Vinyl Record Bookends

My crafting days are over....for the next 3 weeks. Finals are coming up a week from Tuesday, and my life must be dedicated to learning the law.

However, I decided to make one final craft post before I put down my glue gun, sewing needle, and scissors.

I love vinyl records! No, not for music...but they make amazing crafts!!! I've experimented with bowls, clocks, coasters, shaddow boxes, notebook covers....you name it!

Anyway, here is a very simple, craft to make some awesome bookends out of two old records.

Step 1:

Get two old records! I've found them all sorts of places! From garage sales, to goodwill, your dad's personal stash, Salvation army, EARC, or Half Price Books. Check out the clearance bins...because it probably means they dont work anyway, and if you arent finding them for under $1...you are paying too much!

Step 2:

Turn on the oven to around 180-200 degrees F. (honestly, I ususally just flick it on around 200 and dont look very closely)

Step 3:

It wont hurt your baking sheets (atleast it hasnt for me!) so place it on a sheet where it can lay flat along the edges. A baking stone, or anything that is meant for an oven and has a smooth surface works great.

Step 4:

Watch it. Well you dont have to put your head up next to the oven door, but wait a few minutes then check on it. It wont take long at all. You know when it is moldable when the edges of the record start to wave

Step 5:

Pull it out of the oven. Honestly, I pick it up with my hands (dont touch the pan!) But it is pretty hot, so oven mitts may be a good idea.

Step 6:

Work fast! It cools quickly. All you do is find a place on your counter that makes a right angle with the wall. Take the record, and place it on the counter, with 1/3 of the record up against the wall to form it into a right angle.

Dont forget- use a towel to press down the large part on the counter down flat. That way you wont be burning your arm. Try to make it as straight as possible.

Finally you will get something that looks a little like this!

I haven't flattened out the edges with a blowdryer yet on these

If it worked out perfect, great! If not, stick it back in the oven and try it again! Or, if its a little too wavy on the edges, grab a blow dryer and re-heat the place you want to fix.