Tech-loving sister-site Gizmodo stumbled upon a magnificently novel and modern clock, which cost a mere $1,500. They also, fortunately, found a tutorial on making one yourself for a fraction of the price.
The premise of both the original item and the remake is a clock that displays the time in plain English instead of numerals. When it’s 5:15, the word clock lights up letters to say “IT IS QUARTER AFTER FIVE”. Perhaps not the clock for everyone, but if you love things with a modern bent, it’s quite the brag piece.
Instructables user drj113 made an excellent tutorial documenting the process he went through to build his own clock. You’re not going to be able to do it with duct tape and cardboard, but if you’re interested in learning more about electronics and creating your own circuit boards, this is the task to tackle. Check out the full tutorial at the link below to see an animation of the clock in action.
Chalkboard paint is a childhood-recapturing tool and a great way to 
If the glazing medium is hard to get at, or you just want fewer steps, Martha Stewart's site explains how to make DIY chalkboard paint with just the tile grout. What's more, her site offers some seriously inspiring ideas on how to implement chalkboard paint in all sorts of spots around your home—we're staring somewhat jealously at the calendar-like pattern shown here.
Many people don’t want or need to spend hundreds of dollars on premium earbuds, but want to hear the ones they have more clearly. Turn some basic and inexpensive earbuds into a noise-isolating pair with this simple hack.
You just blew some cash on an iPhone, why spend any more on a dock? Using just the stuff that came with your iPhone you can make a sturdy and novel-looking stand.