Mosaic Mirror Frame

What You Need:

• Old CD
• Heavy craft scissors
• Frame
• Glue

What You Do:

1. Help your child pick out a frame. Remember that a bigger frame means more work, and cutting up a CD isn’t easy. Also, choose the frame color wisely. A red or black frame, if left uncovered, could give a much more dramatic effect than a silver or white frame.
2. This is the step that’s going to take some muscle: Carefully cut the CD into irregular pieces. If your child’s hands are strong enough, she might be able to do this herself, but don’t be surprised if she asks for help. As you cut up the CD, bits of the silver backing will flake off. Don’t worry—this is what gives the mosaic an antique look.
3. Have your child arrange the CD pieces, mirror side up, on the frame. She can cover it so that very little of the border of the frame shows, leave large gaps between the “tiles,” or even place tiles so that they extend over the rim and off the sides of the frame. Each style will give a very different look.
4. When she’s arranged the CD pieces, she can remove a few at a time and glue them into place. She can scoot a CD piece around a little bit in the glue, but if she picks a piece up, all of the silver backing may peel off and remain behind in the glue.
5. Let the glue dry, add a picture, and hang the frame.

Tip: Want to jazz it up a bit? Add a few rhinestones between the mirrored tiles!