Using reclaimed CD’s as a clear rubber stamping art medium, is a delightful and creative way to recycle and at the same time add sparkle cheer with your rubber stamping hobby. Stunning landscape art designed with clear rubber stamps on the shining glow of a CD can easily become a stunning masterpiece. These works of art can be added as a focal point of a special card, as an accent on a scrapbook page or as decorations that catch the light. Decorated compact disc’s are always beautiful no matter the application.

To decorate compact disc’s you will need a permanent ink stamp pad, permanent ink cleaner for your clear rubber stamps, old compact disc’s, colored permanent ink pens for coloring, rubbing alcohol, glitter and glue as well as any items specific to the finished project.

STEP ONE (The Background):  To create the background, choose the colors from your permanent ink markers which you wish to use. Our sunset included yellow, orange, pink, purple and blue. Imagine where you want the horizon and then create your sky. Make sure the sky colors reflect down into the water. As you color, be sure to overlap the colors where they meet.

Place some rubbing alcohol in a spritz bottle that gives a fine mist. Spray the colored CD with rubbing alcohol. Using a toothpick (something nonabsorbent) push the ink colors together where they meet to blend the ink well. This will also remove any coloring lines that may have been left by the markers. If you are not done blending the colors before the rubbing alcohol dries, simply spritz it again and continue blending.

 NOTE: Before proceeding to the next step, be sure you are prepared to clean your clear rubber stamps immediately after use to minimize staining as much as possible. Always rinse well with water after cleaning with the staz-on cleaner. 

STEP TWO (Stamped Silhouettes):  To create the silhouettes on your landscape, choose a nature stamp or scenic stamp to use. Ink your clear rubber stamps in a permanent ink stamping pad and form the horizon. Keep in mind that you can draw in lines and shapes with a permanent marker as well. When creating a horizon in water, be sure to keep base lines parallel.

Repeat the process with the stamps that will create the foreground of your landscape scene. In the example we have used a boat. You may use trees, flowers, grass or animals in your foreground. Use a black permanent ink marker and color in foreground elements to create a perfect silhouette.

STEP THREE (Embellishing): To embellish you completed scene add glitter to the water to create reflective ripples. You may wish to adhere a paper behind the CD so you can fill in missing parts of the design if desired.

Stamp a round tag to cover the middle of the CD with a saying or image on it.

Add the CD to a card, scrapbook page or simply decorate it to complete your project.

Happy Stamping!

 Learn more about making this card.