craftygal table - Making a Mix Tape or CD for Your Valentine

Submit your brilliant song lists to Art of the Mix

Pertinent quote from High Fidelity

Mixin' It Up on Valentine's Day

by Taryn

Looking for a Valentine's gift that's a little more personal than flowers or sweets? There's no better way to express your feelings than through song. Nope, you don't have to write a love song--just make a mix! Your beloved will be doubly impressed upon seeing this combination card and gift, hand-crafted and chock full of personal meaning. Here's what to do:

First, decide on a medium. If you have access to a CD burner, you'll probably go with a CD mix--but if all you've got to work with is a double-cassette player, then tape it is. (You'll also want to consider the equipment of the recipient, too.) Personally, I think there's something to be said for the kitsch-factor of cassettes, but it's definitely an individual preference kind of thing. Go with what you're drawn to.

Next, it's good to analyze your relationship with the person you're gifting. You'll want to consider how new the relationship is and what you want your mix to express. Also your tastes in music may differ--you don't want to put too much thrash-metal on a folkie's mix. Expanding someone's horizons is a good thing, but they'll be the one listening to it, after all. If you're at a loss about where to begin when picking songs, try thinking of a theme. Sometimes having a gimmick, like songs that all have the same word in the title, is just what you need to create a clever mix.

Once you have a list of songs you'd like to use, you need to think about the flow of the songs. You want it to have a strong opener, a good build-up pace, and a satisfying closing. (If you're working with a cassette you need to consider the mood of each side as an entity as well.) With this in mind, number the songs on your list in the order you think they'll work best and then make your mix.

Suggestion: Sound bites from movie or TV clips are also amusing to throw into a mix. If you can, hook your stereo equipment up to your VCR or DVD player--or if you're using your computer, you can most likely find a clip of the quote online. Nothing like a line from The Simpsons to add a bit of surprise listening enjoyment!

Next we'll make a cover for your creation that doubles as a card and gift-wrapping!

Here's what you'll need:

1-2 sheets of blank white cardboard or heavy cardstock (Aleene's BoxBlanks come in 8 3/4" x 11")

ruler, scissors, and glue

dull knife (such as a table knife)

mix tape or CD

miscellaneous decorative touches (such as ribbon or twine, patterned paper, black lace, sparkly red pipe cleaners, velvet scraps, etc.)

For a CD:

1. Using the template as a guide, draw the outline for the cover on one sheet of cardboard. The measurements are as follows: Areas A through D are 11 inches in length and 5 inches in width. Add 3/4 of an inch on either side of Area C for Flaps E and F (Areas C, E, and F are 6 1/2 inches from top to bottom). Now, cut around the outline you've drawn.

2. Holding the template in place over your cut-out piece, use the dull knife to lightly score along the dotted lines. This will make for cleaner folds.

3. Now, fold Area D to cover Area C and gently crease along the fold line.

4. Fold flaps E and F to meet Area C and crease. While holding them down, glue Area D to Flaps E and F, creating the sleeve for your disc.

5. Fold Areas A and B toward Area C, creasing the fold line between B and C. Then, leaving approximately 1/4 inch, fold Area A to meet Area B. This will create the hinge on which the front cover (see step 5) will open.

6. Next, measure and cut a separate piece of cardboard, 5 inches by 5 inches. Glue one edge of this cover to Area A. Voila!

For a cassette tape:

1. Using the template as a guide, measure and cut a piece of cardboard 10 inches in length by 4 inches in width. (From here on, this method uses less exact measuring, but should result in a nice, snug tape cover that you can open like a card.)

2. Now take a cassette tape (removed from the case) and place the wider, bottom side along the line labeled F. Leaving about 1 and a 1/2 inches of space to the right, fold the cardboard up over the bottom of the tape, creasing the folds at lines F and G.

3. Next, flip the tape over, placing the bottom side along line E, creasing the folds at lines E and D.

4. Moving the tape back so that the bottom is along line F again, fold from the left, bringing line G to meet line C, flipping the tape as you go. Fold and crease at lines C and B (over the tape and cardboard).

5. Now that you're all folded, glue Areas F through H to Areas B and C. Your tape should fit nicely inside and there should be a flap on the top, which opens much like a small card.

When your cover is fully assembled, decorate it as you wish, tying a bow with ribbon or twine to complete the presentation. If you really enjoy your mix, you might want to make a copy before you give it away, or at least keep track of the song listings so you can be sure you don't duplicate any the next time. (And I know there will be a next time, because making mixes is fun and addictive!)