How to Cut CDs and DVDs for Crafting
Learn how to cut CDs and DVDs for mosaics and other craft projects! When you’re done check out my huge list of things to do with CDs and DVDs. This post contains affiliate links.
As a teen of the ’00’s, I was a huge fan of of making mix CDs so that I could listen to the music I wanted. Actually, I was quite advanced. I had a personal CD player with a digital touch screen (it looked like an alarm clock screen, but the surface was touch!) And it played MP3 tracks so I could listen to over 100 songs on a single CD!
I was way out there.
Table of contents:
- Are cut CDs safe for crafting?
- What can you make with them?
- How to cut CDs and DVDs to size and shape
- Supplies
- Process
I kept a stash of blank CDs for burning, and loved colorful ones. Almost overnight, this became obsolete with the prevalence of mp3 players in every budget.
And yes, it’s those very CDs that are now living in my craft room that I will be using to teach you how to cut CDs.
You can actually still purchase colorful blank CDs special for crafting. And if you don’t have a 20 year old burn pile sitting around, you can use your old CDs that you’ve since backed up and digitized.
They’re super fun for crafting as I’ll share below. But first, the pressing question – are they sharp?
Are cut CDs safe for crafting?
Believe it or not, cut CDs are not sharp. They are not glass. They are a softer plastic.
If you have very pointy corners and you press it into your skin intentionally, you may draw blood. But it doesn’t typically create shards that cut.
That being said, as a precaution, I always recommend that a grown-up cut CDs in advance when they’re being used in a kids’ craft. That way you can test them and make sure this is the case with your pile of cut CDs.
You can also sand the edges if you’d like. This will give it more polish. However, it really needs to be wet-sanded, which is a cumbersome process, so I do recommend embracing those rough edges.
What can you make with them?
Cut CDs can be used in a variety of crafts, including these fun sunglasses for kids.
They are super fun to make CD mosaics and can make fabulous sun catchers. You can embed the pieces in resin.
The iridescent finish of CDs make them fabulous for any craft where a little sparkle and shine is warranted.
While you can cut CDs by simply taking scissors to disc, heating them up allows you to create very specific shapes, such as this teeny tiny adorable little heart… Because you’re heating it, there is a burn hazard, so a grown-up should definitely do this.
How to cut CDs and DVDs to size and shape
The idea of this tutorial is to help learn how to cut CDs for more specific purposes. With this process, you can have more control over the size and shape.
Supplies
- Old or new CDs and DVDs
- Heat gun or blow dryer
- Heat-safe surface (I used my Cricut EasyPress mat)
- Craft or utility knife (I used my Cricut knife)
- Cutting mat (I used my Cricut mat)
- Strong scissors
- Recommended: heat-resistant gloves
- Optional: sandpaper
Process
1. Place your CD on a heat-safe surface. I recommend wearing gloves that’ll protect from the heat too. Heat your CD using a heat gun until you see the surface begin to change slightly.
2. Use a craft knife to score if you’d like a more specific shape.
3. Use scissors to cut it to shape. If you need to, reheat as you work.
4. If the edges are very pointy, you may want to curve them, even if you’re not making a very specific shape. I did this with scissors.
And finally, if you’d like to, you can wet sand the edges.
I hope you enjoyed learning how to cut CDs! what will you be making with yours? Comment below!
The Best Way to Cut CDs to specific shapes
Learn how to cut CDs and DVDs to specific sizes and shapes for craft projects. Use these for all sorts of upcycled crafts, such as mosaics, suncatchers, and more!
Materials
Tools
Instructions
1. Place your CD on a heat-safe surface. I recommend wearing gloves that'll protect from the heat too. Heat your CD using a heat gun until you see the surface begin to change slightly.
2. Use a craft knife to score if you'd like a more specific shape.
3. Use scissors to cut it to shape. If you need to, reheat as you work.
4. If the edges are very pointy, you may want to curve them, even if you're not making a very specific shape. I did this with scissors.
And finally, if you'd like to, you can wet sand the edges.
