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Paint Chip Clock

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This clock is one of my favorite decoupage projects. It’s a paint chip craft taken to a different level. There are some really awesome paint chip projects out there, but I was determined to come up with something a little different. That’s when crackle medium entered the picture and this paint chip clock was born!

 

I’ve had this rooster clock for quite a few years. It was one of those clocks you buy on a gift website or in a gift shop. Nothing special, but it was cute. However, it really didn’t fit in my decor anymore so I took it down from the wall and tucked it away in a cabinet in my craft room. Last week I had picked up a bunch of red toned paint chips from WalMart. I knew I wanted to make something with them, I just hadn’t decided what yet. Then one day it just hit me. The clock!

If you want to make one of these or something similar, you will need:

an old clock
paint chips
sand paper
crackle medium

Vintage white acrylic paint
paintbrushes
Mod Podge
antiquing gel
scrapbook paper

So I pulled out the clock, removed the mechanism and sanded down the face.

I laid out the paint chips across the front of the clock to make sure I had enough and that there would be enough to cover. I made sure to alternate the colors as well. I even changed them around a bit after taking this picture, positioning most of the dark colors toward the center. I was careful to keep them in the order that I wanted them as I laid them down on the work surface.

I really wanted to do something different. There’s a lot of awesome paint chip art out there, and they are all awesome, but I wanted mine to be a bit more unique. So I pulled out the crackling medium and gave each paint chip a thin coat.

When the crackle medium dried I added a coat of Vintage White. The beauty of this is that you don’t have to paint a base coat because the paint chips serve as the base coat! The crackle medium went to work and started “aging” the finish right away.

When the paint chips are dry, add a coat of acrylic matte finish spray sealer.

After the paint chip strips had dried for a while, I started in the middle of the clock and using some Mod Podge and a paintbrush attached them to the clock. I did not Mod Podge the top yet, just the side that attached to the clock.

NOTE: You can see where I accidentally removed some of the Vintage White. That was from me trying to smooth the paint chips down on to the Mod Podge. That’s when I realized that I needed to add the spray sealer to the paint chips, to keep the crackled finish from peeling off. It worked out ok, made it look chippy where I made my oops :) 

After attaching all the paint chips to the clock I let it dry a bit, then turned it over and used a box cutter to trim away the excess. I turned it face up again and trimmed away about an 1/8″ or so from the edge.

It was looking pretty cool so far, but I thought it needed something else…

So I thinned some antiquing gel with water and applied it with an old rag. I rubbed it on gently then wiped it off. I repeated this step in a few areas until I was happy with the result. I wasn’t completely sure how this would work since I had to add a coat of sealer to the chips earlier, but it worked like a charm.

I set the clock aside to dry for a while and went to work on the numbers. Unfortunately there’s something wrong with my Silhouette machine or I would have just cut the numbers with that. But since I couldn’t I just used a piece of scrapbook paper and printed reversed numbers on the back. They have to be reversed so that when you cut them out the colored side of the paper will have the numbers in the right direction.

After cutting out one of the numbers I realized that the numbers were blending with the clock colors rather than standing out. Easy fix! I pulled out the antiquing gel and used it to make the scrapbook paper darker. Paint on, wipe off.

It took a while to get all the numbers cut out!

I began by adding the numbers 3, 6, 9, and 12 with Mod Podge. I did add Mod Podge over the top of the numbers at this point.

Once all the numbers were in place, I gave the entire surface a good coat of Mod Podge.

When it was completely dry, I put the mechanism back on the clock and hung it on the wall! I’m happy with how it turned out. hope you like it too!

 
Print Project

Paint Chip Clock

Author: Amanda Formaro

Supplies

  • an old clock
  • paint chips
  • 
sand paper
  • 
crackle medium
  • Vintage white acrylic paint
  • paintbrushes
  • Mod Podge
  • 
antiquing gel
  • scrapbook paper

Instructions

  • So I pulled out the clock, removed the mechanism and sanded down the face.
  • I laid out the paint chips across the front of the clock to make sure I had enough and that there would be enough to cover. I made sure to alternate the colors as well. I even changed them around a bit after taking this picture, positioning most of the dark colors toward the center. I was careful to keep them in the order that I wanted them as I laid them down on the work surface.
  • I pulled out the crackling medium and gave each paint chip a thin coat.
  • When the crackle medium dried I added a coat of Vintage White.
  • When the paint chips are dry, add a coat of acrylic matte finish spray sealer.
  • After the paint chip strips had dried for a while, I started in the middle of the clock and using some Mod Podge and a paintbrush attached them to the clock. I did not Mod Podge the top yet, just the side that attached to the clock.
  • After attaching all the paint chips to the clock I let it dry a bit, then turned it over and used a box cutter to trim away the excess. I turned it face up again and trimmed away about an 1/8″ or so from the edge.
  • I thinned some antiquing gel with water and applied it with an old rag. I rubbed it on gently then wiped it off. I repeated this step in a few areas until I was happy with the result.
  • I just used a piece of scrapbook paper and printed reversed numbers on the back. They have to be reversed so that when you cut them out the colored side of the paper will have the numbers in the right direction.
  • I began by adding the numbers 3, 6, 9, and 12 with Mod Podge. I did add Mod Podge over the top of the numbers at this point.
  • Once all the numbers were in place, I gave the entire surface a good coat of Mod Podge.
  • When it was completely dry, I put the mechanism back on the clock and hung it on the wall!

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Amanda Formaro

Amanda Formaro is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four children. She loves to bake, cook, make kid's crafts and create decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years. She is also the editor for the Home & Garden channel at Craft Gossip and owner of FunFamilyCrafts.com.

Latest posts by Amanda Formaro (see all)

Comments

  1. Mel the Crafty Scientist says

    Love your blog and this project – so creative and fun and I’m a big fan of paint chip projects! Just wanted to let you know I featured it in my roundup of clock re-dos and makeovers here. Feel free to check it out if you want and hope you like it! : )

    -Mel

    Reply

  4. Olivia. says

    Hey. I was trying this last night and today im not making a clock just more like some kinda little artwork. and wanted to try this affect with the paint chips. but I cant get my crackle to work. I followed your instructions. I added the crackle straight to the paint chips let it dry completly then added the white paint…and it did not crackle at all. Any ideas on what i did wrong?

    Reply

    • Amanda says

      Hi Olivia :) Be sure to follow the directions on the back of the bottle of your crackle medium. If you let it dry too long crackling will not occur. You want it to be a little tacky still when you add a coat of paint. Good luck!

      Reply

        • Olivia. says

          So I tried this Again. The first Problem was the kind of crackle i was using. wasn’t the kind i wanted. So i went to hobby lobby and bought the Delta Crackle Cermacoat.. And Well I followed the Directions and it still isnt crackling I have no idea what i am doing wrong.

          Reply

  5. Amy says

    Just wondering if it would work to attach the paint chips to the clock first, then “crackle” and paint them all at once? It’s a lovely clock, and I want to try it myself!

    Reply

    • Amanda says

      Hi Amy. I am sure you could do that, HOWEVER I would recommend making sure you don’t get any of the Mod Podge on the front of the paint chips while attaching them to the clock. That might cause issues with the crackling affect. So as long as you glue the chips down first being careful not to get anything on the front of them, then do your crackle and paint it should work. :)

      Reply

  7. Jeanette Porter says

    Fantatic clock – would I be ale to print out theinstructions for a mental health craft group that I run?

    Reply

  8. Jeanne says

    I’m so glad I found this! I’ve been wanting a clock for our master bathroom, but haven’t found anything that I liked or would “go” in there. So I thought I would make one, probable paint one. But this idea is great. I can’t wait to make it! Thank you for the tutorial.

    Reply

  11. Lana Bisson says

    I am definitely gonna try this. maybe not on a clock but the technique for sure. I love all your ideas. Im using your idea this month with the lightbulb snowman to teach a class at the senior citizen center where I volunteer at.

    Reply

  12. Laura at Ms. Smartie Pants says

    This is the coolest idea! I have an old clock that I was going to redo, I think you just gave me the idea of what I am going to do with it!

    Reply

  15. MoneySavingEnthusiast says

    Wow! That's amazing! I can't wait to try this.
    I bet you can just make art work like this and frame it too.

    Reply

  17. Seth says

    Awesome idea and it sounds like it was fun to make. I've got so many paint chips and now I've got something to do with them.

    Reply

  25. Judy says

    Now this is truly a unique way of using paint chips. You did an absolutely awesome job. I am hosting a blog party. The link opens up tonight at 8pm EST. I hope you will stop by and join in the fun.

    Reply

  27. Cami says

    This is AMAZING. Seriously. I usually glance over most of the projects on linky parties, but this one caught my eye. I love how you used paint samples…and the crackling? Genius! I love the stain and the numbers. This is GREAT! I will be featuring it on my site sometime this week.
    Cami @ youseriouslymadethat.blogspot.com

    Reply

  30. creativejewishmom/Sara says

    Very nice and original! Paint chips are too hard to come by around here to craft with them, but maybe I could make copies of them and craft with those! Thanks so much for sharing on Craft schooling Sunday!

    Reply

  31. [email protected] Black's Best says

    I love this clock! I'm a bit of a clockaholic and like new ideas. What a creative use of paint chips! I can't believe you came up with all of these steps and the end result looks geat. Very creative!

    Reply

  35. InMyOwnStyle says

    Hi Amanda-

    You are always coming up with the most creative ideas. I am a clock lover – this one is fabulous. I enjoy using paint chips as a paper source and this technique is so cool.
    My best- Diane

    Reply

  36. Katie @ On the Banks of Squaw Creek says

    That is VERY cute! I love the crackly look, and the different shades underneath are perfect!

    Reply

  42. Aaron says

    So completly cleaver and "out of the box". I love it! It turned out amazing. Good job!
    -Aaron

    mudpiesandmarigolds.blogspot.com

    Reply

  51. Lindsay says

    I love this! I love clocks myself, and this one is so pretty…and anyone could make one to match any color scheme in their house – which is awesome!
    Thanks for the great tutorial!
    Lindsay @ Diary of a Crafty Lady

    Reply

  52. Kimberly says

    That's the super coolest clock! You know, we have NO clocks in our house because I can't find any that I like? I may have to try something like this!

    Reply

  56. Kristyn @ Good Gravy Crafts says

    Love this, I just did something similar and used the SAME paper on my clock as you did for your numbers!! What a great way to re-use!

    xx-Kristyn

    Reply

  57. suzi.wollman says

    Well, I have an old clock, and some paint chips, and I'm always trying to think of something to make for my husband (just a regular "I love you" gift, and then it dawned on me that VDay was coming!)

    Reply

  58. Hi, I'm Suz!! says

    Wow, Amanda!! That is so cool!! I guess I haven't been paying attention to the 'paint chip craze'. Your project was a wonderful slap upside the head!!! I want one!!!!

    Thanks for sharing! It turned out great!!

    Hugs ~~ Suz
    inspiringcreativeness.blogspot

    Reply

  59. Morgan says

    Wow! How very creative! I love how your clock came out! I even loved how it looked after you'd just sanded over the original, with the rooster/background all faded out! LOL Thanks so much for sharing your masterpiece…another example of "oh! just think of the possibilities!" :) ~M

    Reply

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