Altered CD Case Photo Display

I love to recycle, reuse or re-purpose items. I feel that it helps in a small way to reduce the waste for our ecology. Every bit can help the environment.

Have you been drooling over all the great projects made using the new collab kit from the designers at The Digichick called Around The World? Remember, this kit will be available starting June 23 at The Daily Digi and then it will come “home” to The Digichick in July. There are amazing elements, papers, cut files and designs in this kit.

As I was looking through all the goodies in the kit, I was very inspired to create something that represented a sense of adventure and hope for the future. In this project I’m going to reuse an empty CD case to create a special photo display/mini-album to commemorate my son’s graduation from high school. Here is a peak at the cover:

Supplies you will need:

Around the World collab kit
Paper
Printer
Recycled CD case
Ribbon
Trimmer/Scissors
Ink (if desired)
Twine (if desired)
Adhesives

Using your photo editing software, design the front, back and 2 inside pages for the display. Be certain to measure the CD case so that you create your designs to fit. If you are using one of the CD cases that has the removable insert for the disk (as in the image above), the front and back sections of the case will not be the same width. I used one of this type of case.

I knew I was going to be putting some thick layers inside and wanted the extra depth. You can use one of the thin CD cases, bit you won’t be able to have bulky layers on the inside and still close the case. Just keep this in mind as you create your design. Print your designs and trim them to size.

Remove the disk insert from the back section of the case. Clean and dry the case being certain to remove any sticky residue from labels.

Take your printed and trimmed designs and carefully line them up. Adhere the front cover design back-to-back to the inside-left design. Adhere the inside-right design back-to-back to the back cover design.

Place a small amount of vellum adhesive in the corners of the back cover design. Insert the inside-right/back cover design into the back section with the back cover design showing through the back of the case. See above.

Slide the front cover/inside-left design under the tabs on the front section of the case. Be certain to have the front cover design showing through the front of the case. See above.

If you used one of the cases with the removable tray, there will be a void space on the front cover as I am pointing to in the image above. On the thin case, there will be a section of plastic that your cover design does not go behind. Use ribbon to cover this up. Cut your ribbon with enough additional length to allow you to fold under the edge to avoid fraying. Secure the ribbon in place with adhesive. I used Continuous Line roll by Glue Dots. It is a fairly strong adhesive that is easy to apply and great for tacking down ribbons and trims.

I added some decoration to the inside of my photo display. I used the cut files from the collab kit for the plane and banner. I positioned them on opposite parts of the inside of the case using 3D foam adhesive. I adhere bakers twin behind them as an attachment to make it look like the plane is pulling the banner.

I’ve included photographs of my son from kindergarten and his senior year of high school. I’ve also included a few of my favorite inspirational quotes that seem appropriate for a young men about to venture into his future.

Here is a close look at the inside sections:

On the back cover I wrote a little note to him.

These would also make great gifts for Father’s Day, grandparents, teacher appreciation. Or you could use magnetic paper to create a fun and easy-to-pack game for children for while you travel. I hope I’ve inspired you with some wonderful ideas to recycle CD cases.

Happy Scrapping!

Cathy (aka Scrappycath)

Altered CD Case Photo Display

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