Paper Cuckoo Clock Assembly Tutorial

I just finished cuckoo clock #2. 

It took a little longer to finish up, as some other things crept in and took precedence...that's how life happens though, right? We have plans to do one thing, then another thing screams out that it's now on top of the priority list. I'm learning that the trick is to just roll with it, and take it as it comes.

This clock goes together much like the last one at this link here:

http://samanthaleewalker.blogspot.com/2015/03/svg-or-silhouette-cuckoo-clock-assembly.html

It will also use the same basic instruction for fitting it with a clock kit, found here:

http://samanthaleewalker.blogspot.com/2015/03/part-2-cuckoo-clock-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

If you haven't seen those two posts, then they will be where you want to stop first.

Alrighty then...ready for this one...

You'll need at cutting machine, like a Cricut Explore or a Silhouette. 

The file is available at the Silhouette Online store at this link here:

http://www.silhouettedesignstore.com/?page=view-shape&id=77261

Supplies: 

3 12x12 sheets Aqua cover stock (or thick card stock)

1 sheet any color cover stock for the part that will hold the clock on the inside.

2 12x12 sheets Red cardstock

1 12x12 sheet dark aqua card stock

1 12x12 sheet cream card stock

1 12x12 sheet brown card stock

1 sheet white card stock for clock face (optional if making decorative non-working clock)

You will need a really strong, non-warping paper glue like Tombow Mono Adhesive (I like to buy it in bulk packs...I go through a lot of this stuff and hate running out.)

Size:

When made at given size, this clock measures approximately: 18 1/2 inches tall by 10 wide, by 3 1/4 deep. Without the pinecone weights the house part measures approximately 10 1/2 tall. 

1-6. Fold chimney, attach tab to close box. Fold bottom flaps out. Slide through rectangular hole in the roof and fold the bottom flaps out and attach to the backside of the roof.

7. Fold decorative chimney topper, then glue. 

Attach both rectangular roof rectangles together so the single tab joins them at the top, leaving the other two fold lines at the ends. 

REFER to the pictures in the previous cuckoo clock tutorial for attaching roof strips together. 

8. Find the rectangular roof pieces, and the wavy roof shingle pieces that have the fold lines on them. Fold these roof shingle pieces then attach one of them so that the fold line of the shingle lines up with the second fold of the rectangular roof piece. Do this to both sides.

9. In the file I have a few roof shingle pieces that have a section removed from them so that they can go around the chimney. I have provided this piece two times, once for the darker pink, one for the lighter pink to leave you with options on spacing.  Depending upon how closely you space your shingles, you may end up needing the lighter pink or the darker pink when you come to the base of the chimney. 

10. Find the side shingle pieces that will go on the sides of the chimney. Alternate the dark pink and light pink pieces until you come to the top of the chimney.

11. Place the appropriate shingle piece at the top of the chimney. Once again, I've provided this piece twice, once for the dark pink paper, and once for the light pink. This way you have them both so you can choose your spacing.

12. Keep alternating shingle strips until you come to the peak. Fold the center shingle strip in half and straddle it over both halves of the roof.

13. Apply your decorative pieces to the clock, then follow the clock kit instructions here: http://samanthaleewalker.blogspot.com/2015/03/part-2-cuckoo-clock-tutorial.html Now line up your pieces and we'll start to assemble according to the instructions here: 

http://samanthaleewalker.blogspot.com/2015/03/svg-or-silhouette-cuckoo-clock-assembly.html

14-16. I took a close up photo of the trickiest part of assembling the clock, and that is the part where you fold the roof around the eaves. The end tab of the roof goes inside the cuckoo clock. The small tabs in the picture go on the inside of the eaves. 

17-18. Fold the tabs from the front and back of the cuckoo clock inwards, apply glue, then bring the roof up and around the roofline. You will end at the roof eaves on the other side of the clock. You will insert the end of the roof tab into the slot that is formed, so that the little tabs go on the inside of the clock. You will be able to put you hand inside the clock from the back if you choose the open back design, to make it much easier to smooth these parts together. 

19. When finished with the eaves (underside of roof), it should look like this picture.

If you make one of these...I want to see your clocks! Please share them with me! 

Keep on crafting!

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.