Part 2 Cuckoo Clock Tutorial

Last week I started a cuckoo clock tutorial to show you how you can assemble this project as a decorative clock. This week I'm going to share one way you can make it into a working clock. You will want to follow the original assembly instructions except for a few optional parts that you will use instead. I also have a second cuckoo clock at this link here: http://samanthaleewalker.blogspot.com/2015/03/paper-cuckoo-clock-assembly-tutorial.html

and now...you can also create an embroidered 3D cuckoo clock out of fabric.

Details for how you can get this embroidery file and project free, can be found here:

http://samanthaleewalker.blogspot.com/2015/07/new-janome-free-embroidery-project.html

You will need one of my cuckoo clock cutting files available at  the Silhouette design store.You will also need a clock kit. Clock kits come as either hands, with the mechanical workings behind a face that you create, or as an entire kit with the face. We will be using a face kit with a round back. Some clock kit backs come square. You may have to adapt the file slightly depending upon the clock kit you get. Pay attention to the clock kit size you choose. 

So let's start there...chances are, your clock kit may not be exactly the same as the one I used. You will be able to adapt this file to accommodate a clock that is within 1 inch of the recommended size.

Even kits declared as 3-inch clock kits can vary amongst themselves. But don't be discouraged, a few minor tweaks will make this file fit your clock. My original cuckoo clock file comes with pieces that will accommodate a 2 3/4 inch clock. I have a second cuckoo clock that will fit a 3 inch clock. 

Open your file in your cutting software. For Silhouette users, your file will come with all the pieces opened at the same time...and look something like this:

For Cricut Explore Design Space users, you will open several separate files, that will look something like this:

Your file is grouped by colors that will also fit within the 12x12 cutting area. So ungroup the entire file once, then you can move each color grouping into the live cutting area as you work through your different color papers on your cutting mat. 

Let's get started!
Before we cut the pieces, you will want to measure your clock. Some clock kits will come with an instruction sheet that will give you these measurements, but you may want to double check. Most circular clock kits come in two pieces that can screw together: a clock face, that screws to a backing. If these two pieces are not already unscrewed then go ahead and do so.

Now stick with me for this step, as it will sound confusing...refer to pictures 2 and 3 in the assembly pictures below.

Turn the clock front over to the back side, now measure the back of the clock front piece. Write it down.
Then measure the front of the clock back piece. Write it down.
These two measurements may be the same, or different.

The front of the clock should have a beveled ring that will cover the edge of your circle opening to cover any gaps. It is usually about 1/4 inch larger than the measurement you took from the back of the clock front piece which gives you a slight margin of error.

Now go to your cutting software and select the cuckoo clock front that has a circle hole in it. It is important to note, this circle may not be the same size as the clock kit you are using. This is why we measured our clock kit pieces. If the back of your clock front is a different size than the circle in the file, you will need to change this to your clock's size.

To do this, you will need to ungroup this part of the file. By selecting the pieces, then going to object ungroup. Ungroup once, only so that the dashed lines separate from the house piece.

Then under Object select "release compound path."

Then select the circle, and change the measurement of your circle by typing in the size of the back of your clock front plus 1/16 of an inch. (.0625)

 That's all you need to do to the front...it will now cut with the proper sized hole.

 Next, you will find the strip and donut pieces. In some of my clock kits, the donut has one flat end so it doesn't interfere with the window.

You will also ungroup, this file, then release the compound path of the donut piece, and change the inner circle to 1/16 more than the measurement of the front of your back piece.

Then you will select the strip that has the teeth on it. If you had to make a larger circle, stretch it out an inch to make sure that it will go all the way around your circle with a little overlap so you can glue it together.

Alright...now you are ready to cut. Select your colors, and make sure to cut out all the pieces.

1. find your front piece, your strip with teeth, and your donut piece.
2.-3. (this was for the measuring that you already did.)
4. Check that your back piece fits in the donut shape. Center it in the donut. Take your strip with teeth, and curve it around the clock backing. The ends should overlap.
5-6. You will stick this through the donut so the teeth end up on one side and the strip part on the other.
7. See the teeth are on one side.
8. Glue the two ends together now.
9. Apply glue to the teeth.
10. Press the teeth down.
11. Smooth them down from the opposite side.
12. Now your clock backing should fit snugly.

13. Check the circle opening on the front of the cuckoo clock, it should fit your clock face. If it is too small...make an adjustment with an X-acto knife. It doesn't have to be perfect as the beveled edge will cover any imperfections. If it is too big (but not by much), make a donut shape that you can glue behind the cuckoo clock front that has a slightly smaller opening.
14. Glue the donut assembly to the back of the cuckoo clock front.
15. Make sure that it is centered.
16. It should look like this now.
17. Fit the front of your clock into the opening.
18. Turn it over, place the backing on.
19. Screw the two pieces together.
20. Ta Da! Now you may wish when you complete yours to add all your details to your clock front before messing with the clock kit. It may be easier that way. I did it backwards as I wanted to show you mainly how to use the clock kit in this tutorial.

Now below I'm showing you that some of the cuckoo clock cut files may come with a different looking donut that has a flat end. It will work the same way. I'm including these photos so you don't panic if you find that yours looks different. The flat edge is there so that it doesn't interfere with the window at the top of the cuckoo clock house.

Now...most important part...if you make any of my cuckoo clocks...I want to see them! You can share  them to one of my Facebook pages. My design page

SVG or Silhouette Cuckoo Clock Assembly Instructions

This week I've been working on a big project...

A really...REALLY...BIG Project

I didn't realize how big, until I got into it. 

For the longest time, I've been wanting to make some of my cuckoo-clock paper piecing designs into 3-D actual working clocks. I worked up a rather large file with options to make the cuckoo clock with or without the clock face insert. I even figured out a way you can buy the clock hands mechanism and use the cuttable clock face that comes with this download. 

I'll have to split my tutorial into a two-day post...but I think it will be worth the "lengthiness" so I can really show you how to do this. 

You will find part 2 at this link here: http://samanthaleewalker.blogspot.com/2015/03/part-2-cuckoo-clock-tutorial.html

and a second cuckoo clock at this link here: http://samanthaleewalker.blogspot.com/2015/03/paper-cuckoo-clock-assembly-tutorial.html

and now...you can also create an embroidered 3D cuckoo clock out of fabric. Details for how you can get this embroidery file and project free, can be found here: http://samanthaleewalker.blogspot.com/2015/07/new-janome-free-embroidery-project.html

First off...you need a cutting machine:
Silhouette Cameo or Portrait electronic cutting machine http://www.silhouettedesignstore.com/?page=view-shape&id=76562

To make the cuckoo clock, you will need one of these cutting files:
.studio or .svg users: http://www.silhouettedesignstore.com/?page=view-shape&id=76562

Finished Dimensions: 
10 1/2 inches tall without the hanging pinecone weights, 
17 inches tall from top of the roof peak to the bottom of the hanging pinecones. 
6 inches wide
3 1/2 inches deep
2 3/4 hole for clock in optional front (you can modify the file to accommodate a larger clock if you wish)

Clock kit dimensions:
Accommodates a 2 3/4 clock face with round back Hole in front of the clock that holds the clock kit, may need to be enlarged depending upon the clock kit you get. Please test your sizing first. (see the piece in the lower left hand corner in the picture below. That big circle may need to be enlarged or shrunk down according to the size of your clock kit.)
-or-
2 1/2 inch to 3 inch clock hands kit.

Paper: 
12x12 Cover stock, or other heavy weight card stock. I used double sided Carta Bella Card stock--it was perfect for this project. 
3 sheets the same color for the front, back and sides of the cuckoo clock house.
2 sheets of one lighter and one darker for the pinecone weights and other accents.
2 sheets of one lighter and one darker for the roof shingles, shutters, fences and other accents.
1 sheet for the bird and clock face. I used white. You may need another sheet if you want your bird a different color.
1 sheet for the optional clock holding piece. (shown as a weird flat on one side circle and a strip with teeth. You do not need this piece if you are not making your cuckoo clock into a real clock.)

Other Supplies:
Brads
Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue
Scotch ATG or other tape runner

Software set up:
If you are using the one page color-coded version of my file, the file is grouped by color. After ungrouping the whole file once, you will be able to easily move each group of colors into the live cutting area to make paper and mat changes a breeze.

If you are using the one page black and white line art version of my file, the file is grouped by suggested color groups, you can refer to the picture above to see color. After ungrouping the whole file once, you will be able to easily move each group of colors into the live cutting area to make paper and mat changes a breeze. (Groupings may not hold when uploaded into some software.)

If you are using my multiple page version of the file, you will have to open each of these color groups separately, and they will be in a group that will fit on a 12x12 mat.

Today I'll show you how to make the clock with the cut paper face that is included in this download, with instructions for the option of using real clock hands from a clock kit.

1-3. After cutting all your card stock, sort it out, then find the circle clock pieces and the clock hands. Stack them on a brad, then attach to the front of the cuckoo clock. 
***Optional***
Cut a larger hole through the circle pieces to accommodate a clock hands kit, and put the post through the holes. Since the hands kit post will go through 4 layers of cover stock, it is sturdy enough to support the battery pack on the back side.

4-7. Find the window box pieces. Fold as shown. Make sure to glue the end tabs to the outside of the box.

8-10. Attach the window box to the front window. Next, find the side pieces, then fold them as shown, then attach the window boxes behind the windows. Use a complimentary color to show in these window boxes. 

11. Doesn't that look clean and nice with the window box behind the window.

12-14. Layer the shutter pieces, then fold the hinge. Glue on the window frames. Place the hinge behind the window, that way you know which side of the hinge you need to glue.

15. Add the fence, and scalloped roofline.

17-19. Find the pinecone weight pieces, and bottom of the box. Line them up and glue. Find the linking chain, glue so that the top of the tab lines up with the top of the tab of the pinecone weight piece. Make sure you do not get glue on the chain part...only the tab.

20. Take the pinecone weight assembly, and slide it through the slot as shown. You will have to "weave" the tabs so that all the chain and all the pinecone weight pieces come out of the other side. Glue the tabs down. 

21. Carefully fold the pinecone weight assembly at a 90 degree angle from the bottom. These will now be able to hang from the bottom.

Scroll down below the next set of photos to continue the tutorial.

22-24. Gather up your cut pieces, and find the roof pieces. You will fold these as shown, then glue the roof piece that has the one side with a single tab to the other roof piece. 

25. Find the scalloped roof pieces that have the fold lines on them. Now fold them, then glue the tab to the ends of the roof so that the fold line lines up with the second fold line on the roof. See picture.

26-28. Layer on the shingles. You may wish to line them up before gluing to give you an idea of spacing. Then glue the center shingle piece on top. You can ruffle or roll out your shingles to give texture. 

29. We now have all the separate pieces assembled, we just need to get them together to make the cuckoo clock.

30-31. Glue the two sides to the bottom as shown. Make sure that when you fold the corners that all of the tab is covered by the bottom of the clock. 

32-33. Glue the front and back of the cuckoo clock to the base as shown.

34. Glue the side tabs to the back. Check your corners that everything is lining up neatly.

35. Fold the front then glue the front to the side tabs.
36-38. Attache the shingled roof to the tabs at the top of the front and back pieces. Go around the under side of the eaves with the roof piece, so that the scallops hang on the sides, then attach the tab to the top of the side panel. 
39. This is how the inside of the roof eaves corner should look when the tabs are glued properly. 
40. Folding the last side of the roof is tricky. You'll do it the same as the other side, but you will need to tuck the last tab from the bottom of the roof in at the top of the side panel. If you are working with the open back cuckoo clock, you will be able to reach inside and make sure that the tabs are smoothed to the side panel correctly. 
41. Ad the wing to the bird, then put glue or adhesive on the bird tail feathers. Stick the tail feathers inside of the front window, then bend the bird outward. 
43. Ta da! 

Tomorrow, I'll show you how to transform this cut file into an actual working clock! Whoo hoo! 

I hope you will come back to see how it's done.

So Happy to share my new dies with Spellbinders!

Yes, you heard right...Spellbinders!  This die cut and embossing system is so dear to my heart. I've been a lover of this system since it was first brought out into the market place.  I was first introduced to it by my dear friend Kim Hupke, many moons ago, where we both attended a scrapbook camp in Dearborne, Michigan.  She introduced me to Stacey, the inspiring owner of Spellbinders. With a constant twinkle in her eye, Stacey can't help but captivate you with her warmness and energy. That beautiful spirit does not stop there with just her, and if you've been to CHA before and stopped by the Spellbinders booth, you know what I'm talking about! This is where you get to experience ALL of the warm,  kind and amazingly creative the people that make up the Spellbinders Family!  I've made it a point to stop by their booth every CHA I attend, because they always WOW me with their innovations and creativity, and it's nice to catch up with old friends. And now, I'm so proud to say that I get to be a small part of the Spellbinders family!

The set I'm sharing with you today is called, "Cuckoo Clock." The fun thing about this set is that it coordinates perfectly with my Unity Stamp set also called Cuckoo Clocks. Watch for SEVERAL coordinating stamp and die sets in my Spellbinders and Unity stamp collections. For this card I stamped the image of the clock on the paper two times.  Once on Green paper, once on Blue paper.  I laid my Spellbinders die over my stamped image being careful to line everything up.  I taped the die to the paper so that it would not shift during cutting. I did the same with the blue paper...lining everything up just so.  Then I put it all together with a little dimension by using Pop Dots.  I added a strip of paper from my Heidi collection at the top and the bottom of the card over a strip of my Holey Cardstock.  

Some of the above stamps are not at the correct scale relationship to each other.  The cuckoo clock on the right is rather large and not the same size as the bird on the left.