« What Time Is It? »

My nephews are hams. I've had a camera in front of them practically since the second they were born. Getting a picture where they aren't posing isn't easy. Not many candid shots around of these two. So I was thinking about clocks and making clocks and thought "what time is it?" 

I could just see in my head, the boys underneath a cartoony thought bubble. A quick trip to the store and a thought went to a real, live ticking reality!

Want to make your own thought bubble clock? I have two options for hardware minded and not - plywood and foam core board. So if you or someone you know doesn't have a jig saw - you're not out of the game!

You will need:

• Clock Movement Kit (or an old or inexpensive clock to take apart)
• Power Drill and Bit
• Stain or Paint and Brush
• Black Magic Marker (optional)
• Sawtooth Hanger and E-6000 (if a hanger is not on the back of the clock movement box)
• Plywood and Jig Saw ~~OR~~ Foam Core and Utility Knife
• Bubble Printable Pattern

STEP 1: If you are taking apart a clock for its movement, do so now. Look around for screws to unscrew and the like to neatly take apart. You will need to keep the black box, the hands and if there is a screw on top of the hands, that as well.

STEP 2: Trace and cut the shape of the thought bubble (using this pattern) and little bubbles to trail down. If using plywood, use a jigsaw and if using foam core use a utlity knife. Sand edges if necessary on the wood version. 

STEP 3: Drill a hole into the center of the big thought bubble. Use a bit that is slightly larger than the extension on your movement box (that will poke through the hole). Make sure that the clock movement will fit cleanly. Remove and set to the side...

STEP 4: Decorate your clock any way you please! I went for the classic cartoon look - using white paint and a thick black marker on the edges. You can stain the wood, paint it blue or pink - whatever will go well in the room you are creating it for!

STEP 5: After fully dry, push the clock movement box through. Either take a big dab of E-6000 or tape to affix the back to the board. Place the hands on the spindle and screw on if necessary. If your back doesn't already have a hanger, use your E-6000 and a sawtooth hanger on the box to be able to hang.

STEP 6: Hang your clock. You can use glue dots on the back of the trailing little bubbles so that the kids can move them around and pose with the clock, use hangers from a picture kit or just drive a nail straight through the center.

And that's that! I'm finally sleeping in my own bed again and I have to tell you, it's great, great great! Looking forward to a fun week of crafts. Happy Monday out there y'all!

Update on Thursday, September 13, 2012 by Allison Murray

This post was featured at Family Fun Crafts!

Comments

[Kris]

That is so creative. What a lovely ideia

[Allison Murray]

I am so glad you like it, Kris!