Cords Wall Clock
This is one of the nylon cords clocks I'm making for my Etsy shop.
Although it takes quite some time to make it, the technique I used is very simple so I decided to show you how to do it. You can make all the shapes you want with this technique and create many different things!
All you need is cords. I used nylon cords because I have them in many different colors and it's fun to use them, but any kind of cord will work fine for this!
Enjoy! :)
Although it takes quite some time to make it, the technique I used is very simple so I decided to show you how to do it. You can make all the shapes you want with this technique and create many different things!
All you need is cords. I used nylon cords because I have them in many different colors and it's fun to use them, but any kind of cord will work fine for this!
Enjoy! :)
What You Need
- light blue paracord
- blue card stock
- cardboard
- white paper
- clock mechanism
- scissors
- hot glue - stick glue/white glue
- cutter
- ruler
- pencil
Make the Coils
The main part of this project is making the cords coils.
Start rolling the tip of the nylon cord keeping it firm with a little bit of hot glue.
The beginning is a little harder because the cord tends to open easily so keep it tight with your fingers. Be careful because the hot glue will probably end up on the sides of the roll too and yes, it's VERY hot!
Make about 9 rounds then cut the cord and glue its tip to the coil.
Now make other 8 smaller coils. For these, make about 4/5 rounds.
As you make these, place them around the biggest coil to make sure that they are the right size to complete the circumference of the circle, as if it was a flower with petals.
IMPORTANT: try not to put too much glue while you are working on your coils because, like I said before, hot glue tends to slip on the sides and it's not very nice to see at the end. The thinner the layer of glue is, the better the coil will look.
I also noticed that it's much better to use light colors cords for this technique because the glue that comes up on the surface will be less visible. It's much more visible on dark colors.
Start rolling the tip of the nylon cord keeping it firm with a little bit of hot glue.
The beginning is a little harder because the cord tends to open easily so keep it tight with your fingers. Be careful because the hot glue will probably end up on the sides of the roll too and yes, it's VERY hot!
Make about 9 rounds then cut the cord and glue its tip to the coil.
Now make other 8 smaller coils. For these, make about 4/5 rounds.
As you make these, place them around the biggest coil to make sure that they are the right size to complete the circumference of the circle, as if it was a flower with petals.
IMPORTANT: try not to put too much glue while you are working on your coils because, like I said before, hot glue tends to slip on the sides and it's not very nice to see at the end. The thinner the layer of glue is, the better the coil will look.
I also noticed that it's much better to use light colors cords for this technique because the glue that comes up on the surface will be less visible. It's much more visible on dark colors.
Create a Flower
Yes, with all the coils you've made you have to create a flower :)
Simply glue all the small coils around the biggest coil with a little bit of hot glue.
It's always very important to make the glue less visible by spreading a very thin layer where needed.
Make sure to put some glue where the petals touch each other too.
Simply glue all the small coils around the biggest coil with a little bit of hot glue.
It's always very important to make the glue less visible by spreading a very thin layer where needed.
Make sure to put some glue where the petals touch each other too.
Make the Leaves
I'm not really sure how to call these, but let's say that they are leaves :D
You have to fold the cord to create a "drop" shape.
Glue the tip and cut the cord (see pictures).
The drop has to be about 2cm long (0.78 inches).
Make 3 drops like that, then join their tips together securing with glue.
Ok, this is the first group of leaves :D
Make other 3 for a total of 4.
You have to fold the cord to create a "drop" shape.
Glue the tip and cut the cord (see pictures).
The drop has to be about 2cm long (0.78 inches).
Make 3 drops like that, then join their tips together securing with glue.
Ok, this is the first group of leaves :D
Make other 3 for a total of 4.
Glue the Leaves to the Flower
Now you have to glue each group of leaves every two coils.
This way your flower will become square shaped.
This is the first piece for your clock.
Make other 3 identical pieces.
This way your flower will become square shaped.
This is the first piece for your clock.
Make other 3 identical pieces.
Compose the Clock
Now that you have all the 4 pieces ready, you need to glue them next to each other to create a bigger square: 2 pieces on the left and 2 on the right.
Finally, create a circle with a piece of cord. It needs a hole in the middle that is big enough for the clock mechanism to fit.
Glue that little circle in the center of the clock.
The first part is done!
Finally, create a circle with a piece of cord. It needs a hole in the middle that is big enough for the clock mechanism to fit.
Glue that little circle in the center of the clock.
The first part is done!
Make the Base
For the base, you need to cut a piece of cardboard that is as big as the cord part you've made.
Mine turned out 20,5cm long (8 inches) so I cut a cardboard square 20,5 x 20,5 (8x8 inches).
Cut a hole in the middle so that the clock mechanism will be able to pass through it later.
We are going to cover the cardboard with card stock now, so take your piece of blue card stock and cut a square out of it that is a little bigger than the cardboard square. I made it 1,5cm (0.59 inches) bigger on each side.
Once you have your blue square ready, glue the cardboard square in the middle of it and cut a hole in the blue card stock too.
Mine turned out 20,5cm long (8 inches) so I cut a cardboard square 20,5 x 20,5 (8x8 inches).
Cut a hole in the middle so that the clock mechanism will be able to pass through it later.
We are going to cover the cardboard with card stock now, so take your piece of blue card stock and cut a square out of it that is a little bigger than the cardboard square. I made it 1,5cm (0.59 inches) bigger on each side.
Once you have your blue square ready, glue the cardboard square in the middle of it and cut a hole in the blue card stock too.
Hide the Cardboard
I decided to cover the visible side of the cardboard with white paper to make it look better.
To do this, simply cut a square out of paper, as big as the cardboard square, and glue it on the cardboard with stick glue.
To do this, simply cut a square out of paper, as big as the cardboard square, and glue it on the cardboard with stick glue.
Cut a Frame
This is the part where you have to try to be as accurate as possible.
The blue frame that you see all around has to be folded on the cardboard. But before doing this, you need to cut its angles otherwise the cardstock will overlap.
So trace a line on each angle as if you had to draw a triangle, but leave about 2/3mm (0.07 inches) free - depending how thick the cardboard is - from the cardboard angle. Look at the photos to understand what I mean.
Cut out those triangles, then draw and cut a much smaller triangle right where you left the free space from the angle.
This is so hard to explain, I'm sure photos will explain much better than words.
The blue frame that you see all around has to be folded on the cardboard. But before doing this, you need to cut its angles otherwise the cardstock will overlap.
So trace a line on each angle as if you had to draw a triangle, but leave about 2/3mm (0.07 inches) free - depending how thick the cardboard is - from the cardboard angle. Look at the photos to understand what I mean.
Cut out those triangles, then draw and cut a much smaller triangle right where you left the free space from the angle.
This is so hard to explain, I'm sure photos will explain much better than words.
Fold the Frame
The frame is ready and you can fold it very carefully on the cardboard.
Glue each blue side to the cardboard with hot glue or white glue.
In case you use white glue, you may need to keep the parts together with some clips until the glue is dry, to make sure that they will stay firm.
Glue each blue side to the cardboard with hot glue or white glue.
In case you use white glue, you may need to keep the parts together with some clips until the glue is dry, to make sure that they will stay firm.
Make the Last Hole...
If you didn't do this before, make one last hole on the white paper, right where the other one is.
Paper is not as hard as cardboard so I passed a round pencil through it to make the hole.
Paper is not as hard as cardboard so I passed a round pencil through it to make the hole.
Join the Two Parts
Finally, glue the cord part on the blue side of the square with hot glue, making sure that it's well centered.
Insert the clock mechanism from the back and add the hands.
I decided not to keep it as a square and put its angles at the top/bottom, left/right. But you can hang it keeping the right square shape and it will be just fine!
You are done! The clock is ready to be hung on your wall :)
Insert the clock mechanism from the back and add the hands.
I decided not to keep it as a square and put its angles at the top/bottom, left/right. But you can hang it keeping the right square shape and it will be just fine!
You are done! The clock is ready to be hung on your wall :)