Hi new2,
I'm a NC transplant too :-) Welcome.
I had a link that I thought you might find helpful.

If you want I also have instructions for a simple ball that I can e mail to you.
Cindy
BTW Let me know if you are still looking for forsythia - I have one that I can send you.

Here is a link that might be useful: CD Balls

Cindy I love those cd balls and would like to try my hand at making one. However I would need simple instructions. Would it be too much to ask for you to e-mail it to me, also? I thought glueing half marbles or some other decoration on the centers would be pretty, too! TIA. Nana

Wow! I love those! Just when you think you've done it all, inspiration strikes again!!!

How about posting the instructions - so others can try the CD ball too? Does anyone have a picture of one - it sounds intriquing? I was picturing it hanging from a tree - is it lightweight enough?

Well since you asked - here are the instructions that I have :-)
I can't remember where they came from (some one out in web land))

What do you do with all those free CR-ROMS you get promoting an on-line service? How 'bout making a CD BALL!

You need 12 cds. I made a template out of cardboard the size of a cd, which has 5 evenly spaced notches around its circumference. I used it to mark 5 dots on the edge of each cd.
Now tape 2 cds together with dots touching (tape on the unprinted side). Do this with 4 more cds so you have a "flower" of one cd with 5 petals.
Now tape the adjacent "petals" together, cupping the flower towards the printed side (the tape is on the unprinted outside).
Now glue all the joints on the inside with your trusty glue gun, and when the glue is set, remove the tape. Now do this whole thing again, but leave off one petal.
You should have two "bowls", one of which is incomplete, plus a loose cd. Fit the two halves together (matching up the dots) and tape. Glue all the joints inside; it gets tricky working through the cd size hole, but it CAN be done. The last cd can be put in by taping it in place, and shooting a little hot glue around the tape into the joint. After the glue is cool, remove the tape, and TADA! a cd ball.
I thought about putting a Christmas light in each cd hole, the reflections and cd rainbows would look pretty.

look what i found. know any new uses for the cd's? i only have a few hundred of them.

{{gwi:175988}} cd bowling ball easier for the instructionally challenged. :)

dustyknees~ I'm sure you've seen this done before, but I paint the unshiney side and attach them with jump rings and fishing swivels to make suncatchers. Here's one I made a while ago. Hadn't gotten all the swivels attached yet in pic. ~Anj

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Anj, the painted CD's are cute as heck. I made some a few years back by gluing two together so the shiny side was on the outside and then strung about four of them on fishing line. The sunlight hitting them and swirling in the wind was a very pretty rainbow effect.

Junkinthetrunk - Awesome is all I can say. I bet that took a long time. It looks great.