DIY A Whimsical Kitchen Mug Clock For The Coffee Lover In Your Life
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We all know DIY gifts easily trump store-bought ones, and that's because they come with more thought, creativity, and intention. So if you have someone in your life who loves coffee (or depends on it) like most of us, skip the generic coffee-themed decor and make something handmade they'll actually cherish, like a whimsical kitchen mug clock made from polymer clay. Trust us, it's not as hard as it looks.
TikToker @nayanafairgrieve created an adorable yellow coffee mug-shaped clock using modeling clay and small magnets. Her design was inspired by "Gilmore Girls," featuring 3D clay objects representing elements from the show, but you can easily give it your own personal touch by swapping some of those for coffee-related items like a spoon, sugar cubes, creamer, or even a tiny donut. You'll need eight small 3D clay pieces in total.
If shaping the entire thing like a coffee mug feels too difficult, you can always make your own viral magnet clock in a traditional circle shape. To make your coffee-themed clay clock, you'll need DAS white modeling clay for the base, colored polymer clay (can also be DAS) to make your mini coffee-inspired objects, clay sculpting tools such as this 18-piece set from Blisstime, clay-friendly paint, number stencils, small craft magnets, and a clock kit.
Here's how to create a coffee-inspired clay clock that actually ticks
To make an artistic wall clock shaped like a mug, start by molding your clock base using DAS modeling clay. Shape it into a mug, leaving space for the handle and poking out a small circle in the center for the clock arms. You can use modeling clay in your preferred color, or simply paint white DAS clay once it's molded and has air-dried. To create smooth, clean edges, roll a thin, snake-like strip of clay to fit around the edge. Add a little water to attach it to the base, and gently smooth it all out using a smoothing tool.
Next, punch out the numbers 12, 3, 6, and 9 using Play-Doh number stencils. Mix a bit of clay and water into a paste to use as "glue," and attach the numbers to the clock face. While everything is drying, form your coffee-related designs with colored polymer clay. Bake them according to the clay instructions, and finish everything off with some gloss or resin to give it a shine. If modeling small items out of clay seems too complicated, you could find some pre-made coffee-themed charms on sites like Amazon or Etsy.
Once dry, glue the magnets onto the clock base to represent the rest of the numbers, and glue the coordinating magnets onto the 3D objects. Finally, attach the clock mechanism and battery pack to the back (some kits come with built-in wall hangers), arrange your 3D pieces around the face, and you're all set. If you want to take the gift a step further, consider crafting an extra set of themed pieces so they can swap them out based on the season.