DIY Mid Century Modern Inspired Cocktail Stirrer Clock

Mid century modern is one of my favorite styles ever! I am too much of a hoarder to be able to pull it off myself, but I do like to add mcm touches to the decor in my home! My hubby recently fixed up an old mid century Danish credenza for me. It is super cute, and even has a cabinet fit for a bar inside. I have been collecting vintage drink stirrers for a while for crafting, and I thought it would be fun to make a retro clock with them to go with my new cabinet. Check out the how to:

Here’s What You Need:

*Scrap piece of 1/4 or 1/2″ plywood

*Hole Saw for a Drill(I used a 4″ Hole Saw)

*Drill

*Drill bit the same size as the clock piece bolt

*Sand Paper or Sander

*Angle Finder and Pencil

*12 Vintage Cocktail Stirrers

*Dremmel fit with a cutting disk

*Glue- Hot Glue or E6000

*Craft Paint

*Clock Movement Kit

Instructions:

The first thing you need to do is cut your plywood circle. Attach your hole saw to your drill and drill out your circle. You can also use a jigsaw or a scroll saw if you do not have a hole saw. Always be careful when using power tools!

Once you have your wooden circle cut, you need to mark the spaces for the stirrers. Find the center, then draw a line straight from one side to the other. Then draw a line perpendicular to that line so you have four equal quarters. Using your angle finder draw a line through at 30 degrees and then at 60 degrees from each quarter line. You should have twelve equal wedges marked when you are done.

Drill a hole in the center of the circle large enough for the clock movement bolt to fit through. Attach your clock movement to the circle back. Mark a dot on the side of the wood where each line on the back is so you know where to paint your numbers and tick marks. Paint your clock face how you like using the pencil dots as your guide. Set aside to dry. Also paint the clock hands if you like. Lightly sand off the pencil marks on the side of the clock.

While your clock face is drying, you can cut down your stirrers. Trim the bottoms off of each drink stirrer using your dremmel fit with the cutting disk. Cut all your stirrers to be roughly the same length.

Now, place a dab of glue onto each line on the back of your clock. Glue down a stirrer face down. Then glue down another stirrer next to that one at the next line making sure that the length the stirrer shows is roughly the same as the previous. Continue gluing stirrers all the way around at each of your twelve marks. To finish off your clock assemble the rest of your clock according to the directions on the clock movement package. Add a battery and set your clock.

 

I LOVE how my retro clock turned out! My favorite stirrer is the lime green Poodle Room! This clock was really fun to make, and it is a perfect mid-century inspired addition to my living room! You can change up the look just by the drink stirrers you use, or the paint job. Although I am keeping this one for myself I think I might just have to make another one for my dad for Father’s Day. I think it would be a fabulous daddy’s day gift! I hope some of you will give it a try sometime too. You’ll have a blast! I’ll be back next week with another fun DIY. Until then…

Happy Crafting!