Altered CD
by Shari aka "Rtist"
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Have you ever thought what a waste it seemed when you received those CDs for free internet time in the mail and just ended up throwing them away? Well, no more! Now you can create ART out of them. Not just everyday art either. These are clever creations anyone would be thrilled to receive in the mail or as a gift. So gather up those CDs and save them from here on out. Do the earth a favor by not adding them to our landfills and yourself and others a favor by turning them into art you'll be proud of.

I first use a battery powered drill to drill my hanging hole - centered at the top of my CD - and then I add my holes at the bottom for hanging beads and wire. I typically use three holes at the bottom, but you could do as many or as few as you desire for your art. I use a bit large enough so my smallest hole punch will fit through the holes it makes. You will understand why later.

Most CDs have an advertising side, the side containing the writing and logos. We want to cover this side with card stock. You could paint it if you chose, but I find covering it completely with a heavier cardstock is much more economical and less time consuming.

I have a circle cutter I use to cut mine, but an easy way would be to just lay your stock down on a smooth, solid surface and draw around your CD itself. Cut inside the line left behind or you will have the cardstock overhanging your edges and you do not want that. Also draw out the inside circle as well and cut that out carefully in the same way.

Next, I ran it through a Xyron. If you do not have one, try using a spray adhesive (preferably acid free). Be careful when you apply this to your CD as once it touches, it is pretty much there to stay!

Next (and this is why we used a drill bit of a certain size), I take the hole punch and punch out the holes through the paper where I made them in the CD. The reason I do this after the paper had been adhered to the CD is because if I did it before and then try to line all those holes up.... well - it can be done, but it's a pain I can do without.

On the silver side, reverse of the paper side, I do no other preparation except to make sure it is wiped clean of finger prints and other dirt. Next, still on the silver side, I choose my colors of paints - in this case I used Lumiere™ & Neopaque™. I apply the colors with a sea sponge as I really favor the texture it gives. You could use a regular kitchen sponge or Nerf ball if you so desire. I sponged it on until I was pleased with the look and then let it dry completely. You can add layers of different colors on top of dried layers to give it a different look.

Now I went back to the paper side of my CD. I used the Direct To Paper method on this side. I always apply color from the lightest to the darkest so it will not ruin and muddy my pigment wedges (I used the Color Box™ Options Pad). I like to blend with my fingers to soften the edges of color. I continued to do this until I achieved the look I was going for.

Now I chose the stamps I wanted for my theme and stamped them to my prepared surface. I used Brilliance Graphite™ Black to stamp my images and did a minor amount of masking to get the layered effect. I also over-stamped with the writing stamp inked up with Color Box™ Pheasant Gold Metalextra inkpad. I then applied clear embossing powder to the whole side and heated until melted. Next, I quickly applied a second layer of embossing powder and heated that, then a third layer in this same manner creating a smooth, glass like surface.

Once the CD cooled I used Golden's™ Heavy Gel Medium right along the edges of the CD (working in small segments at a time) and added the beads one by one along the edges with tweezers. I allowed it to dry completely before moving to the next step.

Once dried, I stamped my images onto the painted side (it was the silver side) of my CD. Again, I used the Brilliance™ pad for this application. I also lightly applied heat to dry the ink faster. Do not overheat as you will melt the embossed side and you do not want that.

Now I add my embellishments. I used copper wire purchased from a local hardware store and created the hanging loop adding beads of my choice. I also strung the beads hanging from the bottom on the copper wire and attached. I like creating loops and curls with the wire and this can be accomplished in many ways. Try wrapping the wire around toothpicks, pencils, and the like. They also make round nose pliers for jewelry makers that work particularly well.

I hope that you will now see those CD's as something more than an item to throw in the garbage and that you will be inspired to create your own masterpieces from these free blank canvases.

Go Forth and Create in Good Health & Happiness~~~~

"Rtist"

 

Things to use in your CD altering

The following are simply some suggestions and certainly not the only things available for you to use in your art.

Beads
Wire
Sea glass
Stamps
Inks (pigment/dye based/permanent)
Gel pens
Markers
Webbing sprays
No hole beedz
Glitter glues
Glitter
Dominos
Acrylic paints
Watercolors
Oil pastels
Leafing pens
Gold/multi colored leafing
Fibers
Magazine clippings
Shells
Sand
Scrabble tiles
Pictures
Dried flowers/foliage
Feathers
Egg shells
Handmade papers
Wrapping paper
Sticks (regular or bamboo)
Flat marbles
Labels (from food or drink)
Window screening
Linoleum/Formica samples (find them at your local hardware store)
Buttons
Bark
Clay embellishments
UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Powders)
EP (Embossing Powders)
Stones
Moss
Whatever else you can dream up!

 

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Copyright 2005-2006 Jacqueline Fitzgerald Graham
Last revised: April 09, 2006.
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