3 Simple Ways to
Share What You Make

With Instructables you can share what you make with the world — and tap into an ever-growing community of creative experts.

PhotosPhotos

Share one or more photos of a project, recipe, or whatever you've made, quickly and easily.

Step by StepStep-By-Step

Share your step-by-step photos with text instructions of what you made so others can do it too!

VideoVideo

Share your how-to video. You'll need your embed code from a video site such as YouTube.

CD Art

CD Art
«
  • DSCF6469.jpg
  • 110620102012.jpg
  • 110620102010.jpg
  • 110620102011.jpg

I had a stack of old CDs lying around. For a long time I was planning to reuse them for a different purpose but I had no clue. Then one day while I was surfing on the internet I found an interesting idea to convert these in to great art work that can be put up on the walls. I liked this idea because I thought it was very easy to do, just few simple steps. The final product turns out to be pretty good.
 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up
 

Step 1Things Needed

Things Needed

1. Any old CD
2. Acrylic color (preferably dark color)
3. Paint brush
4. Pencil
5. Anything with sharp point to scratch the color (I used the arm of the screwdriver)

« Previous StepDownload PDFView All StepsNext Step »
59 comments
1-40 of 59next »
Apr 8, 2012. 8:16 AMcrazybot_99 says:
Awesome! My sister's birthday is on March 27... and i was breaking my head on what to buy for her... this is it! I made one for my friend too.... she loved it! Thank you so much!

P.S. I used different dark colors on the CD. It came out pretty well! Try it!
Nov 26, 2011. 7:47 PMsokamiwohali says:
This is a great idea for Lightscribe Disks...just make the design on an old disk, than take a picture of it, upload it to your computer, and then run the Lightscribe tamplate maker and use the blank template. then all you do is size the picture right and print the label!! i will make one and then post it on here.
Jul 17, 2011. 8:39 AMsourabh882008 says:
really loved your idea, but i am wondering if i can find some other method with which i can replace the drawing and scratching part. cuz im not so good at drawing (eventually scratching would be tougher).
but anyways i am really impressed with the use of useless CDs and it is really beautiful :)
Apr 28, 2011. 5:15 PMjlk1 says:
i was wondering if you have to use acrylic paint can you use oil paint ?
Jul 7, 2011. 3:39 AMmidorimentality says:
I think it has to be acrylic paint because acrylic on plastic is easily scratched off (and it dries faster) I don't think oils work the same way (and can take up to 3 days to dry). plus acrylic paints are cheaper, since you can pick the up at a dollar store.
Nov 21, 2010. 10:10 AMIzelver says:
I love your idea! It looks great and it's easy to make. I wish I had thought up something that clever! lol

Here's a little twist for the project: I added a dollar store clock mechanism to the cd, bringing it through the hole in the middle, and then stuck the mechanism of the clock to the back of the cd using hot glue.

Sorry for the awful quality of the picture.
Jun 5, 2011. 11:36 AMjayeshshinai says:
i like d hands of d clock..
Dec 9, 2010. 12:59 PMdoxsys says:
Brilliant! I love it -- Nice work!
Dec 9, 2010. 7:56 AMtcup says:
That is absolutely gorgeous!
Dec 9, 2010. 6:41 AMcjmills says:
Thank is Awesome! I love it!
May 24, 2011. 1:11 PMmarah jaber says:
loved your idea :)
Dec 9, 2010. 2:45 PMelectrichaos says:
My wife makes cards like this but she just draws on the cds. These would make awesome cards:
Cut a small circle of thick card (just thicker than the cd but small enough so that it can pass through the hole in the cd) stick it to the greeting card, place the cd over the small circle. then glue a slightly larger piece of card over the first so the cd can spin freely.
May 11, 2011. 5:56 PMcraftyv says:
I love this art work. I didn't quite get how it becomes a card but I'm going to give it a go. Thanks.
Mar 17, 2011. 3:48 PMcrazycorncake says:
your wife is awesome
May 11, 2011. 5:54 PMcraftyv says:
These are excellent and have really got my creative juices flowing again. I especially like the slight irredesence that shines through. A small spotlight would really light that effect very well.

I draw freehand myself, so these would be great for me. See [craftv] I have four Instructables three of which would be great for this . Love it.
Apr 28, 2011. 5:10 PMjlk1 says:
hey i was wondering if oil paint works well cuz i don't have any acrylic
Nov 7, 2010. 11:35 AMrnjenny says:
Very cool idea. I wonder what alcohol inks would look like under the acrylic paint? Might be cool.
Jan 27, 2011. 9:44 PMBunnyFromMars says:
That is a cool Idea! I should try it, maybe blend it around with some acetone :)
Dec 5, 2010. 8:58 AMNeon Panda says:
Hi- Ive just finished doing this for my mum as a christmas present- Love it! But should i but some sort of glaze or seal on? The bits that i have etched around seem to be a bit thin / delicate and i dont want them to slide of or somthing. lol. i sound like an idoit. :P x
Please reply. x
Jan 27, 2011. 9:42 PMBunnyFromMars says:
Yeah, after acrylic dries it forms a type of plastic (acrylic itself IS plastic =.=) So unless you're not going to touch it evereverever again, you can use varnish. A bottle of spray-on varnish costs about $6 from walmart, and it lasts FOREVER (I'm still using the one I bought 2 years ago, and i spray a lot of drawings).

I don't know how it's going to affect the reflective surface of the CD, but probably will make it slightly duller. Though a layer of varnish is usually hardly visible. Warning: cover nose and mouth and spray it outside.
Jan 14, 2011. 2:50 PMMattrox says:
Wow those are so cool!
Jan 6, 2011. 11:26 PMSuzanne in Orting says:
I KNEW I was saving those old cds for something! This is great!

Suzanne in Orting, WA
Dec 22, 2010. 9:49 AMsavy_softball says:
this is really neat. i made one and it looks really cool. thanks for all the ideas.
:)
<3
Nov 9, 2010. 1:19 AMbryandhispup says:
pop that cd in the microwave for about 1-2 seconds before the acrylic paint goes on and you get a cool lightning bolt design on the surface of the cd to start with... PS let it cool for a few seconds too the electrical reaction can heat up the plastic fairly quickly...
Dec 12, 2010. 8:32 AMfred_dot_u says:
A good idea when using a CD in a microwave oven is to also place a cup of water to help absorb the energy. The CD will not "use" any of the energy that the microwave oven transmits and it's not a good idea to run a microwave oven without a load, or in ordinary terms, something to be heated. The cup of water provides that load, protecting the oven.

This is also a good way to destroy data without smashing the disk.

Of course, nothing can be done to eliminate the smell of toasted plastic from the CD.
Nov 15, 2010. 9:18 AMMosaicM0n5t3r says:
Very nice! This def stirs the pot of creativity! I painted one a metallic blue, drew snowflakes with different colored sharpies and then scratched some areas leaving some of the marker. Gave it some depth. Also wrote "Let it snow" and did the dots on the end of the letters like some crafty's do and scratched the dots. Nice work!
Dec 11, 2010. 8:41 PMOscelot says:
I second the request for piccies.

-----

and since I'm efficient like this (aka lazy), great instructable, author. ;)
Dec 10, 2010. 5:23 PMsumguysr says:
That sounds really nice. Could you show us a picture?
Dec 10, 2010. 11:02 AMRamboBrite says:
Sweet! I don't normally comment. But your ible is really awesome!
Dec 9, 2010. 10:48 PMbreeanna says:
Do you suppose spray paint would work?
Dec 9, 2010. 1:17 PMMrsGee says:
It always seemed like such a waste to throw out those old cds. Now we have a great new use for them!
Dec 9, 2010. 1:11 PMweibbed says:
Very nice project! Love the idea.
I have been messing around with die-cutting 1" circles from old CDs and using them in bracelets. The scratch art would add a really nice touch.
I think you could just use paper to back the CD instead of paint, just make sure you have an even coating of glue, no bubbles, when glueing the paper on. I use a product called Glossy Accents when gluing paper to acrylic. It should work on a CD, but probably regular old Elmer's would do it too and you most likely have that on hand.
Dec 9, 2010. 10:26 AMarkie says:
Simple and elegant. And very handsome designs. You are quite the artist. Congratulations on a great idea!
Dec 9, 2010. 10:15 AMpedrotome says:
Fantastic! Instantly fave'd. :)
Dec 9, 2010. 9:53 AMPeckLauros says:
Verry good. Symple and beautiful. Thanks to share it with us.
Dec 9, 2010. 8:24 AMhammer9876 says:
Awesome! I have a whole new attitude about my ancient Spirograph. Congrats on being "Featured"!
Dec 9, 2010. 8:01 AMgabriel2s says:
Beautiful, easy and cheap. A good xmas gift =D
Dec 9, 2010. 7:56 AMtcup says:
What a terrific idea! If you're stuck for a design, check out Zentangle books. This project would be perfect for Zentangle, it takes doodling to another level.
Nov 28, 2010. 4:48 PMscarabdrowner says:
I hate to be the only one to bring this up, but "We r going to use this side" ... Really? "r"? Did you post this instructable using your phone or something?
Nov 25, 2010. 9:28 AMKaptinScarlet says:
What a fabulous idea. I love it. When I was a kid I discovered scraperboards I know my mum still has one of my scraperboard pictures framed somewhere. This is so neat and I bet the photos don't show the lovely rainbow effect that you get as the bare bits of CD reflect the incident light - ***** -
1-40 of 59next »

Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

All Steps Viewing
View all steps of an Instructable on the same page when you're a Pro Member.

Upgrade to Pro today!
13
Followers
2
Author:Swapnal