Today, we’re serving up the greatest hits with a tutorial on how to make your own CD art mosaic tray. This project is perfect if you have a stack of old CDs that you’re looking to get rid of. We are going to be cutting up these CDs for this art piece, so double-check that these are all something that you’re okay parting with.
The Process of Making a CD Art Mosaic Tray
We’re beyond inspired by the variety of artwork we’ve seen made from upcycled CDs, everything from colorful CD wall art mosaics to glittering portraits of your favorite animal. This time around, we’re sticking with something simpler, but the end product is no less stunning!
To begin, let’s take a look at what supplies we’ll need.
What You Need:
Anything marked with an asterisk is included in the bundle mentioned below.
- ProMarine Supplies Table Top Epoxy Resin Bundle
- CDs that you are comfortable cutting up
- A frame or surface on which adhere the CDs on to (we used a white sign with a black frame)
- Heat gun
- Safety glasses
- Gloves
- Mixing and measuring cups
- Stir sticks (something with a flat bottom works best)
Assemble everything you need in a well-ventilated workspace that is safe and you feel comfortable working in. You can also use plastic sheets or a shower curtain over your workspace surface if you’re worried about keeping it clean.
The first of your supplies that you’ll be using are your CDs and the heat gun.
The heat gun’s first role in this project is to warm up the surface of the CD so that it becomes easier to cut. Of course, we always encourage safety at all points in the creative process, so be to take your time with this part!
Before long, you will have a collection of CD pieces, cut whichever way you think might look aesthetically best when fit together. Once you’ve cut your pieces up and have an idea of how you want to arrange them, you can begin adhering them to whatever surface you’re using.
Take a look at our assortment below for an example of what’s possible. As mentioned, we’re shooting for a mosaic here, but you can definitely go in a dozen different directions for this project.
Now it’s time to break out the epoxy (and a pair of gloves). We encourage everyone to read through the product’s instructions prior to use, especially if they are new to using the epoxy or new to our brand.
Start by mixing our Table Top Epoxy Resin in a 1:1 (by volume) ratio with a folding motion. If you’re curious about how much resin you need to cover your project, you can always use our Epoxy Calculator. All you have to do is answer a few questions about your project and you’ll get the best estimate of how much resin you’ll need to get the job done.
Stir the mixture slowly and thoroughly to limit the amount of air bubbles being introduced. Make sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the mixing container as you go.
As described above, your mixing technique can help prevent air bubbles in the resin, by being mindful, you can also help limit air bubbles based on how you pour your resin. When you’re going to pour the resin, allow it to flow onto your project’s surface in a thin stream to help pop any existing bubbles. Before pouring, you should always make sure your surface is free of any moisture, dirt, or debris.
Since our Table Top Epoxy Resin is self-leveling, it will spread out across the project’s surface on its own. However, if you have a lot of area to cover, it’s useful to help it along. For instance, we decided to place our CD pieces in a long vertical frame. Knowing that we had a lot of area to cover, we poured our resin in horizontal lines all the way up.
Once you finish pouring your epoxy, the heat gun will play its second role. A heat gun can be used to great effect to remove bubbles from the surface of your resin. There are several different methods you can employ to remove bubbles depending on what works best for you. These methods range from using a toothpick to pop the bubbles to even wielding a blow torch; it all depends on your comfort level. If you’d like more information about removing and preventing bubbles, we have just the article.
Now, leave your piece to cure in a location that’s free of dust and around 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow it to cure for 72 hours.
Once cured, you’ll have a glossy protective layer over your mosaic tray that will serve as a smooth base.
The beauty of CD art can be attributed to a lot of different factors. CD art provides a fun way for you to upcycle old CDs to make stylish works of art that have practical applications or that can serve as wall décor. Not only that, but since the reflective surface of CDs and discs catch the light in a variety of ways, your piece is gorgeous and unique from every angle.
Are there any interesting projects you want to share with us? Is there a resin project or technique that you’d like a tutorial on? If that is the case, we can be reached on our social media! You can also contact us or visit our FAQs page if you have any questions or are looking for some crafty tips.
If you’d like to follow along with this tutorial in video form, you can find it here.
Happy crafting!
