How to Make a Christmas Star Ornament From an Old CD

Make a Christmas star ornament from one of those advertisement CDs you get in the mail or at stores. Instead of throwing it out or letting it sit in your junk drawer, make something lovely. This is not a difficult recycled craft to make but does take a little hand strength to cut through the CD with the scissors. Once you hang them on a Christmas tree, watch the reflection of the Christmas tree lights sparkling off these eco-friendly CD stars.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• CD
• CD marker
• Strong large scissors
• Red or green acrylic paint
• Foam or sponge craft paintbrush
• Red or green ribbon or thread (optional)

1. Place the CD on your work surface, advertisement side up. Make sure you are using a CD that has one shiny side. With a CD marker, draw a star across the face of the CD from one side to another. You can draw any type star you want. It doesn’t have to be a 5-pointed star. Make sure the points of the star go all the way out to the outer edge of the CD when you are drawing it and that the inner part of each point ends at the inside hole in the center of the CD.

2. Begin cutting along the lines of the star to the hole in the center (the hole should stay intact). When you reach the outer edge of the hole after making the two cuts that form the first point of the star, gently twist the piece you are removing off by twisting back and forth. Set the piece aside. Repeat with each point of the star, all the way around the design. Cut slowly and carefully so you don’t crack the CD.

3. Paint the advertisement side of the CD star with red or green acrylic paint so you don’t see the advertising, then let the paint dry completely.

4. Let these ornaments hang from the tree branch by gluing two together, shiny side out, with a looped ribbon or thread glued together. If you are putting two together, use the first one as a pattern for the second one so you have a good matched set to glue together.

5. To make a star for the top of the tree, put two of the CD stars together, shiny sides out, so you see shiny from both directions on the top of the tree.

Tips & Warnings

• Make a bunch of these stars and set them all around your dinner table to add a festive touch to a holiday meal or put them on top of Christmas gifts to decorate a wrapped package with an extra bit of creativity and fun.
• Have a group of friends or kids over and tell them to bring their advertising CDs and teach them how to make their own CD Christmas stars.
• Be careful while you are cutting and handling the CDs. The edge, points and cut-off pieces can be very sharp.
• This craft is not suitable for young kids.