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Knock Off Ballard Designs Wall Clock for under $15

This project was one that came about by accident.  Last fall, I stopped by one of my favorite antique/junk haunts.  It was a great day because I found a lot of wonderful things – a barn door covered with hay that was transformed to this, a vintage child’s sled that I used here, shutter panels, four corbels, and some rusty old hardware.

After I paid the owner and was getting everything loaded up, I spotted a round piece of wood behind some other junk.  I asked the owner what it was and he said it had been a small tabletop and then said, “if you can make something out of that, you can have it!”  That’s right – for FREE! 
I knew I wanted to make an oversized clock out of this wooden tabletop, so I searched the online sites of my favorite home decor stores to find one that I liked and could copy!  I decided on this one, Lanier Wall Clock from Ballard Designs.  Did you catch the price – $229! 
I used a creamy white chalk paint to paint the tabletop and it took two light coats.  Then, I cut my own Roman numeral stencils and my husband helped me with the number placement (I’m more of an eyeball-it person and he is a measurer).   Once the stencils were in their proper places, I filled them in with black craft paint.  

The Ballard Designs clock looks like it is made from several wood planks placed together.  I thought about carving grooves in the wood, but in the end, I lightly drew some pencil lines and then went over them just once with a utility knife to give the line a little depth.
I did some sanding around the edges of the clock face and then applied clear wax to the entire piece and just a little bit of dark wax.  Once the wax cured, I buffed it to a nice sheen.
I purchased the clock hands and movement mechanism from Klockit.   Here are the hands I used and here is the high torque quartz movement mechanism.  The high torque movement is needed to move the extra long hands.    The shipping time for Klockit was great and in no time, my clock was ready to hang!   

I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on my clock and people are surprised that I made it – so I think this project was a success!  The best part – the cost to make my oversized wall clock ended up being under $15!

Oversized Wall Clock from Old Tabletop

Tuesday 4th of December 2018

[…] was the end to a great day when Doreen from Hymns and Verses scored a free tabletop on top of all her other junk store […]

suzanne

Thursday 28th of December 2017

I am your latest follower (from Australia). Love your work, you talented lady! Would love a tutorial on how to make your own stencils if you get the time (no pun intended). Thrilled that I found you. Happy 2018. Suzanne

Bobbi Sauban-Coleman

Sunday 1st of July 2018

yes i would like to know how you made the stencils too:) cant even find any to buy

Nisha

Monday 28th of August 2017

this is a nice post and so beautiful clock I love it. thanks for sharing with us.

Jenna Wilson

Tuesday 9th of May 2017

Can you give me a link for the hands for your clock? Thanks

Doreen Cagno

Tuesday 16th of May 2017

So sorry. The last link wasn't right. Here's the correct link: https://www.klockit.com/12-black-spade-hour-and-minute-hand-set.html

Doreen Cagno

Tuesday 16th of May 2017

Sure. Here's the link: https://www.klockit.com/clock-hands.html

AC

Sunday 6th of November 2016

Doreen I love the clock you made and really love that you shared it for anyone to make. I have been sick with breast cancer and am trying to find hobbies to keep myself busy so I've been having my husband bring home pallets. Can you please share the size of the clock mechanism and what size your clock is. I am making one 36" and unsure what to order from Klockit.

Doreen Cagno

Friday 11th of November 2016

Hi. I am so sorry to hear about your cancer diagnosis, but love that you are keeping busy with some fun things. I made the clock so long ago, but I think the clock was about 24". Here's the link to the movement mechanism I used from Klockit: https://www.klockit.com/high-torque-quartz-clock-movement.html. Here is the link to the hands I purchased: https://www.klockit.com/12-black-spade-hour-and-minute-hand-set.html I hope this helps and will pray for you.