Altered CDs ... How do you do it????

[moondust]

OK - don't know if this is where I should be posting, but don't know where else to.

I have so many CDs that I can't use anymore (outdated info, faulty, etc...) and I want to make them into an "album" or layout.

My questions are ...

1. How do you prepare the CD itself? Is there anything special you need to do to it such as scratching the surface so layout will adhere to it?

2. How do you attach the layout to it? Do you use double sided tape or glue dots etc..?

3. Do you cover the hole in the centre of the cd?

4. Are there any templates that you know of with the sizes so you can get the size right, or should I just measure the CD and go from there? (That last one sounds pretty obvious and fairly easy to do!

I don't necesarrily(sp) want to buy a kit, although would love to and have found one that Carrie Fisher has made, but my PayPal account has only $3.75 left in it and they now want me to become a verified member. Not sure that I want to give my bank details to them yet, don't know why the won't let me continue with my Credit Card .... ANYWAY........


Thanks in advance for any advice and help.

Just another thought..... do you print your layout onto the CD labels and use a label attacher thingy to put it on???

Regards

[Pssequimages]

I'm not sure I'm following you exactly? Do you intend to use these old, now unusable cd's as a cover, and back for photo paper pages inside mini-shape-album, or to print your mini layouts on CD Labels, stick them onto the now unusable old CD's and have them become the album/book. I could see both projects as working. That would leave you a couple of options...to print and glue the circular cropped photos to the CD, OR to print the lo's onto CD labels, and (I'd LEAVE) the center 'hole' pasted too, put these stickers on both sides of the old no-good CD. Reason I think I'd use the CD labels, is because we KNOW that adhesive sticks--and does it ever!--and we KNOW the size is perfect for the media, and available in glossy photo finish which would be very pretty. How about photos on both sides of old cd's (or one side) and string them like vertical blinds....or..... Lots of possiblities,--thanks for opening the door to some completely different new ideas.

[Emma]

enlighten me as to what/why altered CDs or books are for??? I see these all over, but do you put them into an album? Are they an art project all on their own? How do you display them?

[elizabethlmccoy]

1. How do you prepare the CD itself? Is there anything special you need to do to it such as scratching the surface so layout will adhere to it?

I'm going to research this a bit more I'm not exactly sure. I know that Donna Downey has a book out that has instructions for making a cd album.

2. How do you attach the layout to it? Do you use double sided tape or glue dots etc..?

I would imagine glue would be the best to hold it but double stick tape could work out well too just be sure to get as close to the edges as you can so they don't peel up or curl after you've passed it around and viewed it a bunch of times.

3. Do you cover the hole in the centre of the cd?

Most CD Albums I've seen do cover the hole up. They use both sides so you basically don't even know it was a cd...it kind of turns into a round album.

4. Are there any templates that you know of with the sizes so you can get the size right, or should I just measure the CD and go from there? (That last one sounds pretty obvious and fairly easy to do!

I would measure the cd and go from there. What program are you using???? If you print out on a full sheet of paper you could get a couple sides on each page and you would just have to cut them out and adhere. You can use any kit you have to make this work by cropping and cutting out the circle shapes.


If you're using PS or PSCS or PSE I'd be happy to help you work out the shapes and help you design a template for your album.

Also to put the album together you will want to drill a hole in each cd probably not much more than an eight of an inch then you can tie theme together with some pretty ribbon.

[elizabethlmccoy]

Emma...they are more like a mini album you'd put out on the coffee table...they're better suited for a specific theme/event....you wouldn't scrap everything that way ...they would make wonderful gifts also.

[moondust]

Thanks everyone for the great replies. I really appreciate it. Elizabeth, I've just put PSCS on my computer, but am slow going at it. I use it at work, but only for color correcting real estate pics! LOL!
I'm more familiar with PSE 2.0 & 3.0 (I have both - well all three actually if your counting PSCS),
I use a MAC OS 10.4.4, and I think in my searches on my hardrive I have some sort of CD labeling software installed. Haven't used it yet though.
I'll have to play around with it later and let you know again if I need some help.

I'll also be checking out the PSCS tutorials.

DH installed on my computer the Adobe Creative Suite Professional version, so I've got a whole lot of goodies to play with!!!

[Kristen]

I did a quick google for cd label template mac and for cd label template photoshop and there were a number of hits that looked promising. I'd finish looking for the software on your computer. I've just recently started making labels for the stacks of cds around here and having software or a template makes things much simpler.

Printing a background on label paper would certainly solve the issue about preparing the surface.

Hmm - one more project to add to my list?<g> I've got the stack of cds, too.

[shazzt]

I think you apply a primer like Gesso (you get it from art shops) to the CD to make everything else stick - and then just go for it with paint, stamps, stickers, photos whatever. I know I have seen articles on it in the past but the brain is failing!!

[moondust]

Thanks again ladies.
I found the software on my computer, now I just need to find the time to play with it!!!

I'm wanting to adhere my digital layouts (not all of them, only a few), and maybe use them as Christmas Ornaments, Fridge magnets, or door hangers, etc... I guess the possibilities are only limited by my imagination.!

[moondust]

enlighten me as to what/why altered CDs or books are for??? I see these all over, but do you put them into an album? Are they an art project all on their own? How do you display them?


Emma,
I've seen them used as both an art project all on their own, or as a round mini album, or as single "pages", I guess you could put them into a traditional album, or as others have done (with the CD's) use them as fridge magnets, I guess you could also use them as wall hangings with a ribbon attached to the back so you could hang it on a hook like a picture ...

The possibilities are endless - so it seems!:)

[Hershey]

What a cool idea!! If I ever get enough time I am going to have to try that out! Please post some of your work. Should be so interesting to see!

[Pssequimages]

Found a couple of ideas that might be along these same lines. First--how about a book made from your old floppy disks?
1) Prep unusable floppy disk by removing gate, carefully pry floppy open, and retain the side with the hole in it (or use a 1" circular saw on the solid side, and glue both sides back together)
2) Prepare mini album text and journaling on 5 inch square label paper (because it is sticky) (Create a 4 1/2" text box, and insert a 1" circle auto shape in the center of your text box which is where the hole in the floppy is.)
Plan your photos and journaling so that it clears the hole in the middle
4) Cut out your stickers and adhere them to both sides of your floppies, and then use a chain, ribbon, or leather thong to "bind" the project

[Pssequimages]

And the other way--using CD's--I'd do this exactly the same, using CD Labels, and creating layouts that, when printed, would fit the label stock for a CD label. Then drill a hole at the top of the cd, and "bind" them with a keyring, decorative shower curtain hook, or one of those caribeeners you can get at marine parts stores. One sided or two sided mini-album. OR string and thread one-sided CD's like a "photo mobile"
Advantage to using CD's--they're bigger---and you don't have to contend with the center hole.

[Kristen]

Well, I'm ready to try this. Being stubborn, I've tried, eek, five times! to get the music I downloaded burned to cd so I could take it with me this week.

I'm thinking of playing with some artsy pages inspired by Sting. I can listen to him here at the computer, at least!