Christmas Record Bowl Gift Packaging Idea (PIC HEAVY)

[SuzNTX]

Here's what I've been working on during the Thanksgiving holiday.  These "gift bowls" are for some of the physicians in our city (my husband is an ENT).  I have a huge M&M figurine collection that has been at his office for nearly a decade now, so we always give out M&M's for a Holiday treat to fellow physicians.  This year, rather than putting them in a simple box, I had the fabulous idea of making record bowls from vintage Christmas albums.  They are fairly easy to find at resale shops--I lucked into finding over 70 from a local collector.  I got them for about 50 cents each.  I heated the records and formed the bowls, then sealed the label with polyurethane spray.  In each bowl went holiday tissue paper, a couple of bags of the m&ms, one of my VHS journals (had lots left over from my last craft show), and a few VHS sleeve-edge bookmarks.  I've completed 50 so far!  Hopefully, they will provide some fun to the day for the physician and their staff.  I'll be hand delivering them later this week (weather permitting!).  I took the liberty of adding a card that read: "the included recycled items were re-purposed just for you by Suzanne" with my email address.  I wonder if I'll hear from any of them?
Thanks for looking!
Suzanne in TX

[BadWolf]

Awesome way to recycle! They look fantastic!

[cup*KAY*ke]

Not only do I love the idea of upcycling, I LOVE LOVE LOVE you Christmas tree!

[yarnorama]

Woah. You're SO cool.
Now I want to melt some vintage records!
What a neat gift idea.
I want to try it, I think my sister would like this.

Do the bowls turn out quite sturdy, or are they kinda fragile?

[Elensule]

Woah. You're SO cool.
Now I want to melt some vintage records!
What a neat gift idea.
I want to try it, I think my sister would like this.

Do the bowls turn out quite sturdy, or are they kinda fragile?

The bowls I've made have turned out pretty sturdy. I mean, don't go throwing them around or anything, but I think they'll hold up pretty well.

Also, AWESOME idea... And I absolutely love how wonderfully 'together' they seem!

Is there a post with one of the VHS journals up on craftster? *will have to search* I'd love to see one up close!

[jennieingram]

Awesome presents and a kick-ass way to recycle!   Good for you for coming up with a way to make many multiples of something, inexpensively, that still feel truly unique, thoughtful, and indulgent. 

[Granny_Leah]

We used to make snack bowls and planter pots by softening old 45s and 78s in the oven, over metal coffee and soup cans. They will smell a little if they get too hot.

Nice to see them again!

[battina]

yeah these are a great idea. my husband and i made one for all our friends and family members last christmas and i filled them with homemade goodies (cookies, fudge, chocolate dipped cherries and pretzels). they were a big hit!