About

Cost: $ $ $ $ $

Difficulty: • • • • •

Time: 30 mins

Recycle an old CD into a nice new pendant necklace :)
I was at a university fair (where unis from all across the country came to give out prospectuses, offer advice on courses etc.) and I saw this CD on the front of a prospectus. I knew I wasn't going to be going to the uni, as they don't offer the course I want, but I still nabbed a copy of their prospectus anyway as it was calling out for me to do something crafty with it :P.
The result was this necklace, which was simple to make and used basic equipment and tools which I already had lying around at home.

Posted by Izzy from London, United Kingdom • Published 29th July 2008 • See Izzy's 2 projects »

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Patrick Mclaren commented on Pendant Necklace Using An Old Cd 04 Oct 08:30
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Step 1
Stuff you'll need:

- a CD with a picture/pattern/design on it that you want to use as your pendant

- cord to hang the pendant on, at whatever length you want the pendant to hang at. I used approx. 45cm

- a jump ring

- a clasp. I used a lobster clasp

- 2 coil end fasteners

- a pencil

- a craft knife

- scissors

- paper (this can be scrap paper, as it will only be used to make a template)

- flat nose pliers

- a ruler

- a surface to cut on. Ideally a craft mat, but I don't know where mine's gone :S so I used a piece of board to cover my desk and protect it from scratches
Step 2
Decide on the size you want your pendant to be.
I chose 3.5cm by 2.5cm.

Draw this out on the paper.
Step 3
Cut the shape out, so that you have a frame that will act as your template.
Step 4
Lay the template on the CD, and position it until the part of the CD that you want to use as your pendant is in the frame.

Once you have positioned your template, draw round it onto the CD using a pencil (don't use pen in case you change your mind, pen will dent the CD and you'll be left with marks you can't get rid of!).
Step 5
Cut out your pendant.

You could use a craft knife, but it doesn't give a neat finish and takes ages (as I found out when I was testing this idea)!

Instead, use scissors; CDs are surprisingly easy to cut. I've got a special set of scissors I use to cut thicker and harder craft materials, don't use scissors you're likely to use on fabric or thread as the CD will blunt them.

I neatened the edges of my pendant up with a bit of black nail varnish, as I didn't want the clear plastic edges I was left with.
Step 6
Make a hole to use to hang your pendant.

I usd a craft knife to make the hole in mine, as I found it gave me good control over the size of the hole. To do this, place the point of the knife where you want the hole to be, and keep twisting it round until it goes through the CD and until you have a hole of the right width. Be careful of your fingers though! :P
You could also use a very fine drill.

Once you've made the hole, attach a jump ring.
Step 7
Now to prepare the cord.

Place the end of the cord into your coil end fastener, and use pliers to squeeze the bottom few coils closed around the cord.
Do this evenly around all the sides of your coil, otherwise it will be more squished in some places and less in others, and you want to tighten it evenly.
Continue until your cord is held tightly in place by the coil.

Only do this on one end at first, otherwise you won't be able to attach your pendant.
Step 8
To attach the clasp, twist open the loop on the top of your second coil end fastener.

I'm not sure how clearly it'll show up in the photo, so I'll have a go at explaining the technique...
Hold the coil between your fingers, and hold your pliers in the other hand. Grasp the loop in your pliers, and twist sideways far enough for you to be able to slip the clasp on. To close the loop, twist the loop back the other way.

Thread your pendant onto the cord, and attach the coil to the cord the same way you did in the previous step.
Step 9
Et voila! The finished necklace :)

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Comments

Patrick Mclaren 4th October 2019

Excellent work

Marisol H. 15th January 2018

great job

Anna D. · 7 projects 13th January 2011

i just cut my shapes out from a cd. i just need to make the holes in them. Did you sand the edges at all? They're a little sharp and I wasn't sure how to fix that...

emmilou w. · Wallasey, England, GB · 12 projects 6th April 2010

brilliant, thanks for the tute - i was wanting to make cd pendants but just hadn't got round to figuring it out (too many WIPs and UFOs...lol!!) i don't have to think now...hahaha!!! ;D

Rae Rae The Jet Plane · Los Angeles, California, US · 1 project 9th September 2008

Very nice! I am using this idea ^^

Darling Niki · Clearwater, Florida, US · 20 projects 4th August 2008

Love it! I'm going to have to try it asap. Wonderful directions as well! Thanks!

DIS.AR.RAY · Las Vegas, Nevada, US · 32 projects 2nd August 2008

This is perfect! In my room, I have TONS of cd's on my wall [I keep a count on my door, and its currently 65] and not only will it make cool pendants, but it will look cool on my wall to have random little rectangles cut out of a bunch of them, lol.