8 DIY Vinyl Record Crafts for Music Lovers

Got a stack of old vinyl collecting dust in your basement? You know, the ones that are either scratched beyond playability or feature an artist you swore was cool in 1985? I’ve been there. My own collection includes a thrift-store copy of Wham! Make It Big that skips so bad it turns “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” into a minimalist art piece.

But here’s the thing: even unplayable records deserve a second life. I’ve spent the last few weekends elbow-deep in hot glue and old sleeves, and I’m here to tell you—vinyl is one of the most versatile craft materials out there. Whether you’re a die-hard audiophile or just someone who appreciates vintage vibes, these 8 DIY vinyl record crafts are guaranteed to scratch a creative itch. Let’s get started.

1. The Classic Melted Record Bowl

Ever seen those gorgeous, flowery bowls at expensive boutiques and thought, “I could make that”? Well, you totally can. This is the gateway drug of vinyl crafts.

Why This Works

Vinyl records are made of PVC, which becomes pliable when heated. Pop one in the oven, and it droops into a perfect bowl shape. I love this project because it’s almost instant gratification—you literally watch the transformation happen.

What You’ll Need

• An old record (obviously)
• An oven-safe bowl (to use as a mold)
• Some metal binder clips
• A heat-safe surface

The Process

Preheat your oven to around 200°F (93°C). You don’t want it too hot, or you’ll end up with a puddle of toxic goo. Place the record on top of the inverted oven-safe bowl, securing the center hole with a binder clip to keep it from sliding. Pop the whole thing in the oven for about 2-5 minutes.

Keep watching it! The moment the edges start to droop, it’s ready. Pull it out carefully, and let it cool for a minute. Then, gently press the center down into the bowl shape. Honestly, the first time I did this, I burned my fingers because I was too excited. Learn from my mistakes: wear oven mitts. :/

Pro-Tip

Use records with cool labels for the center. I used an old Ray Conniff album, and the center label looks fantastic holding my keys.

2. Statement-Making Wall Clock

Why buy a generic clock from a big-box store when you can have one that literally rocks? Turning a record into a clock is absurdly easy, and it makes a huge statement.

Sourcing the Hardware

You can buy clock mechanisms online or at any craft store. They usually come with hands and the little motor unit. FYI, make sure the kit includes a long enough post to go through the record and still attach the hands.

Choosing Your Record

This is where you get to show off. I used a copy of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon for mine. The prism label peeks through behind the clock hands, and it looks incredible. My buddy used a classical album, and it looks super elegant in his study.

Assembly is a Breeze

1. Drill a small hole in the center if needed (though the center hole is usually big enough).
2. Follow the kit instructions to attach the motor to the back.
3. Attach the hands to the front.

Seriously, it takes ten minutes. Now you have a clock that sparks conversation. “Is that actually a record?” Yes. Yes, it is.

3. Vinyl Record Wall Art

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. If you have a collection of records with stunning cover art, why hide them in a crate? Frame them.

It’s Not Just the Vinyl

Don’t forget about the sleeves! The album art is often half the magic. I have a few picture discs that are just too beautiful to stack away.

How I Display Mine

I grabbed a bunch of inexpensive square record frames from a craft store. They’re designed to hold the album cover, but I like to display the vinyl itself next to the cover in a shadow box setup.

• The “Hero” Wall: Pick 4-6 of your favorite albums and create a grid. It fills a blank wall instantly.
• The Solo Act: Find one massive, iconic album—like Michael Jackson’s Thriller—and give it its own space. It becomes a focal point.
• Mix It Up: Alternate between displaying the front cover and the back cover. Sometimes the tracklist and liner notes are just as interesting.

IMO, this is the best way to honor music without spending a fortune on “official” music posters.

4. Edgy Coasters for Your Coffee Table

This project is perfect if you’re nervous about the oven method. It requires zero heat and takes about fifteen minutes. Plus, everyone needs coasters, right?

Materials Matter

You just need some flat records (the thinner, the better) and a pair of heavy-duty scissors. Yes, you can cut vinyl with scissors! It takes a bit of muscle, but it’s totally doable.

Shaping Your Coasters

I traced a large mug onto a piece of cardboard to make a template. Then, I placed that template on the record and traced it with a metallic sharpie. Once the outline was on the vinyl, I just started cutting.

• Round: The classic look.
• Hexagon: Feels a bit more modern and geometric.
• Square: Uses the most of the record surface.

The Finishing Touch

Sand the edges lightly with fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out any sharp spots. Then, you can glue a piece of cork or felt to the bottom so they don’t scratch your furniture. I glued some leftover cork from a kitchen project onto mine, and they look store-bought.

5. Repurposed Album Cover Notebooks

I feel a pang of guilt throwing away album covers, even if the vinyl is trashed. They’re thick, durable, and usually feature amazing photography. So, I turn them into notebooks.

The Binding Basics

This is basically bookbinding for beginners. You take the front cover and the back cover, and you bind a stack of paper between them.

My First Attempt

I used a copy of a Herb Alpert record that I found at a garage sale. The cover was water-damaged but still visually cool. I cut some printer paper to size, stapled it together, and then glued the spine of the paper stack to the inside of the album cover.

It wasn’t perfect, but it made a fantastic gift for my sister, who’s a writer. Now she jots down lyrics on a recycled piece of music history. How poetic is that? 😀

Step-by-Step

1. Fold the album cover in half (or cut it to separate the front and back).
2. Stack 20-30 sheets of paper inside.
3. Use a needle and thick thread to sew through the fold (or just use heavy-duty staples).
4. Glue the first and last pages to the inside of the cover.

6. Vinyl Record Cat-Eared Bookends

I live in a small apartment, so my books are always falling over. Boring metal bookends are ugly, but these vinyl bookends? They add character.

The Shape is Key

You want to cut the record in half. But not just any half—you want to cut it in a wave pattern that mimics the old “cat ear” design of vintage bookends.

How to Do It

1. Mark a line from the center hole to the outer edge in a gentle S-curve.
2. Cut along that line with your heavy-duty scissors.
3. Heat the vinyl slightly with a heat gun (or a hairdryer on high) to make it flexible.
4. Bend the bottom inch or so of the cut edge at a 90-degree angle. This is the part that slides under your books.

I did this with a pair of old polka records. Now they hold up my collection of Beat poetry. It’s quirky and functional.

7. Eye-Catching Earrings and Jewelry

If you want to wear your music literally on your sleeve, this is the project for you. Vinyl jewelry is lightweight, durable, and looks awesome.

Shrinky Dinks for Adults

This works just like those craft plastics from childhood. You cut shapes out of a record, bake them, and they shrink down into thick, hard pieces.

My Go-To Designs

• Mini Records: Cut out tiny circles and use a sharpie to draw little labels on them. They look like miniature LPs.
• Geometric Shapes: Triangles, lightning bolts, or arrows look modern and edgy.
• Music Notes: For the more literal music lover.

The Process

1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
2. Cut your shapes from a plain black record.
3. Punch a hole for the earring hook before baking.
4. Bake on parchment paper for 2-3 minutes. They’ll curl up, then flatten out. Watch the magic!
5. Once cool, attach earring hooks with jump rings.

I wore a pair of these to a concert last week, and three different people asked where I bought them. They couldn’t believe I made them from an old Englebert Humperdinck record.

8. Vinyl Record Lamp Shade

This one sounds intimidating, but it’s essentially just a fancy way to wrap a record around a cylinder. It diffuses light in the warmest, coziest way.

The Setup

You need a cheap wire lamp frame (a cylindrical drum shade frame) and 4-5 records. The goal is to warm and bend the records so they wrap around the frame.

The Bending Jig

I used a large coffee can wrapped in aluminum foil as my mold. I heated one record at a time in the oven (just like the bowl method), and when it was soft, I carefully wrapped it around the can, holding it in place with rubber bands until it cooled.

Assembling the Shade

Once you have 4 or 5 curved record pieces, you attach them to the wire frame using small binder clips or jewelry wire. You leave small gaps between them so light can shine through.

The result? A lamp that throws groovy shadows all over the room. It’s a total conversation starter. “Hey, is that lamp made of records?” Yep. Sure is.

Wrapping This Up

Look, we all love music. But sometimes the physical media outlives its usefulness in its original form. Instead of tossing those old records in a landfill, why not turn them into something you can actually use?

I’ve filled my apartment with these projects, and every single one has a story. That bowl started as my dad’s old copy of Bridge Over Troubled Water. That clock was a gift from an ex-boyfriend—at least now it serves a purpose. 😉

So, raid your local thrift store, dig through your parents’ attic, and grab those dusty discs. Your home is about to get a whole lot cooler. And when you finish that melted bowl, tag me—I want to see your masterpiece. Happy crafting!