About two years ago, I was wandering around Cardiff Fashion Quarter (now known as Cardiff Emporium) browsing at their amazing vintage jackets when I spotted a unique looking bowl. It was made of a vinyl record which had been melted into a dome-like shape suitable for storing jewellery or keys and suchlike. Instantly, I thought it was amazing and wondered how I would go about making one myself. I could see that it had just been melted, but my creative side was soon interrupted by horrific visions of frazzled bits of plastic stinking out my oven and any further baking that I made in there. I soon got over the hefty £12 price tag and purchased the bowl.
Two years on and you can’t scroll through Etsy or visit a gift shop without seeing one, so I thought it was about time I had a go myself.
What you need:
- Spare/old vinyl records that you can melt (TIP: don’t go raiding your housemates’ Chic 7″s unless you want me to do a ‘how to find new housemates post)
- An oven-proof bowl (a biscuit tin will do)
- A baking tray (or cupcake tray would do just fine. Basically anything vaguely flat and oven-proof)
- Tea-towels or oven mitts
- Access to an oven
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius/392 degrees Farenheit.
2. Place your oven-proof bowl upside down onto a baking tray and place your vinyl on top. Remember that the side of the vinyl that is facing down onto the bowl is the side which will show up, so make it the best side!
3. According to instructions that I have read online, you are supposed to put the vinyl in the oven for 8-10 minutes, but mine started melting after about 2. I strongly recommend only doing it for 2 or so and then moulding it, because you can always put it back in the oven for a few more minutes if you would like to re-fashion any areas.
4. Mould your bowl using the tea-towel/oven mitts.
5. Leave to cool when happy with your design.
Tips
- In the instructions I read, oven mitts were suggested to mould the bowl into shape. Personally I found that they were not dextrous enough to allow me to actually mould, so I switched to a tea towel. Obviously I don’t want anyone to burn themselves (so please be careful), but I found the plastic actually cooled pretty quickly and was cool enough to touch quickly without any. However, the bowl underneath stays pretty hot, so again, BE CAREFUL!
- I used a baking tray, but because it was completely flat I found that the bowl moved about really easily. It meant that it was a bit tricky to take it in and out of the oven, so something like a cupcake tin which has more grip might actually work better.
- As mentioned in Step 3, you probably only need to leave the bowl in for a couple of minutes rather than the suggested 8-10 minutes, so make sure you are watching to see when the vinyl is starting to melt.
- The size of the bowl underneath your vinyl will determine the size and shape of the vinyl, so it might be worth experimenting with different sizes. I made a plate and a bowl.
- Don’t waste money spending loads on an expensive Pyrex bowl to mould your vinyl like I did. Well, mine was only £4.50 from Wilko and I will use it again, but a Roses tin worked just as well. As long as you use an oven-proof container, it will work.
- Unless the centre of the bowl is super important to you, don’t waste money buying expensive vinyl to make the bowl. I picked mine up for 50p from a charity shop. Even then, you could probably get some for like 10p or even free, but hey it’s for charity! It does however mean that my bowls are all country and western inspired!
Verdict
Sooo easy and you can achieve a great look for next to no money. Never have my keys been more organised or stylish.
Marriarty 