Make It Matter: The Memory Clock

I started by designing the clock face layout in xTool Creative Space (XCS), arranging the hour markers, decorative ring, and custom text to fit a circular basswood blank. The design was split into two passes:

Once the wood face was engraved and cut, each pie-shaped slot around the clock face gets a printed photo inserted from behind. The laser precisely cuts these windows to fit standard small prints — no trimming needed.

Each slot is labeled with a custom engraved caption above it, so you simply match the right photo to the right window. The photos sit flush behind the wood face and are held in place when the backing layer is applied.

This is where the clock becomes truly personal — 12 slots, 12 memories, one for every hour. Whether it's family moments, milestones, or places that matter, each photo tells its own story while the hands keep ticking through them all.

With all 12 photos in place, the final assembly takes just minutes. Feed the clock mechanism shaft through the center hole from the back, then secure it with the included nut on the front face.

Press the hands on in order — hour, minute, then second — aligning them to 12 o'clock. Drop in a single AA battery and the clock is immediately running.

Attach the backing layer to seal the photos in place and give the clock a clean finish from behind. A small sawtooth hanger on the back lets it mount flush against any wall.

The finished clock is ready to gift, display, or sell. Every time someone glances at it to check the time, they're met with 12 of their favorite memories — making even an ordinary Tuesday feel meaningful.

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