Tuesday 5 November 2013

Time for a Clock Tutorial (and a FREEBIE Template)

I have some really exciting news that I've been bursting to share, because today is the first of 2 spots I have been offered by Christy, owner of Tiddly Inks, to be a guest designer.  I love her images, especially the girlie ones so this is a real treat.  Thank you Christy!.  Mwah!

And as a special bonus for me, the theme this week at Tiddly Inks Challenges is Anything Goes (*yay*)!  So free rein on creativity.

The open theme gave me a chance to make a clock which I've been wanting to try every since seeing some amazing ones on Clarissa & Andrea's blog.  The trouble was that I couldn't find a template or tutorial, so I've had to start from scratch.

I was really pleased with how the finished clock turned out and seriously considered keeping it.  But I thought that it might be better off with someone a little younger, (although I'm not sure I'll ever grow out of pink and girlie stuff).

Well it's now found a new home with Amelie, who's the daughter of a friend at work.  Her dad told me that she liked pink and girlie stuff, and she wrote me a really sweet 'thank you' note when he took it home.  Plus I got a box of chocs in return which seemed like a fair trade for a chocoholic like me.  :0)

So, I'm going to share with you how I did it, so that you can benefit from my 'trial and error' workings just in case you like what I've done, and want try making your own.

Firstly I'll show you my attempt, and then I'll try to explain how I did it.




Firstly I designed the whole layout in Word.  This was partly so that I could print it out at various stages and review the size and shapes etc, but also then so that I could print out the final version to use as a cutting template.

I started with 3 circles of increasing size, each inside the other.  This would create the main clock face, a layer to surround the face, and then the actual outer clock frame.   

I added the 4 main clock face numbers, 3, 6, 9 and 12, in fancy fonts, and marked the centre of the circles.  This is where I would eventually make the hole for inserting the clock mechanism at the end of the project.



I then added a shape to create the base, I think this is called a trapezium, kind of like a squashed rectangle.  I then added a smaller one inside it.  


I edited out the bottom line that joined the two 'legs' of the base together and placed the 'legs' underneath my circles ensuring the properties of the drawing objects were set to be 'behind' the circles, so that the top of the legs were not showing through.



I then wanted something to make the knobbly bits on the top of the clock.  I started looking out for a doggie bone shape as I thought it looked like the ends of a bone, but after some searching I ended up with the top of a tag shape.  I edited out the top of the tags, and angled the tag tops and put them 'behind' the circles.  I measured them to ensure they were level on either side of the clock.





Finally I added my chosen images, and printed it all out on white card about 16cm in size so that it fitted onto a standard piece of A4 card.

I then carefully cut out the innermost circle with my craft knife and coloured in my image to create the main clock face.  I stamped around the edge with mini flowers, butterflies and a bird, drew some grass, chalked in some clouds, and added some liquid pearls and glossy accents.  

I had to be sure not to decorate the clock face with anything that is too 3D as otherwise the hands of the clock would not move around freely when I assembled the clock.

I used the remaining outer part of my printed design as a template to cut out the fancy clock shape from cream mount board with a sharp craft knife. (The knobbly bits were not easy and they ended up getting simplified when I actually cut them out).

I inked around the edge of my mount board shape with brown copic and stamped a few extra flowers around the edges.

I glued my image panel onto a brown circle layer slightly larger than the clock face, and stuck it down onto the mount board.  I then put some stickles around the edge of one of the layers.

I cut a small hole on the middle marker point and inserted the clock mechanism.  I then added some flowers, twine, button and pearls to decorate around the edge, ensuring these were all outside the area where the clock hands would turn so they didn't get caught on anything.

So, here's my final project again, all assembled with the clock mechanism and decorations.  





Below is the final template design (minus the characters!). You're free to download it if you like it; click on the image for a larger version, then right click and 'save picture as' to save to your own computer. 


My Freebie conditions are as follows:
  1. Please follow me in your chosen blog reader, then you will see more freebies as they are posted,
  2. Please leave a comment on this post to let me know you've downloaded it,
  3. Please don't share my freebies directly with other people, but please send them over to collect it themselves, and
  4. Please give me credit when you use any of my freebies by linking back to my blog if you post any finished creations on your own blog.
I also adore seeing your creations using my digi sentiments, so I'd really love you to send me an email with links to your creations so I can pop over for a peek!





Well, that's it; my first Tiddly Inks Design Team creation.  I hope you like my clock, and will join in with the easy peasy challenge this fortnight.  I'll see you again for my second (and final) guest designer spot sometime next month.



See my cards available to buy on eBay
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Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.
Annette
xx

30 comments:

Christine L said...

Wowww - firstly congrats on your GDT spot with Tiddlyinks.... such gorgeous images - how fab to get to play with them!

And then another WOWWW at this superb clock!! Methinks you're wasted working with figures in your day job..... you have such imagination and talent!

Big hugs
Christine x

Chrissy said...

Congrats on your GDT Annette,and the perfect project to start off with.Just wonderful.Fabulous colouring and images and love the flowers...just stunning.

Luv CHRISSYxx

Crafty Mamma Mia said...

Congratulations on your GDT spot - very well deserved! LOVE this project and Amelie is one lucky girl to have this beautiful clock in her room ... it's gorgeous!
Helen x

Anonymous said...

A very well deserved DT position and an AWESOME tutorial and brilliant clock Annette you as so productive and clever!! LOVE Love love it!! well done! and thank you for sharing your freebie too! hugs me xx

Sue said...

Congrats on your new DT position.I love your clock and tutorial.

Dena said...

GORGEOUS!!! You have just given me a great idea! I'll let you know if I get around to doing it! This is soooooo amazing!! You are so sweet to share your template with us!
Hugs, Dena

3treescreations@gmail.com said...

AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!!

Deanne :)

Sarah said...

Holy Mackerel!! Girl you are a genius!! Such an exquisite project Annette and the new owner is a very lucky girl to have an "Netty original" xx

Sarah said...

OOh and congrats by the way!! xx

Carol S. said...

Well done Annette, great clock. I love making clocks too. Haven't tried a standing one, just hanging ones. Very pretty and girlie and I am sure the little girl will love it. Hugs, Carol S.xx

Have A Scrap Happy Day said...

OMGosh, this is totally out-of-this-world FABULOUS. What a masterpiece project. LOVE, LOVE, LOOOOVE IT.

Tracey T said...

What a brilliant project! I wouldn't have known where to start but this tutorial is so clear and your finished clock is just beautiful. Thank you! Hugs, Tracey x

Anonymous said...

wow Annette this is fabulous, my clock bits are sat looking at me but this has inspired me to move on them a little quicker, it is gorgeous thank you for mentioning the Hobby House item and joining in with the challenge
hugs Kate xx

Wishcraft said...

Oh WOW Annette, what an amazing creation! Aren't you clever?! Gorgeous hun... Huge congrats on your GDT spot too :o) Hugs, Lisa x

Gail said...

Absolutely beautiful. Wonderful, outstanding...this is the cutest project I've ever seen and I love it. GREAT image, too!!! Thanks for joining us at Sweet Stampin' this week and hope to see more of your art work. --Gail, SS DT

Edwina said...

Like your clock, I love it!!! It is so beautiful. I bet that girl was ecstatic. I would have loved something like this as a child. Thank you so much for sharing it. Edwina Brown

Unknown said...

Wow! This is beautiful, and has inspired me to try one myself. Congrats also on your gds.
Kind regards Jo x

debby4000 said...

Love your gorgeous clock it brilliant and so pretty.

Thank you for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.

luv
Debby

Mojca said...

Waw this is such a gorgeous project Annette!!! I would love to try it out, but I just don't feel so confident yet :) Also I have no idea where to by the system for the clock :)))) Did you use cardboard or normal 300g paper? Oh and congrats on DT!!! Hugs! MOjca

Rachael said...

Congrats on the DT at Tiddlyinks! I love this idea for a clock. I'm just doing a blog hop for Christmas pressie ideas - and this would be perfect for nieces and nephews! What a great idea and thanks so much for sharing, beautiful design!

Pami said...

Wow this is beautiful Annette! I love all the detail! Thanks for sharing with us at the Hobby House this month and good luck! Pami x

Unknown said...

WOW!!!!!!!!!! This is an amazing creation!! Absolutely incredible right down to the tiniest detail!! I'm in awe!!! Amazing!!

- Susan
{Scrap A Thousand Words}

ps... There is a DT Call over at Open-Minded Crafting Fun Challenges

Inkypinkydelights said...

WOW this is amazing! Thank you for sharing your lovely creation at Sweet Stampin' and good luck with the Challenge. Judy DT

Rachel said...

Wow Annette, what a wonderful project! I love it!

Thank you for sharing with us at Sweet Stampin this week, Wedgie xxx

Wendy Nicola Jackson said...

Stunning Annette! What an amazing creation!! I'm daunted just looking at all the different components. You really are amazing my crafty pal. Love the layers of your actual picture too. So much going there. Fabulous! Hugs, Wends x

Cards by Sharyn said...

This is really beautiful. Thank you for the template.

Clarissa Schupp said...

What a fantastic tut, honey :)
I´ll come back and try it, too.
XOXO Clarissa
PS: Thank you for knowing us <3

Larissa said...

Woohoo congrats on the GDT spot! :) Great to be on another team.

Your clock is really amazing, LOVE LOVE LOVE it. So fabulous work and so clever. Love the border with the flowers and your colouring is perfect.

-xxxx-
Larissa

Regina said...

Thank you for explaining the construction so nicely and thanks for the freebie!

sending greetings Regina

Anet's Crafting said...

Your clock is gorgeous, thank you for sharing your good instruction on using the template and also for sharing the template. I look forward using this clock template and will add a link back to our post. Thank you Anet x