In case you have many CDs, DVDs and floppy disks around the house and don’t really know what to do with them, we might have an idea. As a matter of fact, 8 ideas. All you need is a good knife, string or wire and some glue to create these amazing everyday objects.
So many kids today have totally forgotten what a floppy disk is and chances are they will never be reminded unless we do something about it. First of all, you have to know that anyone can create something using these materials, as long as they are using protection: invest in a thick pair of working gloves in order to avoid cuts. If you’re all set, let’s see how you can reuse your old CDs and floppy disks.
1. Light fixtures.
If you’re thinking about buying that expensive chandelier you’ve seen online but don’t really have the money, forget it! All you need to do is create an interesting light fixture using about 40-50 old CDs, a slim light bulb, an electric chord and some glue. Your final result has to look a lot like these pictures.
2. Mini-notebooks.
For this one, you’ll be using the good old floppy disks. You’ll need two for every notebook. Here’s how you should proceed: drill hole in the two floppy disks making sure they are the same distance and that they match. The easiest way to do that is to tape the floppy disks on top of each other using some tape and then drill holes through both of them at a time.
After that, use pre-perforated paper and a thin spring and put everything together. The final result will draw attention for sure! Who said you can’t reuse your old CDs and floppy disks in an interesting and creative way?
3. Wind Chimes
This is more of a kids’ project, but anyone can do it, there’s no age limit. Here’s how to do it: choose a bunch of old CDs and DVDs, drill holes and tie everything together with some wire. If you use string, they might get tangled in the wind and ruin your day. And we wouldn’t want that to happen, now would we? Another idea is to smash the CDs and DVDs into smaller pieces, then drill the holes and then wire everything together. Whichever method you choose, let’s just say that will make your days and nights be more…musical!
4. Jewelry
If you’re the unconventional kind, always looking for fun and quirky objects, this idea is definitely for you. When people think about reusing their old CDs and DVDs, they imagine a bunch of boring objects, but as long as you have your imagination with you, the sky is the limit! As you can probably imagine, these materials are too big to turn into hoop earrings (unless your neck is really long!), so the easiest thing to do is smash them down into pieces or cut precise shapes using a special cutting blade. You can also buy some copper wire from Home Depot and use it to frame your shapes. These pictures should give you an idea of what your jewelry should look like!
5. Statues
If you are really crafty and in possession of a great cutting blade, you could gather a bunch of old CDs and Floppy disks, even DVDs, cut them into small triangular pieces and create something truly unique. We have a few examples for you, but don’t be disappointed if you don’t nail any of them!
How about you start with something simpler, like a hedgehog? The important thing, in this case, is not how you combine the CD pieces, but how you create your structure. In fact, you can use an already existing one: like a plastic toy, on which you can glue the plastic spikes. Give this a go and let us know how it went.
6. Purse
Prepare yourself for something that will blow your minds! Here’s how it’s going to work: you only need floppy disks, but a lot of them (2 for the bottom of your purse, 4 for the front, 8 for the back and 4 for the sides=18 floppy disks), some solid thread, a big needle and ½ yard of fabric for the inside of your bag (unless you’re OK with people being able to peep through your purse!). Drill small holes, sew everything together in a square shape, add a strap to it and you’re ready to roam the streets! Can’t envision the final result? Say no more, here’s the example:
7. Planters
For each planter you create, you’ll need 5 floppy disks. You can either glue them together (if you’re worried about water coming out through the holes) or just drill holes and tie everything together. Whichever method you’re going for, my advice is to seal the joints on the inside using some silicone foam- you find it at Home Depot and pretty much any other store that has construction materials.
After that, you can add the dirt, your plant and then water everything abundantly. And you don’t have to worry about your plants because they are perfectly safe around floppy disks. As you can see, the result is a smashing success!
8. Coasters
This is the easiest thing to create as most people just place their cups and mugs on the floppy disks or CDs and call it a day. If you really want to look professional, you will pay a little more attention to your coasters and create them following this recipe: place your floppies and CDs on a large piece of paper (old wrapping paper, for example), with enough space between each other, then add a thin layer of epoxy and let it dry off in a dust-free space.
Things to know before doing this: place a wooden board underneath your wrapping paper and under no circumstances don’t try this on your good floors! Let’s go with the garage, OK? When the epoxy dried off, scrape off the excess using a cutting blade and try polishing the edges with a piece of sandpaper.
We hope you got a few great ideas and that you’ll reuse your old CDs and floppy disks instead of throwing them away. So much can be achieved when imagination takes over, don’t you agree?
