New Years Clean Up - Recyled Records Tutorial

One of my goals for the New Year is to go through my enormous list of favorites and clean it up.  There are literally hundreds of items in my favorites and at this point I could not tell you most of what is in there.  But, at one point it was all something that I thought was great enough to bookmark.  So, I am going to go item by item through my favorites and throw out things that I have already made or blogged about and write up some posts about some of the real treasures in there.

This first post is a great little project I found on etsy.  I have made dozens of things from old records, bowls, cuff bracelets, earrings, guitar picks, purses, etc.  I found this idea and have been wanting to make one for my mom. 

This is actually a cookbook stand crafted from two records.  You can purchase this item from etsy seller RetiredRecords.  I think that they are $25.00.  You can actually watch a video on metacafe to see how to create your own record bowl (if you haven't already made one).  It is pretty simple.  Bending the records in a more artistic and directed way takes more skill and time.  Basically you need a piece of metal you can heat up - like a giant nail you use on rail road ties or a piece of metal pipe and an oveglove.  I heat up the pipe in the oven and then place it on the record.  Then, you can slowly bend the record up around the metal object.  You may need to reheat your metal pipe multiple times to get just the right effect.           

Craft Roundup - Recycled Record Projects

I was inspired by posting my recycled record project to create this little roundup of recycled record tutorials. 

This photo frame is such a wonderful project.  With everything I have made out of old records, a picture frame never occurred to me.  Click here for the free tutorial on recycled record photo frame from Inspirational Tips, Techniques, and Tutorials.

This project is so simple with the use of the ring to bind everything together.  This idea would be really fun shrunk down to a small, 3"x5" size for a purse notepad. 

Here is the Tata et Moi 

from Cut Out and Keep's

Free Recycled Record Tutorial

I have already made 4 or 5 record clocks.  I just bought the clock kit and used the clock.  But, I liked they way she covered this with fabric.  You could make this for a child's room, kitchen, etc.

From Sew Many Ways

free recycled record clock tutorial

I know lots of people make purses from the records.  I have made a few, but I will say that the records always end up breaking.  I must just be way to hard on purses. 

Have fun with your old records and

HAPPY CRAFTING!

A Fun Little Recycling Project for Old Records

Somehow, I managed to acquire about 200 old records that were warped in a fire, but still in good condition for crafting.  So, I started using them up making all sorts of crafts: records purses, bowls, bracelets, necklaces, etc.

But, then I had all of the covers left over.  I saw an idea for making a tote bag with the covers.  I tried a few versions, but I wasn't really into it. 

So, I came up with another idea.  I used my 2 hole punch  to make a songbook/notebook/sketch book out of the records.  On the right of the paper, because of the big space that is left over, I stitched down a strip of elastic to hold pens/charcoals, etc. 

I did another version where I punched through the side multiple time and laced it up with ribbon. 

Just thought I would share this little idea.  I know it isn't really my normal sewing patterns and tutorials, but like any true crafter, I cannot be pinned down to just one medium.