NOSTALGIA Turn those old vinyl discs into popcorn bowls

Those dusty records will sing a new tune as unique containers.
THE WASHINGTON POST
Speak to anyone who remembers buying music pre-CD, and they will undoubtedly wax nostalgic about vinyl. Fumbling with the hologram security stickers and plastic casing of a new compact disc just can't compete with the experience of cracking open and peeling away the shrink-wrap cellophane sealing a new record (so alive with static electricity that it would shift and cling to your forearm or thigh), and getting that first whiff of the ambrosial off-gassing from the freshly pressed vinyl disc inside. With the purchase of each record came this cherished mini-event redolent of promise, the sweet bouquet of new music -- bad for the brain, perhaps, but good for the soul.
While there is certainly no turning back, there's still reason to get excited around the scent of vinyl with the 331/3 popcorn bowl. All you need to make it yourself is an oven, a six-inch terra-cotta flowerpot, oven mitts and a full-length vinyl LP.
Directions
UPosition rack low in the oven to provide plenty of clearance for the flowerpot. Preheat to 400 degrees.
UIf your record needs cleaning, wipe it with a damp towel. Center the LP on top of the upside-down flowerpot and place it on the center of the rack. Bake for one minute or less, checking progress often, until the record has gone limp and hangs loosely over the flowerpot.
UUsing oven mitts and touching only the bottom rim of the flowerpot, remove from the oven -- being careful not to disturb the record -- and place on a heat-resistant surface to cool. You can shape the sides of the vinyl bowl to your satisfaction just after you've pulled it from the oven, while it is still pliable. If you want a different shape, experiment with any oven-safe bowl or pot: mixing bowls, oversize soup bowls, saucepans and the like. As soon as it's out of the oven, try sandwiching the record between two bowls or flowerpots to give the shape more height or a tighter edge. Once cooled, the bowl can be washed with warm, soapy water. Do not place in the dishwasher.