Materials:
wooden clock frame from Walnut Hollow* or Prymex (Klockit) or scrap piece of pine or basswood
craft saw or electric jig saw
sandpaper or commercial emery board
pencil
ruler
Forstner drill bit or Prymex (Klockit) Clockworks drill bit: 1-1/2" in diameter
Minwax stain pen
wood clamp
scrap piece of wood
wood half balls in small, medium or large size (from 1/2" to 1")
Woodcraft paint pens (black, blue, dark blue, cream)
colored wire (16-, 18-, 24- and 26-gauge)
1/4" dowel or skewer
needle nose pliers
wood glue or Super Glue
safety glasses
electric drill
black tape
close-up photos of kids' faces
scissors
*Note: Walnut Hollow makes an arch shaped wood clock frame that can be used. The triangular-shaped clock frame has been discontinued.
Steps:
- Decide whether you prefer to drill the hole for the picture frame first or cut the triangular shape from the wood first. If you're better at centering the hole, then cut the wood shape first. Use a piece of soft wood - either basswood or pine, and clamp it on top of a scrap of wood to a workbench. Use a 1-1/2" Forstner drill bit or Prymex (Klockit) Clockworks drill bit attached to an electric drill. Drill the hole for the picture frame. Be sure to wear safety glasses.
- Centering the drilled hole in the piece of wood, draw a flat-topped triangle shape measuring approximately 5" high, 3" wide at the base and 1" across the top. The top of the frame should be approximately 1/2" from the top of the hole. Cut out the shape with a small craft hand saw or an electric jig saw. Sand the cut edges with sandpaper or a commercial emery board. Round the top corners slightly. Wear safety glasses when working with electric tools.
- Decide whether you are making a boy or girl frame and draw the appropriate clothing design on the front of the frame. The shoulders would be drawn from the lower third of the drilled circle outward to the edges. Draw a collar for a girl frame. Draw trousers for a boy frame by placing a vertical line on the front of the frame from the bottom edge up about 1" centered from the outside edges. Paint the clothes on the frames using paint pens. Use a stain pen to paint the head portion.
- Add shoes or feet by cutting a wooden half ball in half (use a quarter of a ball) or cut a whole ball in half, then in half again. Paint the shoes to look like tennis shoes for boys or Mary Jane's for girls. Glue them to the front of the frame at the base using wood glue or Super Glue. The feet are decorative, but also add stability to the frame so it will stand up.
- Form a hand from wire by using 16-gauge silver wire and needle nose pliers. Leave enough wire on each end for the wrist to be pushed into the wood. Start by leaving a tail and bending the wire to form the thumb, then each finger. If that's too difficult, form a thumb and a "mitten" hand. Make two hands for each frame. Poke small holes into the side edges of the frame and glue one hand on each side with the thumbs facing up.
- Next, make the hair out of wire. For the girl's hair, wrap 24- or 26-gauge wire around a small dowel, pencil or skewer. Be sure not to overlap the wire as you wind. Push the wire down so it is tightly wound and wind until it has reached the desired length. Cut the end and remove it from the winding device. Wind several curly strands using different colors and lengths. Poke holes in the top of the wood frame and glue ends of the curly wires in place using wood glue or Super Glue.
- For boy's brush cut hair-do, cut short lengths (approximately 1/2") of heavy wire (16- or 18-gauge), poke holes in the top of the wood frame and glue them end first into the holes using wood glue or Super Glue.
- Take the picture clock style frame apart, place the metal circle on top of a close up photo of a child and trace around the picture. Cut out the picture and place it in the clock style frame. Place the circular clock style frame in the drilled hole on the front of the wooden frame. If the picture is close enough, you can actually cut off the hair and the face works perfectly.
Resources colored wire
Contact Artistic Wire for a local retailer.
Artistic Wire (wholesale only)
Website:
www.artisticwire.com
clock frame inserts, Forstner drill bit - Klockit (Model #: 53266 - drill bit)
Klockit
Lake Geneva, WI
Toll Free Phone: 800-556-2548
E-mail:
klockit@klockit.com
Website:
www.klockit.com
clocks, adhesive clock faces, clock movements - Walnut Hollow
Walnut Hollow products are available from craft and hobby stores nationwide.
Walnut Hollow
We apologize the company no longer carries this item.paint pens - Zig
EK Success Ltd.
Website:
www.eksuccess.com
wood finish stain markers--Minwax
The Thompson Minwax Company
Website:
www.minwax.com
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