CD Christmas Tree

2 years ago I made my own Christmas tree out of used A4 and A3 paper, but it can't be reused as it was glued to a fixed shape. So last year I made a 2-D foldable one from old cardboard box so that I can store it in my Christmas box for future use. However, when I dug it out a few days ago, the edges were rather bent due to the space constraint and the extreme humidity here in the tropics. It's still usable, I guess.

But then the stack of old CDs on my shelf caught my eyes and gave me an idea: perhaps I could do something with them and make a Christmas tree that can be reassembled completely.

How to make a Christmas tree out of old CDs?

I started drawing out plans and decided that a 3-sided pyramid-like tree is possible. But I may need more CDs than what I already have so I asked for help on FreeCycle KL Yahoo Group. Within days I managed to get more CDs contributed by some of the kind members. (Big thanks to them!)


And after a few trials and errors, my transparent, 100% reusable CD Christmas tree is born. This is a 3-tier (each triangular pine tree shape is a tier) size but I can reshape and resize the tree the way I like it next year. I did peel off the shiny coating layer of the CDs before I constructed this, but if you would like to try one yourself, you can also opt to leave the shiny bits on, like what a friend of mine did to her version of CD Christmas tree:



Here is the step-by-step guide to making a simple Christmas tree out of old unwanted CDs:

Step 1: Arrange CDs into the shape of a tree, secure each adjoining point with cellophane tapes (make sure you tape on both sides). Make 3 sets of this.

Step 2: Base on the number of CDs used on the bottom row of step 1, make a triangular base like this, with the same number of CDs on each side. Secure with tapes like in step 1.

Step 3: Join the tree shapes by the base with each side of the triangle shape (indicated by the red marks). Secure with tapes like in step 1, but with even stronger tapes or stick a few more layers. And to make sure the tree structure is strong enough, stick more CDs on joining points to prevent the tapes from breaking up (shown below as white CDs). The reinforcement CDs should be facing the inside of the tree.


Step 4: Hold up the tip of each side and join them by point X (you'll need someone to help you hold this whilst you stick the sides together). Secure as many touching point as possible with cellophane tape to make the tree as stable.Material:
Old CDs that you have no idea what to do with. I've used 120 CDs (3x27 for the tree shape, 24 for reinforcement and 15 for the base).
Some cellotapes. No drilling, no glue.
Tools: Your hands and 1 more pair of hands.
Storage: Any old CD box, or any box.

The 2-D foldable one? It's still very much alive on one of the walls.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Comments

  1. Mel5 December 2010 at 00:11

    I now know what to do with my old CDs, thanks!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Too many old receipts and "sold" stickers

Image
We probably can't go a week without buying something. Some of us try to reduce consumption, reduce the use of plastic bags, use BYO containers, go to the nearest shops whenever we can, etc; but the issuing of receipts seems to be a mandatory for all the major shops and malls. No matter how hard I try to squeeze as many items into one purchase, I still end up with way too many receipts. What's worse is: you get 2 sets of receipts when you use a credit card, and the thermal receipts are apparently not recyclable! Being a stubborn cow that I am, I refuse to throw any away as long as they still have a blank side on them - thermal receipt or not. I've been using them as note pads, to take phone messages (not that we had a lot), and write my shopping lists on, before I put them into the recycling bag for paper. Along with the compulsory receipts, these supermarkets and department stores also make sure that they paste a "Sold" sticker onto every bag (or every item i
Read more

Handmade beaded choker necklaces

Image
I love chokers but I can never find anything I like that would fit nicely on my skinny bony neck. That's when I started buying colourful beads in small packages and having a go at making my own beaded jewellery. Here are 2 of my early attempts that cost me less than £2 in total, but I have worn each of them to many parties and concerts, and am still not sick of them yet. I wear them with dresses to more formal functions but I can also match them with jeans or casual wear on a day out. I've also made some bracelets and belts out of my beads projects.
Read more

What can we do with used CDs and DVDs?

Image
Dear readers, this blog will no longer be updated.  All contents will be moved to: upcycleliving.blogspot.com Please update your link, and we hope to see you again soon  😊 I always make a point to buy rewritable CDs so that I can reduce the unnecessary disposal. However, I can't stop others from handing me non-rewritable discs. So I still find myself collecting unwanted, damaged, or outdated discs over the years. I refuse to throw them into the bin because they take years to decompose in landfill, not to mention the amount of toxin released during the process. So I kept holding on to them and have no idea what to do with them. We decided to use them as coasters and then found out that the shiny layer started peeling after a while. So I peeled the layer off and completely and cleaned them up. Now they are all transparent, and the problem is, sometimes we just can't see them! Then I thought it would be better to give them some colours to make them more visible.
Read more