Recycled CD earrings

Front CD side  (left) Back (right)

Do you have old CD’s lying around gathering dust?  Who doesn’t right?  Well if you are the owner of a wood burner tool (think summer camp) or a similar versatile heat tool for stencil cutting etc. you are all set to use those old CD’s to create some terrific earrings. 

You will need:

Old CD’s

Small stencil motifs-- used in scrapbooking

Wood burning tool

Scrapbook paper (optional)

Tacky glue

Silver sparkle dimensional fabric paint (optional)

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

Fish hook ear wires

Needle nosed pliers, one or two pairs

Sharpie marker

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.

1.     Using the scrapbook stencil of choice trace the motif onto the CD on the side that will be the backside of your earring with the sharpie marker.   Trace it again in another section so you have two motifs of the same design.

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 motif 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.  Note:  If the back of your earring is plain and  you would like both sides of the earring as it they are, skip the next two steps and proceed to adding the earring findings.

4.     Use the scrapbook stencil to cut out an exact motif from the scrapbook paper.  Make sure it fits in the CD earring piece.  Trim if necessary.  Add a dab of tacky glue and attach to the backside of the earring motif.  Let dry.  Repeat for the other earring.

5.     Working on the backside of the earrings, use some dimensional fabric paint to trace around the edge.  This will give the earrings a finished look and cover any gaps. Let dry completely.

6.     Use the needle nosed pliers to twist open rather than pull apart the larger of the two jump rings.  Use a needle to make sure that the hole you made with the wood burner is open. Thread the larger jump ring through the hole 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 right direction. 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.)

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Glass plate and candleholder cake stand

I love stacking my cake stands, larger on the bottom and all sizes in between.  When I am entertaining I can layer snacks, cupcakes, canapés, etc at all different levels. If you want to make your own various sized cake stands, all you need is a glass candleholder, a clear glass plate and some E6000 glue. There are other glass glues out there, but the only one that I find works well is E600 glue.  I recommend hand washing after use.

You will need:

A glass plate, flat on the bottom  (I found one for 99 cents at a thrift shop)

Clear glass candleholder (also an inexpensive thrift shop find)

E6000 glue

Rubbing alcohol

Cotton swab

Paper towels

1.     Wash the plate and candleholder with soap and water.  Put some alcohol on a paper towel and wipe it on both pieces as well to remove any oils.

2.     Spread some of the E6000 glue around the rim of the top of the candleholder where it will touch the plate bottom. 

3.     Attach the candleholder to which you have added the glue to the center of the bottom of the plate. 

4.     If any glue has smeared on the outside edges carefully wipe with a alcohol soaked cotton swab.

5.     Set aside and let dry for at least 24 hours.

Kitchen Plaque with fork-hook

This little plaque is easy to make and uses an odd fork as its hook.  You can hang a potholder or any kitchen gadget from it.  If you don’t have an extra old fork lying around you can easily pick up one for less than a quarter at a thrift shop. I made a small one but you easily change it up to make a double hooked plaque with two forks instead of one.

You will need:

A unpainted wooden plaque ¾” inch thick in any shape or style

A stainless steel or plated fork

Needle nosed and blunt nosed pliers

Metallic Pewter acrylic paint

Small paintbrush

Two ¼” Phillips head screws

Phillips head screwdriver

Two small flat silver beads

E6000 glue

Pencil

Paper plate for paint palette

Electric drill with a small bit to make a pilot hole in the plaque

Saw tooth picture hanger

Paper to protect work surface

1.     Paint the plaque with the pewter acrylic paint and let dry. 

2.     Use the needle nosed pliers to curl the outside tine of the fork on both sides.  Work slowly being careful not to over bend.

3.     When you have curled both sides of the fork, use the blunt nosed pliers to make sure that the curls are flat.  It helps to lay it on the work surface.

4.     Bend the handle up towards the fork to form a hook. 

5.     Place the fork on the plaque and mark where you would like the hook with a pencil.  Use an electric drill to make some pilot holes for the screws.

6.     Use the Phillips head screwdriver to attach the fork to the plaque with the ¼” screws.

7.     Dab a tiny bit of E6000 glue on the screw heads and attach two flat silver beads and let dry.

8.     Attach a saw tooth hanger on the back and hang.

Recycled CD Mosaic gift box

Why give a gift in a plain box when you can present it in a keepsake box that is a gift in itself. The best part is that it is a recycling project you make it with old CD’s you may have lying around gathering dust.  It's quick--it's easy-- and it's just in time for Mother’s Day-- or any day.

You will need:

One small paper mache box (available in craft stores)

Two “Woodsies,” wooden hearts, one larger than the other (optional)

One CD cut up into small pieces

Old pair of scissors or tin snips

Tacky Glue (I used Aleene’s turbo tacky glue)

Black and Red slick dimensional fabric paint

Tweezers

Gold metallic acrylic paint

Small paintbrush

Paper or waxed paper to cover your work surface

Paper plate as a palette for the paint

1.     Using the small paintbrush, apply a coat of gold metallic paint to the outside of the box bottom and box top.  Let dry and then apply a coat of paint to the inside of top and bottom.  If necessary apply a second coat. Let dry. 

2.     Center the larger unpainted wooden heart on the box top and attach with a bit of tacky glue.  Glue the smaller heart on top of the larger heart. (This step is optional and if you don't add the heart you only need black dimensional fabric paint)

3.     Use the scissors or tin snips to cut the CD into small pieces of various sizes.  Work on small sections at a time. Add a bit of tacky glue to the box top and start applying the broken CD pieces. The tweezers make it easy to get in tight areas. Make sure you leave space between the pieces. If you have decided to use the wooden hearts, attach small CD pieces to them as well.  (They will give the box even more dimension)  Let the glue dry.

4.     Squirt the dimensional black fabric paint on a piece of scrap paper so that there are no bubbles and it comes out evenly.  Fill in the areas between the CD pieces with the fabric paint. Work in sections and be careful not to smear the areas you have already done.  Let dry.  When the black paint has dried fill in the open areas of the hearts with the red dimensional fabric paint and let dry.

Gemstone Flip Flops, for weddings or just for fun

You just got a new pedicure and now you just have to show it off.  Are you going to just slip on some plain old flip-flops or are you going to go out in style?  And with wedding season just around the corner wouldn’t these be great for the reception.  You could make an all-freshwater pearl style for the bride.  But don’t stop there you can make some for the bridesmaids too, simply alternate pearls and gemstones to match the gowns. Gemstones like fresh water pearls and turquoise, etc. are readily available in craft stores and less expensive than you might think.

You will need: 

Clear or white pair of flip-flops  (available in craft stores)

Bernat eyelash yarn in white

E6000 glue

Nylon beading thread

Freshwater pearl beads

Turquoise gemstone beads

Ruler, scissors

Needle (make sure it is one that will go through the bead holes)

Needle threader

Thimble

1.     Cut a 3-foot piece of eyelash yarn.  Put a tiny dab of E6000 glue at the base of the flip-flop strap and attach the end of the yarn.  Begin wrapping the strap with the yarn.  When you come the toe area, cross over to the opposite side.  (See photo)  Continue wrapping the yarn down till you reach the end.  Add a tiny dab of glue and attach the yarn end.  While it is drying repeat this step with the other flip-flop.

2.     Thread a needle with a length of nylon beading thread. Use a needle threader if needed. Knot the end.  Insert the needle approx. three inches up from the base of the strap on the underside. (Your needle will come through the top area that shows on your foot.)  String on a fresh water pearl and re-insert the needle in the same hole you came through. (The bead is secure and you are once again on the underside.) A thimble is helpful to push the needle through the rubber strap.

3.     Go up the length about an inch and poke the needle through to the front and add a turquoise bead.  Re-insert the needle in the same hole to the backside as you did before.

4.     Repeat step 3 once again with a pearl bead.

5.     After you have secured the second pearl bead you should be about an inch from the toe area. Come up with your needle in the center and add three turquoise beads and secure by going through to the underside as before. 

6.     Come up with your needle approx 1-inch from the three turquoise beads and add a pearl.  Do this twice more alternating with the turquoise and pearl (see photo) 

7.     When you reach the last pearl bead on the underside knot and cut your thread. Repeat steps 2-7 for the other flip-flop.

Note:  You may glue the beads instead of sewing but for the gemstones I feel that it is more secure to sew them on.  If you do decide to glue I suggest using E6000 glue.  I don’t recommend hot glue since it may release in warm weather.  If you can't find the eyelash yarn I used simply substitute any eyelash or fluffy yarn.