Craft:

Materials:

Graduation cap
Tassel
Clock mechanism
Needlenosed pliers
Wire cutters
X-Acto knife
Needle and thread or glue gun for attaching the year charm from the tassel

Directions:

Step 1: Remove the button from the center of the graduation cap with pliers and wire cutters. If it's really stuck in there, just keep working at it by wiggling around the pliers. Cut off the post with the wire cutters.

Step 2: Use your pliers and X-Acto knife to widen the hole in the center until the clock mechanism shaft fits through.

Step 3: Secure the clock mechanism in place with the bolt. Add hands to the clock.

Step 4: Remove the year charm from the tassel and place it on the appropriate space on the clock. We used the year '09 so we placed it at the 9 o'clock position. Either stitch it in place or hot glue it on.

Your new clock is ready to go. It's sure to get an "A" in upcycling!

About the Author:

Tiffany Threadgould is a design junkie who gives scrap materials a second life. Her business, RePlayGround, sells recycled goods and features DIY projects. Tiffany thinks that garbage has feelings too and sometimes can be found talking to her pile of junk at her design studio in Brooklyn, N.Y.