DIY Vinyl: Paint It and Hang It!

Yes, yes, record bowls are pretty sweet, but they’re really only righteously cool when the record itself is something cool–the St. Olaf Choir Sings Feliz Navidad, say, or The White Album, or Songs and Games to Develop Gross Motor Skills. When the record isn’t classic or cheesy or thematically-appropriate or doesn’t fit in with your personal style guide, don’t make a bowl out of it and don’t throw it out–slap some acrylic paint and some glitter and sequins on that baby and hang it up in style!

You will need: a record album, gesso, acrylic paint, embellishments (see below), your choice of sealant/varnish, your choice of hanging mechanism (see below)

1. Decide if you’re going to want your painted album to hang free or against a wall. If you want your record to hang against a wall, only gesso one side. If you want your record to hang free, give both sides of your record album a few good coats of gesso, letting it dry thoroughly between coats and between sides. Gesso will help the paint stick and give you a blank canvas.

2. Go hog wild. You can paint using your acrylic paint; collage with photos, magazine images, or scrapbook paper; slap on some glitter–whatever turns you on. Don’t add any 3D elements such as buttons, sequins, or yarn at this point, however–you’ll likely want to seal your flat work first.

3.  If you’re painting both sides of your album, let the first side dry and then do the flip side.

4. When all your artwork is dry, give it a few good coats of your choice of sealant/varnish. Some likely choices are a varnish made specifically for acrylic paints, or a clear glue such as Mod Podge.

5. If you want to add any 3D embellishments, put them on after the sealant is dry using a good strong clear glue such as E600.

6. Hang up your masterpiece with a loop of twine, a hook, some ball chain, etc. Make people come over and tell you how awesome you are.

Have even more vinyl records? Make some vinyl wrist cuffs. Or a clock. Okay, fine–make a record bowl.