A grandfather clock prop is a great statement piece, but unfortunately, not everyone can afford to have a real one. Thankfully, creating one of your own is simple and easy.
Supplies
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 3 cardboard boxes
- Corrugated Cardboard Cutter
- Wall Clock
- Hot Glue
- Zip Ties
- paint/paint brushes
Step 1: Inserting the Clock
Before attaching your three boxes together, choose a clock and insert it into the top box. You can either choose a clock that fits within the top box or b. Choose a box big enough to fit your clock. Either way, I recommend that the top box be square
To insert the clock, begin by tracing an outline of the back of the Wall Clock onto the top, square box, which should be slightly bigger than the clock. Then use a Corrugated Cardboard Cutter to cut out the circle. Insert the back of your clock into the hole and hot glue into place. We left the back of the box open (by cutting off the flaps) so that we could change the clock batteries. Another option would be to use velcro to close the back flaps
Step 2: Putting it Together
Next stack our boxes up and zip tie them together. We put the square box on top, a long box in the middle, and a sturdy rectangular box on bottom.
Then seal closed your tall (middle) box and your rectangular (base) box with masking tape prior to stacking them up (Do not use clear packing tape because the paint will flake off after you paint it).
Step 3: The Details
We cut a decorative opening in the tall box for the pendulum. For the pendulum itself, we cut a long strip of cardboard and a circle, hot glued the circle to the stem and painted them silver (with silver spray paint). We then attached the pendulum with hot glue.
Finally, add the finishing touches. Cut out decorative shapes from cardboard and hot glue them onto the boxes. Choose a paint color. We chose brown and then lightly dry brushed a slightly different color of brown over it so that it would look like wood grain.
In Conclusion
Honestly, this grandfather clock prop was really simple to construct and is a great piece for lots of shows. So far we have used it in our H.H. Holmes themed Haunted Theater, in our production of The Borrowers, as well as in several one acts.
You might also like my article, Prop Making Must Haves.
Prop Making Must Haves
Oh wow! I have always loved grandfather clocks but they are expensive. This tutorial is so easy and just the fun activity to do with my kid. Thanks for sharing. 😊
Oh wow. I didn’t know that I can make my own Grandfather Clock. I am amazed at what one can do easily and smartly. No need to spend hard earned money on expensive Grandfather clocks anymore.