How to Recycle Record Covers

I'm the type of person that finds everything useful. Whether it's a ribbon off a package or a cute container, I save almost everything for craft projects. While looking through some old records, I got to thinking about how I could use the covers to create new items and came up with several ideas. Please note that you want to check the rarity of the album before you destroy the cover, as some record covers can be worth hundreds of dollars. If the cover is worthless, try out one of the following ideas.

Create Simple Artwork

The easiest way to reuse record covers is to frame them as a piece of artwork. You can either handcraft your own frame, shop for one in your local department store or have one custom made. Regardless, record covers can make beautiful artwork, especially some of the covers from the 60s and 70s. This piece of art would look great in an entertainment room or man cave.

Update Glass-Front Cabinets

If you've just moved into a new house and hate the look of the cabinets, you can easily update them with record covers. Cut the covers into varying sizes of squares and rectangles and adhere the pieces in a varying pattern on pieces of thick poster board that has been cut to fit inside the cabinet doors. Once complete, use strong tape to hold the poster board in place inside the doors. This ensures that you can easily take it down once you get tired of it.

Make Your Own Gift Boxes

Sometimes the packaging of a gift can be just as interesting as the gift itself. One way to create custom gift boxes is to cut apart record covers and score the front of the cover so that it folds into a box. You can then use the back cover to create a lid. There are a number of boxes you can make and there are detailed instructions that can be found online.

Use in Concert Scrapbooks

Last, but certainly not least, record covers at the perfect backdrop for your scrapbook. You can cut the cover to fit and then add concert tickets, pictures from the concert and other mementos you have from seeing your favorite band in concert.

Record covers don't have to get tossed just because you no longer have a record player. There are several fun things you can do to repurpose them into gifts and home décor.