This DIY wall clock is easy to make, using vintage inspired labels and Mod Podge. Follow this tutorial and create your own version!
Skills Required: Beginner. You’ll be painting and distressing a clock base as well as applying labels with Mod Podge. If you have any crafting experience you should be fine with this project.
I love vintage images – especially labels that were used for consumer products in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Goods from pharmacies and beauty items had gorgeous labels, with scrollwork, banners, and ornate fonts.
I decided that I wanted to make a DIY wall clock from these pretty labels, and I knew that a painted distressing technique would complement the vintage look. Distressing is very easy – all you need besides the paint is a candle!
I’m excited to show you how to create this vintage label distressed clock. It would look great in a kitchen, bedroom, or anywhere you want a period piece. It looks really good with farmhouse decor!
Choose labels and paint colors to coordinate with your décor. Here’s how I made my vintage inspired DIY wall clock.
DIY Wall Clock Tutorial
Gather These Supplies
- Printer and paper – either laserjet or dry ink inkjet
- Vintage graphics – all mine are from The Graphics Fairy
- Wood clock base
- Clock part kit
- 1.5” circle punch
- Mod Podge Matte
- Acrylic paint in two complimentary colors
- Candle – plain white
- Sandpaper
- Paintbrush
- Dremel with rotary attachment (optional)
NOTE: if you have an inkjet printer, you’ll want to do a test to see if Mod Podge makes the ink bleed. If it does, you can either 1) get laserjet printouts or 2) spray your inkjet printouts on both sides with clear acrylic sealer and let dry before Mod Podging.
Paint your wood clock base with your first paint color. Give the base two coats and let dry.
Rub the candle anywhere that you would like distressing – I recommend all edges of the clock base. Use medium pressure and rub firmly. You can also rub the candle over the front of the clock face.
Paint your second color over the top of the first color AND the candle wax.
Let your DIY wall clock dry completely. It’s okay if you don’t completely cover the base color with the top layer of paint – this adds to the aged effect.
Use sandpaper to reveal the base color below and age your clock base. Sand more and add more pressure for more distressing. You can even use your finger to remove paint.
The wax prevents the top layer of paint from sticking, so anywhere there is wax, you can rub away the top layer of paint!
Choose twelve vintage labels for your DIY wall clock and resize to 1.5” – this will fit your circle punch exactly. Print your sheet using your printer and then punch out each of the twelve labels.
Organize your vintage labels on the front of your wall clock face – space them out exactly where you will decoupage them down.
For placement, you can use this printable clock face as a template if you don’t feel comfortable eyeballing it.
Using the Mod Podge and the paintbrush, decoupage each label down into place. Let dry and then put a few coats of Mod Podge over the top to seal. Add the clock hands kit to the clock base according to the directions on the kit packaging.
NOTE: If you want to recess the clock mechanism, use the Dremel with the router attachment to do so. You’ll trace the clock face on the back and then route out a spot to seat the clock mechanism. Learn how to use the tool here.
DIY Wall Clock
Learn how to make a wall clock using a wood base and clock kit.
Materials
- Vintage graphics – all mine are from The Graphics Fairy
- Wood clock base
- Clock part kit
- Mod Podge Matte
- Acrylic paint in two complimentary colors
- Candle – plain white
Tools
- 1.5” circle punch
- Printer and paper - either laserjet or dry ink inkjet
- Sandpaper
- Paintbrush
- Dremel with rotary attachment (optional)
Instructions
- Paint your wood clock base with your first paint color. Paint two coats and let dry.
- Rub the candle on the edges and a bit of the clock face, anywhere you would like distressing. Rub firmly and wipe away excess wax.
- Paint your second color over the top of the first color AND the candle wax. Let dry.
- Use sandpaper to sand and age your clock base. Use more pressure for more distressing.
- Choose twelve vintage labels and resize to 1.5” – this will fit your circle punch exactly. Print the labels and punch out each.
- Organize the labels on the front of the clock face.
- Using the Mod Podge and the paintbrush, decoupage each label down into place. Let dry and then put a few coats of Mod Podge over the top to seal.
- Add the clock hands kit to the clock base according to the directions on the kit packaging.
- Optional: create a recessed area on the back of the wood face for the clock mechanism.
- Once your clock is completely assembled, hang on the wall using a picture hanger or nail.
What do you think of my DIY wall clock? I think I’m going to give this vintage clock to my mother – she would absolutely adore it!
If you enjoyed this project, I’d love for you to check out these other ideas:
David
Tuesday 14th of February 2017
This looks great and SOOOO up my alley!
Creative Khadija
Friday 10th of February 2017
This looks really interesting idea. I am a fan of vintage stickers & this clock idea is amazing! Thanks for sharing.