Making a CD clock
Technique Tuesday!
This is one of the easiest projects to do, but with such satisfying results! I started by buying a premade clock works with a swinging pendulum. This one was ready to hang on the wall just as is. The other main thing you will need is an old CD. I used one of the vast collection of AOL CDs that I still have hanging around the studio. One down, 99 more to go!
Materials and tools:
CD
Clock works and battery
Gesso
Acrylic paints (crimson, burgundy, citrine, purple/gold halo)
Printouts on vellum
Acrylic medium or glueSponges
Small brushes
Heat gun
Scissors
Waxed paper
- Sponge gesso all over the front of the CD. Dry thoroughly, and use additional coats of gesso until it’s completely covered.
- Sponge on the acrylic paints of your choice. I listed mine, but experiment with your own color scheme. Paint the clock hands and the pendulum to match.
- Print out images that you’d like to use on your clock. I printed out cave painting images onto vellum so that the background would merge somewhat with the clock face. You can use any images that suit you. Use a bit of acrylic medium or glue to adhere them in place.
- Give the whole clock face a sealing coat of acrylic medium.
- When the paint is thoroughly dry, attach the clock works through the CD hole. Adhere the CD to the plastic case of the works if the hole is too big. Sometimes you’ll find that the hands of the works are too long - just snip them off to the right length.
- When the glue has completely dried, insert a battery and hang your clock.



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POSTED IN: Collage, Mixed Media, Technique Tuesday, Tutorials & Techniques

20 opinions for Making a CD clock
Thrifty Karen
Apr 8, 2008 at 10:01 am
I’m glad you’ve found a use for those annoying cds. :)
Cyndi
Apr 8, 2008 at 10:55 am
LOL!! I’ve also given some to a friend who makes fishing lures from them… ;-)
Cambria
Apr 9, 2008 at 12:08 am
Wow!! I love your blog so much. Really great art and with directios too. I’m 12 and I am an artist too. I just started a site on ETSY and a blog about my work. I’ll be back for more inspiration. Cambria
Cyndi
Apr 9, 2008 at 8:37 am
Cambria, I am delighted to have you join us here! :-)
Joy
Apr 9, 2008 at 9:12 am
Thank you for that wonderful idea. I’m enjoying your website!
Cyndi
Apr 9, 2008 at 9:32 am
Thank you, Joy! I’m glad you’ve found it helpful :-)
b5media - b5media Lifestyles Deliciously Random
Apr 9, 2008 at 10:53 pm
[…] Layers Upon Layers is providing a creative use for all those annoying AOL CD’s we all get in the mail. […]
Myrtle
Apr 10, 2008 at 7:07 am
I got a question, You said you have a friend that uses the cds to make fishing lures. Any idea how he does this. Why my husband hobby is making fishing lures also (keeps him busy, thank goodness) and I was just wondering. Thanks for your work here
I’ll be back. Love in Jesus’ Love Myrtle
Cyndi
Apr 10, 2008 at 8:50 am
He just uses them for the flashy dangly parts! Heat them before you cut them to prevent shattering, and drill or poke a hole through the top :-)
Myrtle
Apr 10, 2008 at 10:29 am
Thank you so much (and so fast) this is my husband Harold e-mail address
maybe they could hook up, hey thats
pretty good hook up. Oh well that would be me. Thank you again!
hbaitfishd@aol.com
Debe Friedhoff’s CD clock!
Apr 11, 2008 at 8:17 am
[…] Tuesday, I posted directions for making CD clocks, and Debe Friedhoff told me about one that she had made. Debe has graciously allowed me to share […]
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Apr 11, 2008 at 10:03 am
[…] Layers Upon Layers A clock junkie shares what to do with those annoying AOL CDs. […]
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Apr 11, 2008 at 10:16 am
[…] Layers Upon Layers A clock-junkie shares what to do with those annoying AOL cds… […]
Eileen
Apr 11, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Cyndi,
This is a very cool idea and, once again, you make it sound so simple! This is definitely going on my to-do list.
Cyndi
Apr 11, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Thanks Eileen! I want to see what you make :-D
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Apr 11, 2008 at 5:15 pm
[…] Layers Upon Layers is providing a creative use for all those annoying AOL CD’s we all get in the mail. […]
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Apr 11, 2008 at 7:54 pm
[…] Layers Upon Layers A clock-junkie shares what to do with those annoying AOL cds… […]
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Apr 13, 2008 at 3:10 am
[…] From Layers Upon Layers - Making a CD Clock […]
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Apr 13, 2008 at 8:06 am
[…] Cyndi’s Layers Upon Layers, a clock-junkie shares what to do with those annoying AOL cds. Ah! This sounds like an intriguing […]
Milat öncesi Saati | BirHobi.com
Nov 21, 2008 at 11:44 am
[…] Burada günümüzün teknolojisi Cdlerle milat öncesi duvar çizimleri temalı duvar saati yapmışlar siteyi ziyaret ederek yapılışı hakkında fikir edinebilirsiniz. […]
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