For some reason lately I’ve been kind of fascinated by DIY clocks. I think it’s because I couldn’t find a clock in a store that I liked, and I really wanted one because when you spend all day at home like I have been (I don’t want to talk about it), it’s easy for time to get away from you. So I made this one.

I started out looking around online, and I really liked this one, and these two, and this one. But when I saw a pack of those pre-dyed popsicle sticks for $2 in the craft store, I knew they were for me!

Here are the materials for this project:

  • Ikea Rusch clock
  • Dyed popsicle sticks
  • Cardboard craft box (optional)
  • Sticky tack for affixing to the wall

Step 1: Deconstruct the clock. All you need is the mechanism and hands. (Alternatively, you can buy a clock mechanism.)

Step 2: Poke a hole in the lid of a cardboard box (these happened to fit perfectly, but you could also just use a piece of cardstock or some other creative way to cover up the black plastic mechanism- or just not worry about it). Stick the doo-hickey through the hole (um…) and then replace the clock hands on the doo-hickey.

Step 3: Play around with different arrangements.

I settled on the yellow, blue, and green.

Step 4:Stick it all to the wall with sticky tack, using the original clock face as a guide.

Or, if you’re nerdy, use math.

Step 5: Enjoy knowing what time it is!

Admittedly, it’s a little “kiddy” or maybe even modern for me. It might go better in a kids’ room or a nursery. But it was so easy to make, and would be so easy to take down, that for now it will stay in our wannabe grown up apartment.