Probably one of the easiest items to create that can also be personalized, pretty and practical is a clock. Clocks can also be made very inexpensively with your closest craft store as the source for the supplies. What prompted this segment was the new clock hands that are now available making the variety even more extensive.
Clock hands now come in silver as well as the usual brass and black and can be painted as well. The manufacturer recommends using spray paint as opposed to a brush on. Because the hands are so very lightweight it is suggested that you hold them down with some adhesive product while painting. I placed the hands painted for this project over the top of an upside down jar lid and held them in place with some double stick tape underneath them.
When you buy the clock works - a square plastic case that holds the battery on the back and the hands on the front - you will also get a small pair of hands. All of the clock hands used for these clocks were purchased separately.
Clock #1 - Circular Black Faced Clock Materials:
8-inch circular box lid
black handmade paper
12 bead pins
variety of silver beads*
spray adhesive
silver hands
clock works with battery
*Any color beads can be substituted
Steps:
- Cut paper large enough to cover box top, go down the sides and over to the back. Apply a light coat of spray adhesive to the back of the paper and place it on top of the box top. Bring it down the side edges and around to the back. Make certain it is securely in place and the wrinkles around the side edges have been worked smooth.
- Turn right side up and poke a hole in the exact center. Use either a compass to find the center or cut a paper circle and fold it into quarters. Place it on the clock face and mark the center.
- Poke a hole in the center of the clock face with a compass, awl or scissors point. The spindle on the clock works will fit through here.
- With a pushpin poke twelve evenly spaced holes around the side edge of the clock. Stack beads on the bead pins placing the heavier beads last on the pins so they will be next to the clock rim. Add a touch of hot glue between the beads to hold them secure. Starting at 12 o'clock insert one pin through the side edge and fold the excess pin (it should be at least 1/2-inch) back to hold it secure.
- When all beads are in place, insert the clock works spindle from the back of the clock through the hole in the center and add the hands. If the spindle is too long, as it most likely will be with only the thickness of the cardboard for it to go through, add a few layers of cardboard or foam board between the back of the clock and the plastic box so that the box rests against it and the hands do not wobble.
Clock #2 Materials:
140 lb. watercolor paper
black art paper
empty cardboard spool from spool of ribbon
round paper punches - 1/4-inch and 1/8-inch
spray adhesive
dinner plate, salad plate
small paint brush
water
clock works
spray paint
- Place dinner plate on watercolor paper, brush around it with a brush dipped in water, lift off the plate and free hand tear the paper into a circle. The water dampens the fibers and makes them easier to tear. If you prefer a more defined tear the leave the plate on the paper and tear the paper pulling it up around the plate. Repeat with the black paper. Glue the two circles together. Poke a hole in the center of the clock face.
- Punch holes from black paper and glue around the white face for numerals using the larger dots for 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock.
- Cover cardboard core on spool with ribbon, paper or paint. Insert clock works into the core and into the clock. If works are loose repeat step #5 for clock number one.
Clock #3 Materials:
watercolor paper
watercolor pencils
protractor or paper circle
small box top or empty spool from ribbon
pencil
ruler
clockworks
This clock is made like clock #2 except the large circle is backed by a second in the same size to give it body. The circle was divided into 12 equal parts by using a protractor or a paper circle folded into 12 equal parts. They were marked off with a pencil and ruler, and colored in with watercolor pencils which were then brushed with water. The numerals are punched paper circles colored with the watercolor pencils.
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