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UpCycled CD Spinners

Use up old CDs with this fun rainy day craft project. Easy enough for a three year old and pretty enough to decorate any gardenI’ve been a pretty dark place recently. Dealing with post-partum depression/anxiety and the end of my marriage has left me drained and with a creative block. I was cleaning out my over stuffed craft room when my three year old found a bag of beads I had stored away for ‘someday’. She loves making things and aside from painting & ‘key-dough’ we haven’t done much recently. I’ve called them CD spinners because they’re made of CDs and they spin but Mary likes to call them ‘tree jewelry’. Whatever you call them, it’s a quick from project to do with the kids. They won’t even notice they’re working on their fine motor skills!

Tree Spinner Supplies:Use up old CDs with this fun rainy day craft project. Easy enough for a three year old and pretty enough to decorate any garden

  • 2 CDs – I felt bad about using brand new blank CDs but I don’t even own a computer with a disk drive anymore so they were just gathering dust
  • Fishing Line – I used left overs from my Spooky Halloween Ghosts so it was pretty thick and sturdy
  • Beads – I think these were a necklace or two at one point. I’ve had them for years, even before I bought the house
  • Scissors
  • Optional – Tape – If you’re doing this with kids do yourself a favor and find some tape!

Instructions:

  1. Cut a long piece of fishing line
  2. Hold two CDs together with the shiny side outUse up old CDs with this fun rainy day craft project. Easy enough for a three year old and pretty enough to decorate any garden
  3. Stick the fishing line through the hole and bring the ends together, tape them if neededUse up old CDs with this fun rainy day craft project. Easy enough for a three year old and pretty enough to decorate any garden
  4. String on beads until you run out, your helpers take off to pet a duck or you get within 5 inches of the endUse up old CDs with this fun rainy day craft project. Easy enough for a three year old and pretty enough to decorate any garden
  5. Separate the two strings and run one through a final bead. Put the other string through the opposite wayUse up old CDs with this fun rainy day craft project. Easy enough for a three year old and pretty enough to decorate any garden
  6. Tie lots of knots
  7. Hang them up where the wind can catch them

I used large S hooks that I bought to hang bird feeders (that were almost immediately destroyed by  the wind) to hang them in the tree outside the girls window. Mary likes to point out her tree jewelry when we’re reading in her bed. They spin in the breeze and I’m sure the neighbors are confused. I probably confuse them a lot but they’re very nice and don’t ask a lot of questions. I think I might take ours down and doodle some designs on the CDs to make them a little more interesting but that’s going to have to wait for the garden to give me a break. We’ve had so much rain and heat that the weeds are going crazy! I’m, as always, way behind but things are moving in the right direction.Use up old CDs with this fun rainy day craft project. Easy enough for a three year old and pretty enough to decorate any garden

If you make your own CD tree spinners I’d love to see pictures! I occasionally get messages from people (usually making my ladybug vs bumble bee tic-tac-toe game) and it always makes my week. You can find me on facebook or tag me on instagram with the hashtag #chickenscratchny

 

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Jean Andrews

Sunday 22nd of April 2018

I am so sorry ou are going through a tough time. Hang in there!!! It will take a little time but things will get better. I think crafts are very soothing to the soul and gets your mind off of what you are going through. You have your children and that is a plus! Your children will also help you from getting lonely. You did a very good thing when you let your children help you with the craft; it could also make you and your children even closer. Let me know how you are doing! I care!!

Jasmine

Monday 26th of June 2017

Super cute project! I have a ton of old ads laying around that would be perfect for this!

Cathy

Monday 26th of June 2017

I'm so sorry you've going through such a difficult time. Make sure you take care of yourself, especially your mental health. Hopefully this little project will bring some smiles to your face, especially when the wind and sun hit them just right.

Shirley Wood

Monday 26th of June 2017

Fun upcycle! My grands would enjoy making this craft and I have the supplies now! I save old necklaces in a jar in my craft room have one now that would be perfect for this! Pinning.

Carrie Chance

Sunday 25th of June 2017

These are cute and look like something my daughter would love to do, as well as my daycare kiddos. I actually have tons of old cds that I'm getting ready to get rid of anyway