It’s kinda weird. I have started this post 5 different times, but nothing sounds right. It simply doesn’t sound like me! How interesting that a new blog requires internal consternation regarding one’s current blog voice. I’m not sure what to do about that.
Therefore I am going to dive right in with today’s crafty-azz project and see where it takes us. Hopefully I’ll get in the flow eventually.
OK. FUN WITH RECORDS.
For a long time now, I’ve been collecting old records. For their covers. Because I love the way old photography looks. There’s something delightfully fake yet totally legit about those pictures that make me happy.
Like this…
and this…
But what can you do with the records inside?
They are forever falling out of the covers, and I don’t want to hang the covers as art work with a flying disk of destruction slipping out… (this is mostly problematic because I have to pick them up off the floor. That counts as destruction in my book.)
So I got creative. And found something (actually 3 somethings) you can do with old records. But we are only talking about one of them here today.
Let’s show off your retro-crafty self to your neighbors. Make them think you are cool.
We are going to make a record planter bowl.
First off, you need old records. At least a small stack, because *not all records are created equal.* Some records are thicker than others, and you will simply have to use trial and error to see what you have got. Don’t know where to get records? Just ask your friends or check out the thrift stores and garage sales. Lots of times people are aching to get rid of them!
Next, you need a circle shaped skillet or pot filled with water you will bring to a rapid boil.
You will also need protection for your hands. I used awesome oven mitts my mom, Margaret the Saint, got me for Christmas. They are great because they have rubber grippy thingys on the ends, that allowed me to have a secure hold on the record.
And finally, you will need a large glass or metal bowl to fit your record into, to help you manipulate the shape.
Ready? Okey dokey, let’s (rock and) ROLL!
Once the water in your pot is bubbling, get on your gloves/mitts/hand-protection, grab your record, and dive right in.
Start by dipping one half of the record into the boiling water.
Give it 5 or 10 seconds submerged in the water. It will either-
A) turn into a floppy, flexible, wet-noodle like piece of vinyl
or
B) do jack diddly squat.
This is why you need a couple different records. If your record does B, then simply set it aside and move to the next record. We can use it for the next project which I’ll talk about in a different post.
If your record does A, then you are in luck. Move the record around in the water, covering all sides, till the thing is as limp as (oh, the jokes I could make here…but I shall resist.) a piece of paper. And I have no pictures of the next few steps because it requires 2 hands and speed. Sorry, kids.
Immediately remove it from the water and smoosh it into your bowl and quickly mess with the sides until you like them. If you mess up- don’t sweat it. Just re-submerge in the water and try it till you get it right. You can do it inside of a bowl, or turn the bowl upside down and simply lay your limp record on top. There’s no wrong way to do this. Whatever works best for you and your bowl. I used the “in the bowl” method and came up with this shape.
Next, take your record bowl outside and fill it with dirt. No need to worry about a drainage hole, because there’s already one there for you!
Finally, plant your flower of choice and VOILA!
I do not recommend planting edible plants in records, as there are toxins used to make vinyl. Flowers should be fine.
Now, if you don’t want to leave it black, you can spray paint the sucker any color you wish. Just do it before planting your flower. (Thank you, Captain Obvious.)
So that’s today’s crafty-azz project!
Come back again for the next 2 installments of ”Fun with old records.” (hint- one is a fashion item!)
And till then, have fun making your world a little off color!
Charlie – you never cease to amaze me!!……This just looks like too much fun!!…I have to ask tho, did you burn your fingers?? Was the record too hot when it was moldable??
I didn’t burn my fingers, but I kept the oven mitt on while working with the floppy disk. The beauty of the records is they get very cool very quickly. However, they also get hard really quickly, so you have to work at light speed. Almost plaid. (Spaceballs, the Movie) The hardest part is making sure the whole record doesn’t slip into the boiling water. I kept a paid of tongs handy just in case, but didn’t need to use them.
Nice.
um-the paint before placing plant in record is too funny. I recently potted in a teracotta pot before I painted duh.. Love your mixer & can’t wait to try it.
I make stuff out of old vinyl records and an easier way to do this is to heat the record on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper at 200 F for about 5 minutes. Once hot and bendable you can mold it however you want to.
This is really cute. I linked to this post here: http://www.1plus1equals9.com/?p=276#