Written by:
Margaret Coble
Photographer:
Margaret Coble
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this Issue of Curve:
17#10
Whether you’re the crafty type or not, it’s always fun to give handmade holiday presents to your friends and family. And recycling things that would otherwise end up in the landfill is always a good idea. So why not combine these two concepts and make some easily customizable holiday ornaments out of all the old CDs sitting around your home? Scratched-up home-burns, dead DVDs and those free promotional CDs that come in the mail are perfect for this project.
1. Prep your CD by first wiping off any dirt or grease that might be on it. Next, use a drill with a small bit (preferably 3/16-inch), to drill a hole near the edge of each ornament you intend to make. (You’ll be looping some elastic cord through it later, to hang it by.) Don’t get too close to the edge or the CD might crack; about 1/8-inch from the edge is good. If you don’t get a good, clean hole, use a little sandpaper to sand around the edges to make it smooth.
2. Next, set yourself up somewhere where you can spray-paint, preferably somewhere with good ventilation, like outdoors, in a garage or at least somewhere with an exhaust fan. Prep a surface to paint on by putting down newspapers, cardboard or something else to keep the paint off of everything. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting paint on, and use latex gloves if you don’t want paint on your hands. And always use a respirator over your face, if possible. Paint fumes are nothing to fool around with.
The first step is to spray the disc with some gray enamel primer to cover up any writing or printing that might be on the face of the CD, and to make a better surface for the paint to adhere to. Try to keep the spray can at least 6 inches away from the CD’s surface, and keep your hand moving back and forth, laying down light layers of paint until you have full coverage or else you might end up with big globs of paint that will drip and be uneven.
3. Let the primer dry thoroughly, and repeat if you can still see anything through it. Depending on the weather where you are and the environment you are working in, it might take a few minutes or up to a few hours for the primer to dry. Once you’re sure it is thoroughly dry, do the other side of the disc and let it dry.
Now would be a good time to get your stencil ready. If you can draw or are able to manipulate images in a graphics program on your computer, just turn your favorite object or picture into a silhouette, and fit it into a 5-inch circle. It might take some trial and error, but with some patience, you can create an infinite number of designs, from simple geometric shapes to animals to symbols or anything, really!
4. If you’re not confident in your drawing skills or your aptitude for computer graphics, then you can download my template for the bird stencil shown here and print it out on cardstock or acetate (a transparency sheet), and then carefully cut it out with an X-acto knife. I’ve added a few little wavy lines to give the bird some motion.
5. Back to the CDs. Once both sides are dry, spray on a layer of color, whichever you choose as your background color. For mine, I’m choosing engine red. Remember to spray lightly, back and forth, building layers until you have complete coverage. While the paint is still wet, carefully sprinkle a small amount of glitter onto the disc, preferably in a contrasting color. This way, when the paint dries, it will glue the glitter onto the surface of the disc.
6. When your CD is thoroughly dry, take your stencil and line it up with the disc. This can be tricky if it’s not on acetate (which is see-through), but you can get the placement right by using your fingers to feel the edges of the disc through the sheet of paper. A very light dusting of spray adhesive is optional here, on the back of the stencil. It will help keep the stencil adhered to the disc and give you a better print from the spray paint. But if you use too much, it might also make the stencil stick to the disc, causing paint or glitter to come off when you remove the stencil. So use it sparingly if you have to, just enough to barely tack the stencil down. (Another reason why it’s very important for all the coats of paint to be absolutely dry before you print the stencil.)
7. Once the stencil is in place, use a contrasting color of spray paint to spray on your design. I’ve choosen a bright yellow. When you’re sure you’ve got sufficient coverage on all the open areas of the stencil, lift the stencil up off the disc carefully, without touching it to the wet paint. Again, it might take some trial and error to get it right, but once you do, you’ll be able to replicate the process easily.
While the paint is still wet, you can again sprinkle on some more glitter. Some of the glitter from the first layer will have been covered with paint, so I usually go for the second layer; it adds texture.
8. Let it dry thoroughly. Repeat the process on the other side if you want a two-sided ornament. If you only want a one-sided ornament, you can leave the back painted with just the background color. Or you can skip that step entirely and leave the shiny side of the disc blank, as the back, if it’s not too scratched up.
When the paint is thoroughly dry, use clear gloss for a top coat, which will help seal the glitter again. Spray a very thin layer, or it might get cloudy. Just enough to give it a shine!
When it’s all completely dry, it’s time to thread the elastic cord through the hole for hanging. You can use other materials to hang it by—ribbon, yarn, thread, twine, monofilament, etc. I like silver elastic cord; it’s cheap, easily found at any fabric store, and is festive. I cut about an 8-inch piece and make a slipknot through the hole, tying off the other end.
And voilà! A highly personal, handmade, recycled holiday ornament is yours. Make them for yourself or your friends and family. Change up the colors, the glitter, or the designs for an infinite variety of possibilities. Hang the ornaments on your tree, on the wall, or from the ceiling, or string several of them together for a mobile. Happy holiday recycling!
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