Recycled CD and/or Duct Tape Puzzle Earrings

Old CD’s make the best craft material, especially for earrings.  They are lightweight and flashy.  This time go one better and use any colorful duct tape for the back.  Then, you choose whether your earrings will show the glitz and shine of the CD or the Color and pattern of the Duct Tape.

You will need:

Old CD’s

Small scrap puzzle piece (raid your kid’s toy bin)

Wood burning tool

Any color or pattern Duct tape

Fine point sharpie marker

Scissors

Jump rings, two for each earring, one larger than the other

Fish hook ear wires

Needle nosed pliers, one or two pairs

Piece of glass from an old picture frame

Note:  Since this project uses a high heat wood-burning tool I do not recommend it for use with children. Cut out your shape slowly and work on a scrap piece of glass.

1.     Choose a puzzle piece.  Attach a strip of duct tape to the non-shiny side of the CD.  Use the sharpie marker to trace around the puzzle piece on the applied duct tape.  Trace again for a total of two puzzle shapes.

2.     While you are tracing, plug in your wood-burning tool and allow it to heat up. Be careful when you are using the tool since the tip is extremely hot.

3.     Working on a piece of glass placed on your work surface, begin to trace around the traced design with the wood-burning tool.  Work slowly. When you have completely traced the design, pop out the motif.  If you have traced around it completely it should pop out easily.  If some of the CD residue builds up on the tip, wipe it off on a piece of heavy cardboard. Carefully use the tip of the wood burner tool to poke a hole in the top center of the CD earring.  Repeat this step for the other earring. Trim any tiny fuzzy pieces around the edges with scissors.

4.     Use the needle nosed pliers to twist open rather than pull apart the larger of the two jump rings.  Thread through the hole you made in the top of the earring.  Twist it back closed.  Open the smaller jump ring in the same way and add to the larger jump ring, but before you close it add a fishhook ear wire. Make sure the ear wire is facing in the direction you would like your earring --colorful duct tape side or shiny CD side. Twist closed.  Repeat for the other earring. (While you may use only one needle nosed pliers, you may find it helpful to use two pairs twisting each pair in opposite directions to open and close the jump rings.)

 Dremel 114-1550 Versatip Tool Kit Multipurpose Tool for Woodburning