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| Card Holder from CDs |
Here are some uses for old CDs and DVDs suggested by our ThriftyFun community.
This tip was passed on to me and I thought it would be great here. Use the old junk mail CD's you get promoting internet servers as a reflector on the front and back of the Halloween costumes, just make sure the reflective side is showing. Glue on, Velcro or tape it if it's a plastic costume and it keeps the little ones safe. I wonder if it would be too bright to put at the end of a driveway? I might have to try that.
You can use them to scare away birds from the garden, by hanging them around on poles or trees. Play a flying disc game similar to horseshoes buy make two circles on the ground and toss CDs like a Frisbee. OK, that's enough. Have fun.
By Dee
Cut them randomly with scissors and glue on a box for a mosaic. It's quite a challenge to fit the pieces, shiny side up back together, but it can be done. It gives a nice broken glass effect. As you do this and find you are working with slivers, you can custom cut pieces to fit exactly how you need them too.
Save old CDs and DVDs. Cover with contact paper and use as coasters.
By K J Grau
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 shiny 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 pharmacies give out, to the back. This will hold to a fridge quite well.
I used this as a gag gift. I sealed it in a bag and added a a computer generated note card with the saying: "Happy Birthday - A Years Supply Of Candy, If You Only Eat One A Month!"
By Syd
Make a clock. The clock works fit in the hole and you can decorate the clock in any number of ways.
By Vonda
You can use a couple of them to string up together and hang outside. As the wind blows them, they make a beautiful light reflection.
By Sheree
Hang them on a pine tree outside at Christmas. Pretty ornaments.
By Marti
I am going to make wind chimes and hang in our veggie garden to scare away birds (hopefully).
By Ruth Kennedy
We use them to make picture ornaments. For my daughter's Brownie Bridging, I took a picture of the troop and glued it to the shiny side. Then I put thin lace 1/4" around the edge with hot glue, made a hanger out of ribbon, then covered the back with felt. I decorated around the picture with small stickers, and a congratulations sign. They loved them and my daughter still has hers in the living room. We have done them for Grandparents with child's photos and with holiday photos as ornaments for the tree.
By Debbie
The CD can be used as the body for a fish with the story, "Rainbow Fish". Just add fins and lips and glue on the eye.
I have also used them with elephant stories, such as Elmer or Englebert the Elephant, with the CD being the head of the elephant, glue on eyes, and gray ears on the sides made from gray felt. The child sticks their pointer finger through the hole for the trunk.
By Trina
You can use them as reflectors on strings of lights for the holidays. Just unscrew the bulbs and put the CD over the socket and screw the bulb back in. Works great for your patio, too.
I saw a nice display in a store where they had drilled holes in them and linked them together like so many pieces of "chain mail" - it had a nice mod look to it.
They can also be used to chase away unwanted birds on your boat or in the garden.
By Pamphyila
A relative told me to always carry an old CD with me when I went hiking. In the event that I got lost, the CD would reflect and get the attention of search and rescue helicopters.
To use old CD's, you can take pictures of your kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews and put that picture in the circle part of the CD. Then you can use stickers and put their names on them and decorate it with stickers. We have them and hang them on the Christmas tree every year and see how much the kids have changed. Hope this helps.
By JaNae
For our church the children glued a candle in the middle of the CD. Looks really good.
By Brenda
I have seen them strung together and used as curtains, similar to beaded curtains.
By Cora
They make great sun catchers, too! Just cover the printed side with paint, pictures, decorative napkins, small pieces of jewelry, rhinestones, etc., etc. You can make them personal, decorative, whatever your imagination comes up with. What fun.
I make miniature doll houses and their contents. These CD "gifts" make great mini-mirrors, "water" for small area's like birdbaths, etc. They cut so easily with a pair of sharp scissors.
If you haven't already attempted microwaving CD's, I would suggest that. You can use it along with any of the other suggestions, but microwaving a CD first gives it this wonderful crackled effect.
A few tips would be:
Turn off the microwave as soon as it begins to crackle or wait until a second or two into the process. I've never heard of an explosion occurring, there is simply not enough metal in a CD for that, but burning may occur and it's not a pleasant smell.
Microwave it at a low power range, if you are nervous. You can get different effects this way, less intense, thinner crackles.
Try placing the CD in different parts of the microwave, one side vs. another, upright along the wall if you can get it to stand, in between plates, in a dish of water, etc. the end result is always different, especially when you mix up the positioning of the CD.
Any heat source will cause this crackle effect to a CD. I've tried holding it above a candle, an inch or two away from the flame. You can actually get the plastic to boil, while the air pockets remain trapped within.
By Shelieh
I glue a loop of fishing line to the back for hanging and then put felt over that and decorate the front with Santas, etc. for Christmas ornaments. They sold well at the Craft Fairs.
By Chris
If you crochet, you can crochet covers for them and use them as hot pads. I've made several that way. God bless you.
By Pat Giles
I use them for art with my students at school. I have them draw on them with black fine-tipped marker and white-out. Usually they do geometric or abstract designs, and they look very hi-tech and modern. We can't get enough of them as it takes a bunch for a whole class, and they can't be scratched or it looks ugly.
My son used dozens as a border along the top of his walls. He stuck them to the wall with blue sticky tac (Fun tac). He decorated the room with posters and such, and it looked very nice.
Perhaps if you have more than you know what to do with, you could donate them to a school for use in art projects. I could use lots, if you were closer.
By Louel53, SK, Canada
I would not want to do it myself, but my child used them to line the edges of his garden when he was little. He just stuck them into the ground about half way and kept adding more until he had a scalloped border that was really pretty in the sun.
By HungryArtist
I crochet around them for CD coasters, it works good too.
Links to craft ideas already posted on ThriftyFun:
Feel free to post your ideas below.
I read the other day to melt them so they are pliable in an old toaster you won't use for bread anymore and they can also be melted a little in the oven. Make "sure" you have oven mitts to work with the hot CDs ! You just never know.
(11/08/2007)
I've used them for a number of years under votive candles or pillars (or tapers in glass holder) with a hurricane chimney. You get twice the kick from your candle power. The best "votive" I have found was a smaller crystal footed sherry glass that has a bubble in the base. ($1 each) The bit of elevation really sets the rainbow shining. I have used legal seals to cover the hole in the center. (11/09/2007)
Make a rollie pollie recycling two CDs and a toilet paper or paper towel roll. (11/22/2008)
By Lauren
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