Here are some uses for those AOL CDs that come in the mail or other CDs that have become scratched and otherwise unusable.
Those formerly useless CDs are good to place in a backpack or daypack when hiking, or boat to use as a signal mirror to attract attention when in distress. They are cheaper and lighter than the square glass signal mirrors with the hole in the center found in outfitters stores.
Use as a candle coaster. With shiny side up place votive or small candle in the hole. Candle will burn and make a cool reflection.
Cut them up and make mosaics.
Use as party invitations, handmade labels giving details and directions.
Game – Draw a large target on the ground made up of several different size circles inside each other. Place scores in each circle, with the smallest inner circle being the largest score. Then roll the CDs on their edge towards the target. Where the CD comes to rest is the score earned. If it covers a line no score is given.
Cover an outfit with CD Roms and go as a “Software Pirate”. LOL
Use as a Frisbee.
Place Tags for dinner party place settings – use a sharpie to write the names on them.
Stack them together and make a lamp out of them.
String your knitting yarn through the hole in the middle of the disk to prevent yarn from tangling.
Edited on 2/25/2007 at 8:58 PM
Christine commented with another use.
In one of my crafting magazines, I saw a clock that was made from a CD. For this one, the artist took patterned scrapbook paper, cut it to the size of the CD, and glued it in place. You can add numbers in the form of stickers or die-cuts, or not have numbers at all…just pictures.
You could also print out a favorite photograph to a good size, cut it to size to glue to the CD, and go from there.
Or leave it shiny and just paint or stamp on it. If you are using rubber art stamps on a CD, be sure you use a solvent ink pad like Staz-On…this comes in many colors. Other types of stamp pad ink will just smear off the smooth surface of the CD.
Clock kits, which contain the hands and a battery-operated movement, can be bought on the cheap at craft stores like Michaels, A.C. Moore, and Hobby Lobby. Add this to your decorated CD clock face, and you’re done!
