Today I am so excited to share some wonderful, timeless treasures created by Christine R. It was so great to be able to meet Christine at Convention last year then see her again at the UDI retreat. She is a very sweet, knowledgeable and talented hippie. I'm so glad I've been able to get to know her and learn from her. Hugs to you, Christine. :) And....Here's...Christine.....I have been a Demonstrator for almost 7 years and a Diva for 2. I took early retirement from my job (16+ years) as a judge's secretary last July. I still type trial transcripts for the Court at home (I get to work in my pajamas! how cool is that?!) to supplement my pension, and am trying to build my Stampin' business more, plus I'm now madly trying to do all those other things we all tell ourselves we'll do when we retire (y'know, watch all those videos you taped, read all those books you bought, try all those recipes you've been cutting out since high school, scrap 40 years worth of photos, make quilts from a lifetime's stash of fabric, etc. etc.!) Trouble is, there's just not enough time in the day...
Speaking of time, and since we just went back to Daylight Savings Time (yay!), I was thinking of clocks -- and how I enjoy creating decorative clocks with Stampin' Up materials! Here's how:
Buy a relatively inexpensive clock (usually can find very plain ones at Wal-Mart and Target for under $4.00).
Use a dull knife (I actually use my "baby knife" from my childhood flatware set!) to gently pry off the clear cover from the face of the clock.
Next, gently lift the hands to remove them, after taking careful note of the order in which they will be put back on...
At this point, I lift out the paper on which the numbers are printed and use it as a template to trace and then cut out either a circular piece of cardstock or DSP. Be sure to also trace around and cut out the little notched-up part that helps you orient the paper when you put it back in. Also trace and cut out the little circle in the middle where the hands will be attached. Here is where we need that long-reach circle punch back, but I'm getting better at just using my snips to cut a nice little circle!
On the printed clock face, I then draw lines with a heavy marker from 12 to 6, 1 to 7, 2 to 8, etc., (kind of making the clock face look like a pie cut into pieces), and then use those lines to make pencil "tick marks" on my cardstock or DSP circle. (Save this to use on future clocks...) This will help you know where to put the numbers, if you're using them, or to stamp small designs (like the ladybug stamp from "Garden Whimsy") in place of numbers.
Some of our smaller number stamps sets, like "Short Order Numbers" or "Best Friend Numbers" can be used, or you can get metal numbers at your local craft store, or maybe even stick-on numbers at the Home Depot-type store, or rub-on numbers by some other brand. I tend not to use numbers at all, which I realize is a problem for the younger folks who are more used to digital and don't have the same intuitive understanding by just looking at clock hands that we old geezers do...!!!
Next, just decorate your cardstock or DSP circle however you wish! I like using the "Garden Whimsy" set because it has the saying "The time to be happy is now...", and I've also used the big stamp from "It's Your Birthday" that says "Life is not a matter of counting years; it's a matter of making years count" (stamping the first 2 lines above the center hole and the last 2 below).
I am showing you four different ones I've made,
two using stamped cardstock and two using DSP with some stamping as well. Look through your DSP for pretty swirly things and "fussy-cut" your base circle to make the most of the design. Be imaginative and have fun!
My experience so far has been you don't want to get real elaborate with layers or brads, etc., because once re-installed, the clock hands may "hang up" on anything too dimensional.
Once you have the design you like, lay the decorated circle down on the clock base and re-insert the hands mechanism in the same order in which you took it out. Use that notch to orient the paper properly, and then gently ease the plastic cover back over the entire clock face, letting the notch on the cover settle into the opening on the base.
You can use Sticky Strip to lay some ribbon (the double-stitched works nicely) around the outer perimeter of the clock, with a bow somewhere if you'd like.
Put a AA battery in your clock and let the time begin! I actually usually keep an eye on my clocks for at least 12 hours. Once in a while, the hands spazz out and stop, or the minute hand always stops on the 7 or something -- just take the clear face back off and re-set the hands and try again. I want to know if there's going to be a problem before I give the clock to someone as a gift.
Last fall, before the holidays, I made quite a lot of clocks and had my little clock "nursery", where they were being watched over to make sure they were all okay. But I'll tell ya', the ticking in my craft room was really starting to get to me...
Well, I hope you'll try making a clock, and if you do, post a pic to show the rest of us. You might want to incorporate a clock into an upcoming Stamp Camp or as a special project at a Hostess Appreciation Event. I'd think you'all might come up with some nifty new approaches to this if you start experimenting with it, so be sure to share!
Buy a relatively inexpensive clock (usually can find very plain ones at Wal-Mart and Target for under $4.00).
Use a dull knife (I actually use my "baby knife" from my childhood flatware set!) to gently pry off the clear cover from the face of the clock.
Next, gently lift the hands to remove them, after taking careful note of the order in which they will be put back on...
At this point, I lift out the paper on which the numbers are printed and use it as a template to trace and then cut out either a circular piece of cardstock or DSP. Be sure to also trace around and cut out the little notched-up part that helps you orient the paper when you put it back in. Also trace and cut out the little circle in the middle where the hands will be attached. Here is where we need that long-reach circle punch back, but I'm getting better at just using my snips to cut a nice little circle!
On the printed clock face, I then draw lines with a heavy marker from 12 to 6, 1 to 7, 2 to 8, etc., (kind of making the clock face look like a pie cut into pieces), and then use those lines to make pencil "tick marks" on my cardstock or DSP circle. (Save this to use on future clocks...) This will help you know where to put the numbers, if you're using them, or to stamp small designs (like the ladybug stamp from "Garden Whimsy") in place of numbers.
Some of our smaller number stamps sets, like "Short Order Numbers" or "Best Friend Numbers" can be used, or you can get metal numbers at your local craft store, or maybe even stick-on numbers at the Home Depot-type store, or rub-on numbers by some other brand. I tend not to use numbers at all, which I realize is a problem for the younger folks who are more used to digital and don't have the same intuitive understanding by just looking at clock hands that we old geezers do...!!!
Next, just decorate your cardstock or DSP circle however you wish! I like using the "Garden Whimsy" set because it has the saying "The time to be happy is now...", and I've also used the big stamp from "It's Your Birthday" that says "Life is not a matter of counting years; it's a matter of making years count" (stamping the first 2 lines above the center hole and the last 2 below).
I am showing you four different ones I've made,
two using stamped cardstock and two using DSP with some stamping as well. Look through your DSP for pretty swirly things and "fussy-cut" your base circle to make the most of the design. Be imaginative and have fun!
My experience so far has been you don't want to get real elaborate with layers or brads, etc., because once re-installed, the clock hands may "hang up" on anything too dimensional.
Once you have the design you like, lay the decorated circle down on the clock base and re-insert the hands mechanism in the same order in which you took it out. Use that notch to orient the paper properly, and then gently ease the plastic cover back over the entire clock face, letting the notch on the cover settle into the opening on the base.
You can use Sticky Strip to lay some ribbon (the double-stitched works nicely) around the outer perimeter of the clock, with a bow somewhere if you'd like.
Put a AA battery in your clock and let the time begin! I actually usually keep an eye on my clocks for at least 12 hours. Once in a while, the hands spazz out and stop, or the minute hand always stops on the 7 or something -- just take the clear face back off and re-set the hands and try again. I want to know if there's going to be a problem before I give the clock to someone as a gift.
Last fall, before the holidays, I made quite a lot of clocks and had my little clock "nursery", where they were being watched over to make sure they were all okay. But I'll tell ya', the ticking in my craft room was really starting to get to me...
Well, I hope you'll try making a clock, and if you do, post a pic to show the rest of us. You might want to incorporate a clock into an upcoming Stamp Camp or as a special project at a Hostess Appreciation Event. I'd think you'all might come up with some nifty new approaches to this if you start experimenting with it, so be sure to share!
Thank you so much for sharing, Christine. I cannot wait to try one of these. You're creations are amazing.
Have a great weekend.
Alicia :)
3 comments:
christine your clocks are awesome. they sound lobr intensive and you have alot of patience. love the fact that you use images instead of numbers on them. very cute.
thanx for sharing ~ carol.
OMG! I love this project. All of your clocks are amazing. I will have to think awhile before I try this one. Wow. EdieB
Well Christine, I have a clock hanging in my office that I have been dreaming about doing with this technique, I just can't decide which stamp set to use! I am so lucky to be able to get together with you to do this project!
Thanks for sharing - Betty M.
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