Small Vinyl Records From CDs

We all love vintage things to some degree, especially vinyl records. Sometimes you want to have some records to decorate your house to add some vintage flair. But if you don't have the time or money to go out and buy real vinyl records, or just want some small records to decorate or use as coasters, here is how to make small records out of some simple materials you probably already own.

Materials:

• A CD (one that you don't mind making unplayable)
• Black Acrylic Paint
• Paper
• Tape
• A Large Binder Clip
• A Medium Sized Paintbrush (the coarser it is, the more lines you are going to make)
• Hot Glue
• An Index Card
• A Glue Stick or another type of adhesive (besides hot glue)

Optional

• Acrylic Sealer (clear coat)

Get a sheet of paper and make a tube. It will be better to roll it from the shorter end of the paper, since the tube does not need to be very long, and it will be stronger by doing so. Make sure the tube fits through the hole in the middle of the CD snugly, so the CD can rotate around the tube with little movement from inside the hole. Use the tape to secure the tube, then take the tube out of the CD.

Put some hot glue on one end of the paper tube and glue it onto the center of the index card.

Place the CD onto the rig by putting the paper tube through the hole of the CD. Let the CD slide down to the bottom, resting on the index card. Tape the large binder clip onto the side of the paper tube in a position so it can clip onto the middle of the brush handle.

Clip the brush with the binder clip so that the brush in near the center of the CD and is exerting force onto the CD. Apply the paint onto the CD in front of brush head. Use one hand to push down from the top of the paper tube to maintain the brush pressure and keep the tube straight. Use a finger from your other hand to rotate the CD around the tube. The rig will act like a compass and spread the paint evenly around the CD in a circle. Add more paint onto the CD if necessary.

The brush will create ridges that simulate the ridges on a vinyl record. Once you are satisfied with the paint application, carefully unclip the brush and wash the paint off it. Then wait for the paint to dry. I do not recommend using a hairdryer as the moving air might mess up the ridges.

After the first paint application dries, repeat what you did for the first paint application, but clip the brush more towards the inner edge so the brush can spread the paint on the outer portions of the CD. After applying the paint to the outer edges, remove and clean the brush like you did before. Wait for the paint to dry.

Once the paint dries, take the binder clip off the tube, and remove the CD from the rig. Notice how to acrylicc paint creates ridges like the ridges on a vinyl record.

Print out or draw a label for the CD record. You can design your own, or use online sources such as http://www.says-it.com/record/ to help you. Make sure that you print it out at the right size for the size of the CD. Use Word or another program to scale your label. I suggest somewhere from 3-4 cm in diameter. Print out your label and cut it out.

Glue the label onto the center of the CD record with a glue stick or another adhesive. It will be easier to center the label if you lay it on top the the CD and hold it up to light.

If you want to make it more durable and shiny, you can coat it with a layer of Clear Coat or another acrylic sealer.

Now you can use this small record to decorate whatever you want! It can even be used as a vintage coaster!