How to Make Stuff Out of Old Cell Phones
The first patent for the precursor to the modern cell phone, a wireless phone, was issued in 1908, according to Google Patents. Now, the United Nations estimates that more than 77 percent of people in the United States in 2006 were cell phone subscribers. With all those cell phones and all the new models coming out, there are bound to be a significant number of old phones that are no longer used. Here are a couple of things to do to make use of those phones.
Things You'll Need
- Old cell phones
- Towel or rag
- Paint
- Paint brushes
- Stickers, stick-on jewels or other embellishment
- Pliers
- Tweezers
- Sturdy craft board (8 x 10 or larger, depending on number of phones)
- Craft glue
Instructions
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Making a New Child's Toy
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1
Remove the battery from the phone and replace the battery cover. This way, the toy will never actually work. With a wet towel, thoroughly clean the phone, removing any dust and dirt.
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2
Paint the phone the favorite color of the child you intend to give it to. Avoid any screens or keyboards. Allow the paint to dry fully before continuing.
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3
Give the painted phone to your intended recipient. Let her embellish it on her own with stickers, stick-on jewels and any other supplies you have so that she has a toy phone that she designed herself.
Making a Cell Phone Art Collage
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4
Using a wet rag, clean the phone or phones you intend to use.
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5
Disassemble the phones using the pliers, tweezers and any other tools you find helpful. A good place to start is removing the battery, and then work from there. Pry the phone apart at any seam that you see in the plastic casing, and separate all pieces that you remove. If you find it difficult to take a portion of the phone apart, go outside and throw the piece against a driveway or sidewalk. This may damage some pieces, but this is entirely permissible.
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6
Lay out the various pieces of the phone (i.e., wires, microchips, casings, keypads) on a craft board in a visually interesting way. Keep in mind such artistic elements as line, color and overall composition while laying out your collage. Keep changing things around on the board until you are pleased with your creation.
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7
Use the craft glue to adhere your pieces to the board by picking them up one at a time, applying glue and replacing them so as not to disturb your design. Allow to dry fully, then hang it up or place it in another decorative location.
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Tips & Warnings
Exercise caution when disassembling phones, as edges can be sharp and a significant amount of pressure is often necessary.
