Not Just for Kids Craft: How to Make Fabulous Art Using Old LP Vinyl Records

Call me old fashioned, but I still like the sound of those old vinyl records. Nothing seems to bring back high school memories faster than playing those old Beatles LPs on the turn table. But for the ones that I really don't enjoy anymore (does anyone remember the Bay City Rollers and the de Franco family?), they are turned into funky junky art.

Materials needed

The material list is quite simple:

You'll need a handful of old 33 vinyl records. Sadly most are black, but if you can find an old red or yellow at the thrift store, snap it up. Look for ones that have cool labels in the center.

Several brass paper fasteners, #3 size works best.

A handful of scribble paints in bright colors.

You'll also need an oven preset to 250 degrees and a quart sized oven proof bowl to use as a mold.

Sculpting with vinyl

When placed in a warm oven, the vinyl records became warm to the touch and almost as soft as rubber. They are workable for about 20 seconds, and then harden up. Since heat is involved, this step is not recommended for children and should be done by the parent or an adult.

Center the record over the inverted bowl, and place in the preheated oven for about two to three minutes. The record will droop and form four pleats. Remove the record and the bowl from the oven with a pot holder, and place on a heat resistant surface. Using your fingers, manipulate the edges of the record to form additional pleats (see picture #2). You should be able to create 4 more sets of pleats before the vinyl record hardens into a bowl like shape.

If the pleats have come out uneven, place the vinyl back on the bowl and return it to the oven. After two minutes, the folds will relax and the edges can be reshaped as before. You can repeat this process until you get a bowl-like shape you like. Once you are happy with the results, set the record aside to cool completely.

Paint it!

While the vinyl bowl is cooling, decorate a second LP record with your scribble paints. The designs don't have to be anything fancy. Squiggles, circles, dots, and lines can all look quite striking as long as they are bright and follow some sort of pattern (picture #3). Once the flat record has been painted, set aside and let dry.

The bowl can now be painted with your scribble paints. Use swirls and stripes, and lots of dots (picture #4). Bright colors are also a must!

How to assemble the pieces

Scribble paint seems to take a little while to dry. I usually wait overnight to avoid any mishaps.

After the paint has completely dried, set the painted vinyl bowl on top of the painted flat record. Fasten both pieces together using the brass fastener (picture #5). It's that simple!

Your vinyl record art can be hung from either the ceiling or the wall, or be used as a chip dish. Our family even uses them as one-of-a-kind gift baskets for Christmas and other special occasions.