it nearby as a reference. Place your sand covered compact disc craft on your workspace. You should have a sheet or two of newspaper under the CD to catch any loose sand.
First let’s lay out your seashells, pearls, and rhinestones on the CD surface. Don’t glue them yet, just put them in place so you can see how they fit in the design. Remember to use the hole you drilled into the CD as your top center point, since that hole is how you will hang the finished craft item.
Try to get your design layout as close as you can to the photos of the one I crafted. This will give you a good idea of how the seashells and other items will lay on the CD. Now that you have done your practice run, get out your glue and start your craft project.
Start with the bigger shells in the center of the design. Apply glue to the edges of the seashells and put them in place. Then do the same for the seashells that go up toward the drilled hole. The center seashell needs to be big enough to cover the center hole in the CD.
Next put in the pearls. In this case, I found it easier to apply the glue directly on the CD and then place the pearls on the glue.
Place the two outer edge seashells on the disc. Use the same method as for the pearls if you use rounded type seashells, or apply directly to the seashell edges if using flats.
Now place a rhinestone, on above each side seashell and one below each of them. Apply the glue to the compact disc craft and place the rhinestone on the glue.
At this time take a pause, look over the placement of the shells and compare it to the photo. Make any adjustments you feel you want to.
Take out your sand and pour some sand around each seashell, pearl, and rhinestone. This will cover the glue that has seeped out from under your placements and help blend the edges into the sand on the CD. Set aside to dry. This can take a couple of hours or more depending on the glue you used and the humidity in the air.
Once it’s dry lightly shake off the loose sand and collect it up for later use.
OK? The final phase of the design is now in hand. You’ll need 12 to 14 small seashells. You can either apply the glue to the shells and then place them on the CD, or put drops of glue on the CD and then place the shells on the glue.
Wind the shells between the seashells, pearls, and rhinestones you already have placed on the disk. They should wind around and in-between, similar to the photo. Place all your shells then check them out.
ARE YOU HAPPY? Great!
Now pour sand around each of these shells and the set the whole craft aside to dry. Once dry, shake off the loose sand and take a look. Apply a coat of polyurethane to the seashells and the new sand. Try not to get any on the pearls or the rhinestones.
Yeah! You have successfully completed half the project.
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Finishing the project
Now that the first half of the CD has been crafted, turn it over and do the same thing to the other side. Just follow the steps above. When you are done set the compact disc craft aside to let it dry.
If the project is dry you can finish it off by getting some fishing string and making a hanger for the disk from it. I use fishing line because it is very strong yet barely visible. I believe I have used 8lb on my project but 10 or 12 lb will work just as well.
You can get fishing line just about anywhere. Look in the sporting goods department of your local discount store.
Cut about a foot and a half of string. Thread it through the hole you drilled out, which should be at the top of the design. Tie it off.
About a foot up from the CD make a loop and tie that off. You should now have a beautifully hand crafted seashells compact disc craft with a hanger.
Using Your Handcrafted Compact Disc Craft
Hang your compact disc crafts from a ceiling, overhead beam, or other such place. Use a decorative ceiling hook or a cup hook. You can get these at just about any discount store or your local hardware store.
Try Another Compact Disc Project
Project 2 - Circle pattern
Project 3 - X pattern
Project 4 - Cross pattern
Project 5 - Flower pattern
Project 6 –
Star
Return to Main Compact Disc Craft Page
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