Speaking volumes: a compact way to turn those unwanted CDs into works of art

Expression, Nov-Dec, 2005 by Sandy Sandrus

We've all opened our mailboxes and found those free CDs featuring Internet access offers. Being a dedicated stamper, I knew I shouldn't throw them away--there would probably be a time when I'd need them. After cleaning out my stamp studio one day, I discovered I had collected quite a few of these round objects--and when a stamping friend offered me a box of CDs that she didn't want, well, I couldn't say no! Of course, now I had accumulated more of these things than I would use in a lifetime, so it was time to put on the old thinking cap to see what I could come up with.

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Inspiration hit when I saw a circular book another friend had made using CDs as the covers. I got out my circle cutters to see what I could come up with and ended up creating a template that included hinges to go between the pages. This made the assembly of the book look more professional and polished. Once I had done that, more books followed, each an improvement on the previous one!

INSTRUCTIONS

The Pages Cut six paper circles slightly smaller than the size of the CDs (I used Creative Memories Circle Cutting System). The finished circles were roughly 4 3/8 inches. Four circles will be for the pages and two for the covers.

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Stamp and embellish the circles. Outline all of the pages with a Krylon Metallic pen. On one of the pages, I made a pocket by using an additional circle page and tearing it in half. Attach the whole circle and torn circle with eyelets. This made a unique pocket to store a secret message or tag.

The Hinges Cut three 1/2" X 2" pieces of card stock to make hinges that will connect the CDs together. Variation: Use TYVEK for the hinges to give the book a little more strength. Just rub a pigment-based stamp pad onto a TYVEK envelope with cosmetic sponges and set with a heat gun.

CD Book Construction Fold each hinge in half. Glue one side of the hinge to a CD and the other side of the hinge to another CD. (Diagram 1) Adhere pages on top of the assembled CDs to hide the hinges.

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RELATED ARTICLE: MATERIALS

FOUR CDS

CARD STOCK

BLACK PERMANENT INK PAD

INK PADS -- ASSORTED COLORS

CHALKS AND/OR COLORED PENCILS

KRYLON METALLIC PEN

CREATIVE MEMORIES CIRCLE CUTTING SYSTEM

STIPPLE BRUSHES

GLASSINE ENVELOPE

FIBERS, EYELETS, & CHARMS

STAMPS: KEY, FRIENDS IN COMMON, THOSE EYES, IMAGINE, ALPHABET BLOCK, BUTTERFLY PROFILE, DRAGONFLY PROFILE, SCRATCH BOARD CUBE, SCRIPT BACKGROUND BLOCK (JUST FOR FUN); VISION, BACKGROUND (STAMPERS ANONYMOUS); SWIRL, SHUT MY EYES (A STAMP IN THE HAND); FACES (LIMITED EDITION), (MOON ROSE), (STAMP FRANCISCO), (RENAISSANCE ART)