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Altered LP Record: Clock Project

By Bea Rosenleaf
Scrampin’ Love Bug
Beginner’s Scramping Design Team

I’m not much of an altered art artist, so coming up with a project for this team’s theme was a challenge!  What could I do with an old LP record? On a trip to Kansas last year, I visited a local craft store and bought the new clock overlay by Heidi Swapp. I didn’t have a clue what to do with it other than I had wanted to make a clock with vacation pictures of Canada, Alaska, or our grandchildren. The overlay quickly became buried in the mountains of stacked goodies in my studio.  As I was looking at the vinyl record album, I began focusing on its measurements. An LP record is 12” in diameter, and the overlay was equally 12” in diameter. The wheels of thought began to turn, and this project is what evolved. It is one of the simplest altered pieces I have ever done!  So, come join me and learn how to do this super easy, super fun project!

This project would make a great inexpensive gift for a new baby, a new house, or for parents (grandparents) with pictures of their children. The possibilities are unlimited!  You can further embellish the clock, if you wish. Using a Crop-a-Dile, punch holes along the bottom and hang beads, fibers, or other pictures.  Have fun with your creativity!  If you create a clock of your own, please consider sharing it with us by uploading it to the Route 66 Drive-In Art Gallery. The link is on the website!

Supplies:
Computer
Ink Jet Printer
Photo Editing Software
Digital Photos
LP Vinyl Record (Stands for Long Play record…found at thrift stores for pennies)
Fabric Sheets for Scrapbooking and Crafts (Timeless Treasures Scrapbooking)
Transparent Clock Overlay (Heidi Swapp)
1 sheet of decorative 12”x12” scrapbook paper
1 Clock motor*** (Darice)
E-6000 Adhesive
Crystal Lacquer (Sakura)
YES! Glue (GANE Brothers & LANE, Inc.)
Craft Knife or Hole Punch
Pencil

***Note:  For the clock works, try to find one that has a ¼” shaft. I have limited shopping resources, and JoAnne’s only had one in stock that was a ⅜” shaft. In order to make it fit, we had to drill a larger hole in the record, using a ⅜” drill bit and drill.

Instructions:

1.  Choose a picture for the clock face.  Using your photo imaging program, resize the picture to 12” x 12” and print onto the fabric sheets. These fabric sheets are stiff, so they will feed through the printer. I have a Hewlett Packard, and it works great.  If your printer will not print larger sizes, then select several pictures to create a collage, or take it to a printing shop to have it printed on the fabric.  The fabric sheet I used is off-white with a rose patterned background. I really like how the background added texture to my printed photo.

2.  Place the LP record on top of the picture and trace lightly around it with a pencil. Cut the fabric to fit these markings. 

3.  Using the YES! Glue, adhere the photo to the record. (You can squeegee the glue with a fake credit card – you know, the ones you get in the mail all the time?!) Cut the hole out with either a craft knife or a punch. This is where the clock will be mounted. 

4.  For the back of the record, take the 12”x12” paper and trace the outline of the record on it. Do this on the back so your lines won’t show on the pattered side of the paper. Cut out the circle and adhere to the record with YES! Glue.

5.  Adhere the clock face overlay to the front of the picture with a little bit of Crystal Lacquer. Since Chrystal Lacquer dries clear, it makes good adhesive for the overlay. You don’t need much here. A small bit around the hole and then a dot at numbers 12, 3, 6 and 9. Place this overlay on top of the photo and let it dry well.

6.  Following the directions on the package, put the clock together and mount to the back of the covered record with the E-6000 glue.

7.  Sign your work and proudly display!

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