As the school year draws to a close, parents often find themselves searching for the perfect way to say thank you to their children’s teachers. Marleen K. and her young son have come up with a charming and budget-friendly solution using the IKEA TROMMA wall clock.
“My youngest son is going from preschool to kindergarten, so we needed a simple but nice farewell gift for his very nice teachers,” Marleen explains.
The result is a colorful and personalized timepiece that’s sure to bring a smile to his teacher’s face.
IKEA items used:
- 1x TROMMA wall clock €1.99 ($2.99)
Other materials and tools:
- IKEA MÅLA apron
- Paint brushes (also a couple from IKEA)
- Acrylic paint (in this case HEMA neon colors)
- Cricut Joy cutting machine
- Cricut Joy Vinyl and Transfer Tape
- One AA battery
Personalized IKEA TROMMA Clock: Kids Craft
1. Carefully remove the plastic cover from the front of the clock by inserting a thin object between the cover and the clock body. Then, remove the clock hands.
2. Let your child have fun painting the clock face using acrylic paint. The paint adheres well to the white plastic back of the clock.
3. After painting, check if any of the clock mechanism holes have been accidentally covered with paint. If so, use a skewer to reopen them.
4. Let the paint dry completely before reattaching the clock hands.
5. Using a vinyl cutter, create a greeting such as “Thank you for a lovely TIME” and apply it to the transparent front cover of the clock.
For those without access to a vinyl cutter, she suggests an alternative: “You can probably write down a message on the inside of the transparent clock cover. Tip: Print the text mirrored, and lay the transparent cover on top, with the concave side up. Trace the text with a permanent marker.”
6. For an extra personal touch, use a permanent marker to write a heartfelt goodbye message on the back of the clock.
With a price tag of just $2.99 for the TROMMA clock, plus some basic craft supplies, this IKEA hack proves that thoughtful gifts don’t have to break the bank.
See Marlene’s other IKEA hacks:
- Living Room Refresh with an IKEA EKET Wall-mounted TV Unit
- Cube storage with plywood doors.
- HEMNES dresser with plywood drawer fronts
You may also like this TROMMA clock hack
It is a fun and easy way to transform the TROMMA into a colorful timepiece.