Decide on the Theme
Choose a theme for your mixtape CD once you have your song list finalized. For instance, if it's full of ballads, you might want this mix CD album cover to be about love. If it's full of fast paced, high energy tracks, this could be your workout mixtape. Decide on a highly descriptive title for the CD such as "Love Songs from June 2009" or "Belly Fat Burning Beats: Volume One."
Once you have chosen a theme you can then proceed to pick out images that relate to the general idea. For instance, find pictures of hearts, and couples kissing and holding hands for a love themed CD cover. Pick royalty-free or creative commons images, which can be found on various Internet sites (see "Resources" below for a couple of examples).
Create Your New File
Use Quark Xpress, Adobe InDesign, or Adobe Photoshop to create your mixtape CD album cover. The standard size of a CD jacket is about 4.75 by 4.72 inches (width by height). You want to create a file that allows for both the front and back of the cover (it is folded before being inserted). So double the width so that the file is 9.5 inches wide by 4.72 inches high. Next, set a guide at the very middle of your document that separates the cover into two sides. The left side, which is the front cover, and the right side, which will contain the song list.
Drop in Images and Text
Once you have your blank document open, start dropping in the images (or a single evocative image) that you chose for your mixtape CD into the left side of your document (the front cover). Adjust the images to your liking, and then drop in the following text items to the front cover: title of the mix CD, name of compiler (such as a DJ name), copyright information, and a logo (if applicable). Then, drop in the list of your songs on the right side of your cover. Each item on the song list should ideally include the full song title, artist, and year.
Print the Cover
Once you've designed your CD cover, print it on cardboard stock paper (about 60 lbs). Since your file size is 9.5 by 4.72 inches, it should fit comfortably on a standard 8.5 by 11 sheet of paper. When the cover is printed, cut off the white edges, fold it in half, and insert it into the clear slot on your CD jewel case.