At 4ft square, this rustic DIY Clock can’t help but make a BIG impression! You won’t believe how inexpensive and simple it was to make!
I have been working (and waiting) on this project for what seems like forever and I really am SO, SO excited to finally have the chance to share this DIY clock with y’all today!
Brady and I LOVE to look through Houzz together for all sorts of ideas and inspiration. One night, through some random exploring, we happened across this DIY wall clock, which, as always, I pinned for later and forgot about … that is, until we moved into this house with a living room of impossible-to-decorate walls. Okay, impossible may be a bit harsh, but really, this room has been nothing short of challenging. First of all, our fireplace takes up it’s own entire wall at the far end of the room. Then, lovely walls of windows on either side of the living room have made furniture placement quite difficult. All of this has left us with only two wall spaces in the entire room on which to hang anything. Unfortunately, one of these walls is quite awkward (you can see how I made this work for us with my Gallery Wall here), which left us with only one option to hang the clock; however, upon unpacking, we learned that the clock we’ve had since moving in together (over 7 years ago now) was just too small for that space. Now you may think that buying a new clock is no big deal, and before starting my search I totally would have agreed, but I’ve had my eyes peeled for months and months now and I haven’t come across even one option that I liked for a price that I could talk Brady into. So what’s a girl to do when she can’t find what she likes and her husband’s incessant complaining about the missing clock is driving her crazy? She makes one, that’s what!
*Side note: I’ll admit it’s been annoying not having any idea what time it is without getting up and walking to the kitchen, but honestly, I haven’t found it nearly as painful as he has!*
I knew I was looking for something rustic looking, but with a polished touch to it as well and it wasn’t hard for me to come up with an idea of how to make it (huge thanks to Pinterest as always!). Having come across a ton of pallet wood signs lately, I thought that this would make the perfect backdrop for our clock. Because this clock was going to be BIG, I wanted something sturdy to work with, so instead of using pallet wood, I bought some 1×6 lumber at the hardware store. The best part about DIY is being able to make a custom piece that is EXACTLY as you need it to be – the space I was looking to fill was approximately 5 feet wide, so I decided to cut the wood to 4 feet to leave a bit of room on either side. It would take nine 1×6 boards to make a 4 foot (or very, very close to) square. After sanding down the rough edges, I stained the 9 boards with 4 different stain colours.
To assemble the wood plank background, Brady and I arranged the different boards and he screwed a couple of extra 1x6s to the back of each one attaching them all together.
We also created our own hanger by cutting a board at a 45 degree angle, attaching one side to the clock and the other to the wall – this way we could ensure that we hit a couple of studs when we hung the clock, while still keeping it all centered on the wall.
Now that the background was made, it was time to turn it into a clock. I found an absolute ton of options for DIY clocks. There are fabulous tutorials like this one by Faded Plains that teach you how to make your own clock from scratch. Or, there are clock kits that come with all of the necessary parts and all you have to do is mount them. A kit seemed the easiest way to achieve that polished look that I was going for. This one on Amazon was a fabulous price and had a modern look to it that I thought would contrast nicely with the wood, so I ordered it up. It came quickly and looked fab aside from the fact that the clock hands were broken (as was my heart at having to wait for a new one). Rather than risk ordering another broken clock kit, I set to work looking for a new alternative. I realized that the broken clock was truly a blessing in disguise when I came across this gorgeous kit on Etsy – it really was just what I was hoping for! The owner, Joe, was a pleasure to work with and even sent me the mounting details and directions early so that I could be prepared to get going on it as soon as it arrived. It took just over a week from the day I ordered it until the day I received it. With a level, a ruler and A LOT of tape, I was actually able to get it all mounted up in just a couple of hours.
Brady was kind enough to hang it for me last night and his method was so simple, yet brilliant, that I can’t help but share it with you too! He marked the center line on the mounting board for the wall first (the one we cut to 45 degrees).
He then marked the center of the wall space, drawing a straight line horizontally to match the board edge to and one vertically to match the center line on the mounting board.
He screwed the mounting board into the studs and we hooked the heavy clock onto it. It was still up on the wall this morning when I came downstairs, so it seems my brilliant (if I do say so myself) hanging idea worked!
This is my absolute favorite project yet! I really am SO, SO thrilled with how it all turned out! I am so in love with the way it looks in our living room that I can’t help but smile every time I walk by it!
Wishing you all SUCH a lovely day!
Wow! Your clock looks professionally made! Great work! I especially like your idea of using tape to figure out where to put the numbers… Great thinking!! 🙂
hugs x, Crystelle
Crystelle Boutique
Thank you SO much for your kind words Crystelle! You are so sweet! I’m really so happy with how it turned out!
I love your clock! It is gorgeous, you should be so proud of your work!
You are super sweet Lila! Thank you SO very much for your kind words! I’m really so happy with how it turned out 🙂
I LOVE THIS PROJECT! Pinning and sharing on social media. Love it!
You are SO sweet! Thank you so much Tasha!!!
i like how you used the different stains on it. Great job!!!
Thank you SO much Angie! It was fun to try out a few different ones 🙂
I love this clock!!!
Thank you Trish!
I love this Clock! I really like the different wood tones, and how they all come together. It really is a great project that you should be very proud of.
I’d love for you to share it at The Weekend Social http://thequestionablehomesteader.com/weekend-social-21/
Thanks SO much Ricki! Heading over now 🙂
I absolutely LOVE it! A perfect blend of form and function. Thanks for sharing at Fridays Unfolded!
Alison
Nancherrow
Thank you so, so much Alison! I’m really very happy with how it turned out 😀
WOW! this clock is fantastic! What a serious statement piece and well, practical too! Great Job!
Thank you SO much Cassie! I’m totally in love with how it turned out!
I love this clock! You make it seem so easy. I’d stress out over the pattern or absence of pattern with the stained boards. Yours is perfect!
Hahaha! It’s never as random as it looks, is it? Thanks Karen!
AWESOME!!! I love it!!!
Thanks so much Trish!
That turned out fabulous and I like the different shades of wood. This way you don’t have to “match” a particular color. Thanks for sharing on The Weekend Social.
Thanks Erlene! You’re always full of SUCH kind words! Wishing you a fabulous weekend!
Thanks for sharing your tutorial on Merry Mondays too.
This is so awesome! I love this idea. So many things to do with a pallet. 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Thursday STYLE.
Thanks so much Amanda!!!
That’s a really lovely looking clock.. a timeless piece 🙂
Thank you Dominique!
I really love the way this looks. Like really, really. Such a great idea.
Thank you SO, SO much Kathleen!!! I’m really happy with how it turned out too 😉
This is just amazing! Your clock is gorgeous. I love the look you got by using different color stains. Pinning!
Thank you SO much Glenna! You are too sweet!
This is awesome! Thank you for showing how you judged where to put the numbers. I would have forever been confused. Pinned!
Thank you SO much for your kind words Rachel!!!
I heart clocks! I feel like a house can never have too many… well you know, nice ones like these. I have 2 in my kitchen. I love this idea so much, very creative and it looks amazing.
I love them too Heather! I’ve actually seen some gallery walls done entirely with clocks, which I thought was a fabulous idea! Thank you so much for popping by!
This is great! It would be great for an outdoor space as well. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Alex! You’re right, it would look fab outdoors!
Wow, it turned out beautifully! I too have a handy husband who will make things for me, and I’ve been eyeing up clocks lately. Love how yours turned out!
Thank you SO much summer! My husband is just learning how to be handy, but it is so, so nice to have someone to help and we are both having so much fun!
What a fantastic idea. This clock is brilliant x #pintorials
Thank you SO much Michelle!!!
Wow!! Great project! Love your gorgeous clock! Thanks for sharing!
Have a fabulous week!
Hugs from Portugal,
Ana Love Craft
http://www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com
Thank you SO much!!!
I absolutely love your clock! It turned out beautiful!
Thank you SO much Bethany!!!
So clever! Pinning this, I’d love one in my kitchen #pintorials
Thank you Louisa!!!
This is such great use of a boring old pallet! Love that it’s rustic but functional and full of charm!
Thank you Cindy!!!
This came out awesome! I love the rustic feel to the clock and it really fits well on that wall. I can imagine with a fireplace you must have a very log cabin feel in that room 🙂
Thank you Shae! It doesn’t feel much like a log cabin yet, but I’m hoping with a few more projects we can get it there!
Love this giant rustic clock! You did a fabulous job on it and the tutorial is spot on! Thanks for sharing this at my Creative Ways Link Party! Hope you’ll be back this week again.
Blessings,
Nici
Thank you SO much Nici!!! I’m really so happy with how it came together! Thanks for popping by … definitely looking forward to linking up again soon!
Such a clever idea! So professional looking clock! Thank you for linking it with us #pintorials
Thank you Eileen!!!
This looks great! I would smile every time I walked past too 🙂 Thanks for linking up to Tuesday Tutorials I hope you’ll come back next week too!
Thank you SO much Anna!!!
This is lovely! I love how it looks 🙂
Thank you so much Betsy!
I. NEED. THIS. CLOCK. I love it!!!!!!!!!! I will be making this happen. Great job!
That’s sweet! I’m SO happy you love it as much as I do Katy!!!
I just love this! What a perfect and beautiful idea! Using wood makes everything so classy, plus this looks like I could do it! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Elizabeth! And I promise, you CAN do it!!!
This clock is amazing! You did such a wonderful job on it! My husband has been complaining that we need a clock in our bedroom but we can’t find anything that we like. This would be a great alternative! Thank you for linking up at The Wednesday Roundup! I’ll be sharing your post on facebook and twitter, and also pinning it for future reference!
Thank you so much for your kind words Teresa and for sharing my DIY Clock! I’m so glad that you like the idea enough to try in your own home!!!
Just wanted to stop by and let you know that I will be featuring your Clock on The Weekend Social #22 tomorrow. Please feel free to stop by and grab a button and don’t forget to link up tomorrow at 9pm EST.
http://thequestionablehomesteader.com/about-me/my-buttons/
Thank you SO, SO much Ricki!!! How exciting!!!
I love this! I am hoping to be able to buy a house soon and have been obsessing over DIY projects like these. Thanks for sharing with Hump Day Happenings!
Thank you Jenna! Ever since we bought this house in the fall, I’ve been tackling all sorts of DIYs – it’s really the perfect way to get exactly what you want, but for an affordable price. I hope you find the perfect house soon! Good luck with your search!!!
Wow- I love it! We are moving into a bigger home soon and I will need things for the walls- I love how this can take up a large portion of a wall and cost very little money!
Thanks Clarissa! You could do so much with just the plank backing even to fill up your wall space for next to nothing!
Isn’t it so fun when a project turns out way better than what you expected? So glad you get to enjoy it now!
Thanks Carrie! To be honest, with our lack of handy skills, I think we’ve surprised ourselves with every project we’ve taken on so far 😉 But that just means that anybody could do it!!!
This is so beautiful! I love everything about it! Thank you for linking it up to Thursday S.T.Y.L.E. Your clock is being featured as the most clicked link tomorrow!
Thank you SO much Katie! How exciting!!!
This is so cool! Your are so full of talent! Thank you so much for sharing at Redouxinteriors!
You are SUPER sweet Karen! Thank you so much for your kind words!
Just wanted to let you know that you’re being featured on Fridays Unfolded this week!
Alison
Nancherrow
Thank you SO much Allison!!! Very exciting!
This is great! I’d love for you to link up to the Be. YOU. Tiful Link Party 🙂 http://wp.me/p2LtB9-sc
Thank Adrienne! On my way over to link up 🙂
What a fabulous project! You guys made it look super simple to make!
Thanks for sharing at Wow Me Wednesday!
Thank you SO much Tshanina!!! I promise, it really was! Thanks for popping by and have a lovely weekend!
What a cool idea, I love this! It’s such a great statement piece.
Thank you Katy!!!
The clock looks like it is professionally made! I am so impressed. Thank you for linking up at the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party last week. Your post received the second highest number of clicks and will be featured this upcoming Monday!
Oh wow!!! Thank you SO much Tammy for your kind words! I look forward to checking it out!!! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
Thanks for linking to Create Link Inspire at The Crafty Blog Stalker. You have been featured and pinned! Thank you for sharing.
–Katie, TheCraftyBlogStalker.com
Oh WOW! Thank you SO much Katie!!!
This is so cute!! I need it over my bed! Thanks for linking up with us at the Create Link Inspire party! You were featured today!
How exciting!!! Thank you SO much Amy! On my way to check it out. Wishing you a fabulous weekend!
Yet another feature for your amazing clock! You deserve it, I just LOVE this project so much. Thanks for sharing at link it or lump it, you are being feeeeeaaaatured! 🙂 Have a great Sunday
Hahaha! Never in a million years did I think it would be SO popular, but I’m absolutely thrilled that everyone loves it as much as I do! Thank you SO much Sonnet!!! Enjoy your Sunday as well 🙂
Awesome clock Kristi! You and your hubby make a great team 🙂 Thank you for sharing it ad your cool paint dipped end table at What We Accomplished Wednesdays. Have a lovely week! ~Deborah
Thank you SO much Deborah! It’s been a ton of fun experimenting and learning together! Wishing you a wonderful week as well 🙂
The clock is gorgeous! I love looking around Houzz too!
Thanks Susie! I could seriously spend hours on Houzz without even noticing 😉
This clock has SO much more personality than the stuff at big box stores! Thanks for sharing your technique – maybe someday I’ll have time for one of my own! (No pun intended… maybe…)
Hahaha! Thanks Mandi! I’m SO happy with how it turned out!!!
Great Project! So beautiful! We are featuring your awesome project at Your Designs This Time, live Mondays at 8:00am. Thanks for sharing with us!
Emily & Erin
Thank you SOOOOO much ladies!!! Looking forward to checking it out!
Love your clock! Stop by House on the Way tomorrow and see it featured at the Twirl & Take a Bow Party. Have a great week!
Leslie
Oh wow!!! Thank you SO much Leslie!!!
What a cool project!!! I love the rustic feel and look to it!
Thank you SO much Selene!!! Rustic is just what I was going for!
Kristi, that is such a fabulous way to use a pallet – I love the wood, the numbers you used and that very smart hanging method!! Thanks so much for sharing at Best of the Nest!
Thank you SO much Lisa!!! I’m really so happy with how it all came together! Wishing you a fabulous weekend!
This is SUCH a cool idea, and it really turned out great. You’re being featured today on Friday DIY Features! http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/2014/06/friday-diy-features_20.html
Thank you SO much Kayla!!!
Thanks for sharing this fabulous project at the Best of DIY mega link party! I’ll be giving you a shout-out on my FB page on Tuesday morning here – https://www.facebook.com/KnickofTime
~Angie @ Knick of Time
Oh wow! Thank you SO much Angie!!!
Hi Kristi,
I love this clock. While I don’t have enough room to make this on the scale that you did, I am considering making it on a smaller one. Also, I’m a little confused by how I found this page. I actually clicked on a cute little “X” table but the link brought me here…..is there still a link to that table by any chance?
Thank you SO much Debbie, it turns out I had it linked wrong in my project gallery – I’m so grateful you pointed that out! Here’s the link to the post you were looking for: https://www.makingitinthemountains.com/paint-dipped-diy-end-tables/. Thanks again!!!
You are so welcome, Kristi! And thank you for the link!
where do you found your kit and is it going outside thank you
We found the kit on Etsy and hung the clock it in our living room.
Love this large clock. I have leftover Laminate flooring. (you know, the case you needed ONE board out of) Think that might work? Might need additional support on the backside.
I think that’s a great idea! The numbers and clock set are pretty light weight actually, so laminate flooring would be totally fine I’m sure. Plus, it’ll be easier to hang! Great idea!!!
I love it! Precisely because it is so simple and so beautiful. Simplicity is just amazing
Thank you so much Robert!