Tic-Tock People Face Clock

Easily create a unique clock using photographs.

By Carol Duvall • More from Carol Duvall Show
Filed under: Clocks, How To, Crafts

These clocks are easy to make and fun to have. I made my first people clocks more than 10 years ago using photos of small children, of Robb Weller who was the host of the HOME show at the time, and one of the show guests. Today our subject was 4-year-old Skyler, the daughter of one of our producers.

Materials and Tools:

1 ceiling tile
photographs *
acrylic paint in primary colors
large white pom-poms
alligator clip
clock works with 3/4" shaft
card stock
ruler
pencil
hand drill
1/4" drill bit
glue stick

* The photographs should be sharp and reasonably close up. How many you use and how you cut them is a personal choice. Our clock featured two photos cut in 3-inch circles and two full figure shots of Skyler sitting in a chair.

Steps:

1. Select and cut out photos. Our circle pictures were cut with a circle cutter. A card stock circle in a coordinating color was cut 1/4 inch larger, and the photo glued to it so it bordered the snapshot. The chair shots were cut following the outline of the subject.

2. Using the ruler and pencil, locate the exact center of the tile. Make a small mark.

3. Drill a hole in the center of the tile. If it is not large enough for the clock shaft (1/4 inch), you can enlarge the hole by hand using a 1/4-inch drill bit.

4. Place the photos on the clock in desired positions. Our two circle photos were placed at 12 and 6, and the cut out photos at 3 and 9. Lightly make a couple of marks around the photos to indicate their placement and set aside.

5. Use the pom-pom held in the alligator clip to make brightly colored painted circles around the tile, avoiding places inside of the pencil lines. Use a fresh pom-pom for each color. At the same time, paint the extending borders around the edge of the tile.

6. When the paint is dry, erase any pencil marks and glue the photos in place.

7. Place the clock works in position. The hands of the clock seemed too long, so they were shortened with scissors and the ends painted to resemble paint brushes.

8. Insert the batteries and place the clock on an easel or add a hanger to the back and hang it.

Variation:

I had taken a bunch of photographs of my sister's grandchildren at the cabin last summer, so one of our producers, Cam Frierson, cut out a photo of each child, painted a tile, constructed a log cabin out of craft sticks, and added the children to the yard. Who gets the clock to hang in their bedroom is anybody’s guess!