Bookend Project
I have said it before, but I love repurposing items. Especially in these times, finding new life for old items is the greenest option. Some things you hate to ruin by transforming them, but for the most part I believe that reusing old or obsolete items is a far better choice than letting them waste away in some one’s unloving basement, or worse yet, a landfill. Plus, repurposing is often much cheaper than buying new items, as well as healthier for the planet. So, when I get the chance to make a new addition to our home, and at the same time get a new project with old items, I jump on it!
In college I made bowls out of records as a dorm floor project. I still have mine in our office on the book shelf. The other day I saw a project online where book ends were being made out of old records, and decided that would be a perfect addition to the shelves, and even fit in with our music themed office.
I made a stop yesterday at the Salvation Army and picked up two records. They weren’t anything special, just old records in decent shape and with pretty labels. Last night we boiled some water and dumped it in the kitchen sink. The water softens the record and you use a utensil to bend it.
Overall the project was easy and turned out pretty cute!
Cooling off under a box.
Make Mine Eclectic 
livelovecraft said,
March 10, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I just wanted to let you know, that it’s you fault I don’t get anything done, I have never been a blog reader…and then I started to read yours…didn’t take much time…but now you have the blog roll thing…and then those blogs take me to other blogs….
jessimarie33 said,
March 10, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Haha… i’m going to take that as a good thing! I have a follower!? 🙂
livelovecraft said,
March 10, 2009 at 9:06 pm
I guess so, I actually googled how to make a bowl from a record, after you mentioned it….it’s on my to do list
jessimarie33 said,
March 11, 2009 at 7:14 am
I love my record bowl too. It was super easy to make. We layed them on top of ceramic bowls that can go in the oven, put them that way in the oven on med heat and just kept watch to see when the records start to fold. When they flop over the bowl, pull them out and use your fingers to mold it a bit it the shape you like. They are wavy and imperfect, not like the smooth kind you can buy, but I think that makes them more fun and unique. Good luck!