Look What I Did With A $5 Tabletop!

Let me show you how I transformed a discarded, old and beat-up tabletop into a thing of beauty! Ready-made oversize clocks are too expensive for my budget, so I made a diy version for a fraction of the cost.
I've seen all sorts of diy garden clocks around the web. But I wanted mine to be a "living" clock by placing plants in buckets that are attached at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 locations. I chose to use faux succulents since live plants would have to be kept watered.
Since I want to hang it outside or on a porch, my clock is faux, but it could easily be made into a working one with the addition of a clock mechanism. One of the nicest things about this project is that using a round tabletop provides you with a perfectly round clock face to start with - no attaching boards together and cutting into a circle with a jigsaw involved!
Here's the before. Hard to imagine that this old tabletop could be turned into anything worthwhile!
The very first thing to do is to attach "D" ring hangers to the back. Follow that up with a coat or two of paint. Chalky finish paint was used for this project - a coat of solid gray and then a watered down coat of white to give it the weathered look. I would also add a coat of waterproof sealer if I were going to hang the clock outside.
Attach the pipe clamps where the buckets will be located with a screw. Adjust the opening of each clamp to hold the buckets in place. Glue everything to the clock face using epoxy glue, but place it all into position prior to gluing in case any placement adjustments need to be made. Supplies used: "D" ring hangers, pipe clamps, garden tools, small metal buckets, live or faux plants, clock hands, unpainted wood knob, compass stencil, black craft paint, epoxy, screws and a screwdriver.
I used decorative gardening tools to give my clock a bright and cherry look, but you can use old and crusty ones if you prefer a more rustic look.
It looks great displayed above a potting bench, on a porch, on the side of a shed or even indoors!
Suzy @ Worthing Court Blog
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Diane Meland Diane Meland on May 28, 2020

    What size is the table top?

  • Diane Meland Diane Meland on May 30, 2020

    I didn't get the size of the table top, and where can you get 1 for little money? I want to make 1 for myself and our Daughters /birthday is the same as mine and I want to make her 1 and give it to her for her Birthday.

  • Barbara Barbara on Nov 06, 2020

    Where did you find the large clock mechanism?

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  • Diane Meland Diane Meland on May 28, 2020

    Yes, I think that is the cutest clock I have ever seen. I too want to put mine outside, so I will add a clock mechanism, so while outside on deck we don't have to run into the house to see the time. I still would like to know whee to get the decorated garden utensils.

    • I found mine at Tuesday Morning, but if you'll do a search on Amazon for "decorative garden tools", several that are similar to mine will pop up.

  • Diane Meland Diane Meland on May 30, 2020

    Suzy, I am not as smart as you so I need the sizes of everything so that I can make this by June 27th, my and my Daughters Birthday as well. The size of the table top and the length of the hands, I am going to make mine funtional and want to get everything ordered. If you could help me out I would appreciate it. Thank you for the great idea ever and your time.

    • See 4 previous
    • Hi Diane. You aren't bothering me at all! I'm happy to try to help as much as I can. I'm 66, so I'm right there with you. Take care!

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