Welcome to Knocktoberfest! Today, a group of 28 bloggers begin a week-long blog hop to show you their budget knock-offs of designer decor pieces. I couldn’t possibly be more excited!
Each day, I’m going to announce the new round of bloggers and projects so that you won’t miss a single one.
So, I’ll begin the whole shebang with a project of my own.
That clock. I fell in love with the $99 CB2 version – the Allways Hanging Clock – as soon as I saw it in the catalog. You know I’d never pay $99 for something I could make myself for $20, right?
This was such an easy project, guys! I promise that you can do it, even if you’ve never attempted a wood project before. Here’s how I put it together:
1. I bought a 6 foot length of 1×3 poplar wood at Home Depot. You could really use any type of wood, but I liked that poplar was a clear wood without a lot of knots. You could even use scrap wood!
I cut that piece into 3 equal lengths (which you could also have done at Home Depot if you don’t want to cut it yourself). Then, I used four wood joiners to secure the pieces together. You just hammer them in – no drilling required! There are many ways to join these pieces together, but this is just the one I chose.
2. In order to help secure the bond between the wood pieces, I squeezed some wood glue into the cracks and clamped the pieces together. After I wiped off the excess glue, I let it dry for about an hour.
3. Do you notice how the top of the pieces aren’t exactly even on the above picture? No worries! I used a belt sander to sand down the top to make the pieces even and level. Then, I used a palm sander to sand down the rest of the wood. I always start with a rough sandpaper grit – like an 80-grit – and work my way up through 150-grit to 220-grit. I have found that this gives the wood a really smooth surface to accept paint or stain.
4. Now’s the fun part! I brushed on some wood conditioner that I had in my garage, let it sit for 15 minutes and wiped it off with a wiping cloth. Then, I used some leftover stain that I had on hand from my herringbone wood wall (American Walnut by Rustoleum) – brushed it on, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then wiped it off. I did two coats of the stain to give it this nice color.
I let the stain dry overnight.
5. When the stain was dry, I added some D-rings to the back so that I’ll be able to hang the clock. I did one center top and two across the long edge. You can hang it both vertical and horizontal, hence the CB2 name Allways Hanging Clock.
Oh, and I didn’t bother to stain the back of the wood. Obviously.
6. Then it was time to make the clock. I bought a high torque clock kit at Hobby Lobby for 40% off. I needed a high torque kit because I wanted really long clock hands. In all honesty, I originally thought that I would make my own hands, but after realizing that they would need to be balanced, I decided to just go the store bought route. There are tons of places to order clock parts online, too, but I didn’t want to wait for shipping. I may replace these at some point.
The hands I bought were black, so I spray painted them white. I also found a pickle jar lid that the clock movement itself would fit inside. I drilled a hole in the top of it (per the instructions that came with the clock kit) and I spray painted that a brushed silver.
7. Next, I grabbed a set of 3M Command Picture Hanging Strips. I ended up using 2 sets of strips.
For the first set, I used it to attach the clock movement to the wood.
The other one I used as a little padding for underneath the battery so that the movement would sit straight. Not exactly a conventional usage of Command strips, but it does it’s job. I trimmed the ends off of the strips so that they wouldn’t hang out of the pickle jar lid.
8. Then, all I had to do was assemble the clock per the included instructions and hang it on the wall. Ta da!
I am so happy with my new clock! So happy that I took a zillion pictures of it.
Hooray for a fun knock off! Now, head on over to see my friend Beth at Home Stories A to Z – she’s the next stop at Knocktoberfest 2013. You’ll also need to visit Shabby Creek Cottage, Infarrantly Creative, Decorchick! and The Shabby Nest today. Lots of good stuff going on!
To keep up with Knocktoberfest, head back here tomorrow or bookmark the Knocktoberfest page. I’m going to be rounding up everyone’s projects there.
Happy Day 1 of Knocktoberfest! See you tomorrow!
Such a cool project! I’ve always loved that clock!
Thanks, Carmel! I really enjoyed working with you on this series!
I love it! I have never heard of wood joiners…thanks for the tip! I think I like your clock better than the inspiration!
Thanks, Jackie! I love those wood joiners. I use them to build picture frames, too!
It turned out great!!! And it looks fabulous on your wall 🙂
Thanks, Stacy! XOXO
So cool!! That clock looks totally fab in that funky nook!
Thanks so much, Donna!
I am in love with that clock! It’s so modern, and totally you! Great project. And those metal connectors… I’ve never seen those before. Gotta look for those!
Thanks, Gina! I love my clock. Get some of those metal connectors – they rock!
Personally, I like your version MUCH better than cb2! 🙂
Why, thank you so much, Shannon! 🙂
Pure awesome.
Thanks, Suzi!
Love it Lindsay! It looks fantastic in your space. Love how you styled the whole nook.
Thanks so much, Beth! It’s taken me a long time to get that nook how I want it — just in time to take it down for Christmas. 😉
That is gorgeous! You did a fantastic job, I actually like yours better!!
Thanks, Dria! That means so much to me!
So fun! You always amaze me Lindsay!
You are too sweet. Thanks, Julia!
That looks so cool! I seriously LOVE it! What a great idea!
Awww, thanks Ashley!
That clock is awesome! And I love the whole vignette! Such a fun series. Thanks for including me!
xoxo
You are sweet, Jen! I am SO glad that you joined the series! It was tons of fun – and your mirror was absolutely amazing.
I love the clock, and I love the green zig zags on the wall behind it! Do you have information about it here on the blog? I looked and didn’t find anything but I would love to know more!
Very cool!
greet idea
that’s good love it clocked design, very interesting clock made kreative play of colors and additional accessories that are not wood with iron, aluminum, glass or plastic. Besides the addition of accessories of other materials made jm tampat more beautiful. nice decoration for a minimalist house thanks for sharing gudemeis.com for your inspiration
I am in love with that clock. Those metal connectors… I’ve never seen those before. Great idea of yours. Clock is not just tell time but also become a great piece of decoration. I love to decorate my room with antique wall clock from gudemeis.com. It makes my room look so gorgeous and so happy to have it. I would love to see your another projects here. Can’t wait to see it.