CD’s make the perfect foundation for a fun little clock. They accommodate battery operated clock works that are readily available in craft and hobby stores. Using your scrapping papers and embellishments, it’s possible to create a cute yet functional clock to match any décor.

Materials needed:
A new or used CD
Chipboard or cardboard circle approximately 3 ½” in diameter.
Patterned paper of your choice
Rub-ons or stickers for the numbers
Clock works, purchase the smallest stem length, ¼”
Ribbons
Foam adhesive pop-dots
Embellishments of your choice

Cut a circle of patterned paper to cover your CD. If you are using cardstock weight paper, you can work directly on that. If you are using text weight paper, I recommend you cut a cardstock template and attach your patterned paper circle to that. You will not adhere this paper to the CD until later on in the project. If you want to use brads or other elements that go through the paper, you will apply them before putting the clock face onto the CD.

Your chipboard circle should be about 1” in diameter less than the CD. You can cut one from chipboard or use a drink coaster that you get at a restaurant. Cut a circle of patterned paper that will cover the chipboard circle.

Cut or punch another, smaller circle of patterned paper for the center circle (this is optional).

You should now have:
a circle of patterned paper the size of the CD
a chipboard circle approximately 1” less in diameter than the CD
a circle of patterned paper to cover the chipboard circle
a smaller circle of coordinating patterned paper for the center element (optional)

Measure the diameter of your clock works stem. Cut a hole in the center of your all of the above papers to that dimension. Centering is crucial, since this will determine the placement of your clock hands. This hole will be smaller than the hole in the center of your CD, so do not use that as your guide. You can, however, use it to locate the center of your paper circle. To cut out the hole, you can use an X-acto knife or small scissors. Or, what I do, is use my anywhere hole punch and punch a series of holes until I have the right size opening. Once you have the holes cut, check them by inserting your clock mechanism. It should fit snugly but not be too tight. This is also a good time to make sure everything is centered.

Ink the edges of the patterned paper at this time, if desired.

If you want to tie ribbons through the edge of your CD, you will need to make those holes now. I used a very sturdy hole punch. You can also drill them with a small drill.

When completed, you should have something that looks like this:

If you wish to put any brads or other embellishments on the background paper, do that at this time. Remember that only about ½ inch around the outside of this paper will show once the clock face is attached. Do not apply the rub-ons yet. Just anything that needs to go through the paper.

Adhere the large circle to the CD and punch the edge holes if you have made any.

Adhere the two smaller circles to the chipboard.

Your project should now look like this:

The clock mechanisms that you can buy have varying lengths of the stem. For this paper project we are using the smallest – ¼”. But we still need to build up the center thickness of the clock layers so that the mechanism will attach properly. To do this, you will apply foam pop-dots to the back of the chipboard circle. And then adhere the chipboard circle to the center of the covered CD.

Now it’s time for the embellishing. Here you have many choices. For my clock, I added only the numbers 3, 6, 9, and 12. I used small decorative circles with rhinestones to mark the other numbers. You could use all numbers. You could use rub-ons, stickers, or stamps. I also added the words “Take Time” as embellishment around the outer circle. You can put anything out there you want. You could add a few small flowers or a whole ring of flowers. This is YOUR clock.

Follow the instructions on the package for assembling the clock works.

Here is my final project. I love how it looks on this small brass plate stand.

Have fun with this. I look forward to seeing your creations in the gallery!

ScrapFriends articles may not be copied, in part or in full, without the permission of the original author. Links are always welcome.

See more of Chris's work in our gallery.