Mixed Media Art- Pocket C.D.'s Repurposed Into Sunflowers

7 Materials
$5
1 Hour
Easy

"Don't toss that I can make something with it!" How many times have I said that and gotten the look of confusion as a reply? This was another one of these moments because it was obviously a case of mistaken identity, nothing here of craft value they're only tiny c.d.'s! The repurposer in me cannot let them go into the garbage without at least trying something... even if I only make a mobile with them, right?

Pocket C.D.

Aren't they ever cute? Anything miniature sized is adorable and these were so unique that I had to come up with a means to use them. Hmmm, so they're small, flat, round, iridescent they can become wheels, eyes, donuts but I landed on flowers! Yes, they can become pretty blooms to display in a picture frame.

Inspiration Image

I chose this image for color reference, such beautiful Fall colors.

Basic color palette

Those colors became my paint palette using multi-surface paints by Folk Art they are wonderful to work with! To apply them I'll just be using a small piece of a bath sponge.

Cutting off a Section of Sponge

The key with stencilling is to not have too much paint on the sponge so if I overloaded it Id blot the extra onto a paper towel first. For this sunflower I double dipped into the yellow and orange paint to give me a varied paint finish. The stencil was placed atop the cd so as to paint the petals onto the silver part of the CD.

Yellow Orange Combo

It's basically blotting the paint onto the stencil making sure that it stays firmly in place until the painting is completed.

Blotting the Paint into the Petals

The center of the sunflower I did freehand with brown paint and added the black seeded part with a fine tip paint marker

Adding tiny Details

Here's a better angle to see the details more clearly

Flower Paint Complete

I laid the frame without the glass over top of the insert to enable me to set up the placement of the sunflowers. Once I had the layout I liked I marked my centers to continue with next steps.

Markihg the center placement

Back to stencilling, the sunflowers needed stems and leaves. This time I used a stiff brush to stipple the green paint on with.

Working the Paint for the Stems

So now we have blooms and stems so all that's required is to secure them to the backing of the frame

Leaf Stencil completed

I used two way adhesive strips used for scrapbooking.

Two Way Tape Strips

So I just firmly pressed the CDs making sure to allign the centers with my previous markings.

Secured in Place

Sonething so simple just became so pretty, I dunno maybe I'm biased?

Close up View

Lets take this showpiece outside to share the best angles with you in natural lighting? I mean isn't that very sweet?

Sunlight reflections

I propped it against my tree to get a clearer image

Every Angle is Pretty

Then I tried it hanging onto my fence as well in the bright sunlight it's so sparkly

Hanging on My Fence

So I may have to try these again just because they turned so well, just in another flower type.

Before and After

Just a few things to keep in mind if you decide to try these as well is that these were pocket CDs and if you use regular sized CDs just remember you'll need a larger stencil and larger frame to hold them. Too, I used a multi-surface paint and that paint adhered well to the CD.

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