Thread: Haunted Grandfather Clock

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I saw a thread yesterday on a similar grandfather clock and I had to make one for myself.

Thoughts were to make the whole structure out of cardboard. Cardboard is easy for me to work with, something I can get for free and since this project will be kept indoors, no need to worry about the weather.

Ok so cardboard free (got it) I brought home 4 sheets and one florescent light box.
Clock from dollar store (5.00)
Knife (free from the kitchen)
Glue Gun ( free from the craft room)
Packing tape ( free from the garage)
Scissors (the only pair I could find free)
dremel tool (free from garage)
black rope (free from somewhere, it was on my front porch)
1 strand of blue christmas lights ( had to walk all the way out to the 2nd garage to get these, 3 boxes later, woohoo lights)
1 can black spray paint (free, don't tell my hubby)



I started at 3pm after I got home. I took one big sheet of flat cardboard and cut the pieces out for the base.





I then took the florescent light bulb box and stood on top of the home made box, which would serve as the base of the clock. I was thinking to tall once I put the top on it. So I removed about a 1/4 to use later for the clock.



In no time I was kicking this project in the butt. Here is a photo of my $5.00 clock before I started tearing it apart.

Within 2 hours This is what I had.

I took a look at it, and wanted to beef it up a bit more, so I added another hand made box to the top.



Now moving back to the clock. Since my hubby had the laptop with him, I went and found an image out of a halloween book, scanned it and printed it out.

I really like the angel, though it isn't scary in my OP.
I started drilling small holes with the dremel, all around the inside of the clock. (we will talk more about this later).

Put the clock back together. Now I wanted to add christmas lights to the project. I had blue handy (haha), you could use any color. I cut a hole in the top of the box, and then using the dremel tool, made pilot holes to insert the christmas lights into.

After running the lights through, I then went ahead and spray painted the inside portion of the box ahead of time. Then ran the lights down the inside edge.

Here is a photo looking up at the lights from inside the box.


Now here is the fun part:: With the extra xmas lights, I had I took them and hot glued them around the backside of the clock. Remember those pilot holes I drilled earlier, My thought was the blue light would shine in on the photo for a cool effect. (well later testing showed it only gave a smidge of light filtering through) I am going to leave it alone but would suggest for anyone in the future, to look at a different method of this idea.

I went ahead and glued a bit of cotton (??) rope to the inside clock hole and then hot glued the clock in place. After the clock was in place, I glued another section of rope around the face of the clock.



In this photo you can barely see the blue lights shining through, and even with the lights off, it is barely visible.



Here is the where I left the project at when I went to bed last night.


I started at 3pm and stopped at 8pm. Ended up with 3 burnt fingers and top lip, from the glue gun. Was in to much pain to keep going, so let me know what you think. I will post more pics as I work on it. The Bottom of the box is not shown in photo as it is outside awaiting to be attached.

okay first off, very creative using cardboard. Cant wait to see more progress, but, how in the world did you burn your lip on the glue gun??? were you trying to taste the glue??

heh..

Trying to glue those stupid lights to the cardboard, light moved, fingers went into glue, reaction stick hot fingers into mouth to cool off, got glue on lip. Trust me I was not happy for the rest of the night, walking around with an ice pack in my hand, and on my mouth. I look like I have been sucker punched.. Remember to set your glue gun to the low temp not high.. I need to invent hot glue gloves, I am always burning myself.

Nice start!

It's easy to burn your lip without even trying to taste the glue: Hot glue on the finger, yell, finger to the mouth, hot glue still attached to the finger goes straight to the lip, yell louder. Not that I've done that or anything.... It's better to taste the glue when the sticks are cool.

Hallow and maybe they should start manufacturing Flavor Sticks for glue guns! LOL It may be painful - but it tastes sooo good!

I digress --- Love your new clock! And way to keep the costs down.
Cardboard Rocks! (Scissor? - you win... ) (think about it...)

There needs to be a topic on Halloween Props things not to do.

1. Stick finger with HOT glue on it, in your mouth.

Don't make me laugh it hurts.

hehehe, sorry you got hurt but it's a funny story......whats that old saying.....

"It's all fun and games until someone sticks hot glue in their mouth"

Well that is something they don't teach you in school. Don't stick molten glue in your mouth. Glad you are ok though.

Very cool! Can't wait to see more pics.