• About
  • Artist Resources
    • Classes
  • Portfolio
    • Illustrations
    • Surface Pattern Designs
    • Typography
  • Work With Me
    • Disclosure & Privacy Policy
  • Contact

LZ Cathcart

Delightful designs and illustrations.

  • Blog
    • Crafts
    • Decor
    • Holidays
    • Living
    • SVG Files
  • Shop
    • Apparel
    • Art Prints
    • Mugs
    • Phone Cases
    • Pillows
    • Stickers
    • Tote Bags
    • SVG Vector Art
  • Freebies
  • Sign In
    • Shop Policies
  • 0 items

Living

How to Make a DIY Wood Slice Clock

This post may include affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. Please read my disclosure policy for more details.

Tweet
Pin874
Share40
914 Shares

Have you been looking for an easy and rustic way to bring in a clock to your home? Learn how with this amazing DIY wood slice clock in a few simple steps!

How to Make a DIY Wood Slice Clock

DIY Wood Clock

Hello friends! I have to admit that today’s DIY Wood Slice Clock project absolutely tickled me pink to create. You already know that my favorite creations are out of natural items, but this little sweetheart brought together a few different elements that are near and dear to my heart.

Mike (aka. super talented hubby) and I purchased our current home almost a year ago (jeez time flies!), and not only were we very fortunate to find a fixer-upper home at a reasonable price but it also included five acres.

Learn how to create GORGEOUS signs with
my FREE guide!

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.

    Mike would like to have many, many, many, manyyyy more acres than this, but for now it is perfect for achieving our goals.

    With that being said, with many acres included also means a lot of outdoor work! Our home is surrounded by plenty of trees so we have a lot to take care of on both the outside as well as the inside.

    DIY Projects Out of Wood

    Thankfully for me (aka. frugal-nature-girl) I am in a wonderland of creative DIY projects and events to say the least! For instance, do you remember when I did my DIY branch curtain rod or even the tree stump table? They were so much fun to make!

    DIY reclaimed wood clock

    How To Make a DIY Wood Slice Clock

    Above is the current clock that I have been using in the studio. Honestly, I don’t really mind it. It has a clean, simple and modern style. However, heaven forbid I leave well enough alone!

    Here are step-by-step directions for how to make a DIY wood clock of your own.

    1.) Take A Working Clock Apart

    The first step is to find a clock that works and take it apart. Just lay out all the pieces on the table.

    diy wood slab clock

    2.) Find a Wood Slice

    Next, I grabbed one of the wood slices from the tree that Mike had cut down for the studio. P.S. Did you see the last studio update? We’re making progress!!

    3.) Cut a Hole in the Middle of the Wood Slice

    Then, cut through the middle of the wood slice in order to put the battery operated clock mechanism into it. I wanted to be able to easily change the battery so having the backside open was a must!

    NOTE: Please remember that whenever you use wood, or bring anything into your home from outdoors you must always thoroughly clean and disinfect.

    tree trunk wall clock

    4.) Tape or Glue the Clock Mechanism In Place

    The wood slice is obviously very heavy and extremely strong so cutting this hole was a chore, and furthermore was not exactly a piece of cake getting it to be a perfect size for the clock mechanism part. So, in order to get it to stay, I taped it into place on one side and then turned it over to insert the hot glue.

    tree stump clock

    After the hot glue had dried I turned it back over, and then inserted hot glue into any holes that it did not reach.

    how to turn a wood slice into a clock
    Design a beautiful wood slice clock in a few simple steps!

    The backside isn’t the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen, but it is functional and allows me access to the battery.

    diy wooden clock plans

    5.) Create the Numbers on the Clock’s Face

    Finally, the fun part! I got to use my handy dandy Silhouette CAMEO to add the Roman numerals around the wood slice.

    When making a clock, do the numbers have to be perfectly centered?

    You might notice that a few of my numerals are a little off-center. Since my wood slice was not a perfect circle/oval/whatever it was a little bit of a challenge getting everything to line up. In the end, I gave it my best and then decided to embrace the imperfections. Nothing in nature is absolutely symmetrical or perfect so why should this clock be?

    6.) Attach the Clock’s Hands

    Last, but not least… I was able to enjoy the end results. Yay!

    In case you were wondering, I did use my favorite spray paint again. Rust-Oleum Oil Rubbed Bronze.

    Have you been looking for an easy and rustic way to bring in a clock to your home? Learn how with this amazing DIY wood slice clock in a few simple steps!

    Have a wonderful weekend, and see ya next week,

    Pssttt…. Don’t forget to check out my DIY projects page chocked full of DIY and decorating goodness!

    Looking for more reclaimed wood inspired DIY projects?

    • DIY Reclaimed Wood Pumpkins
    • How to Build a Potting Bench with Reclaimed Wood
    • Fairy Tale Reclaimed Wood Signs
    Have you been looking for an easy and rustic way to bring in a clock to your home? Learn how with this amazing DIY wood slice clock in a few simple steps!

    Let’s be Social

    • Instagram @thesummeryumbrella
    • Facebook The Summery Umbrella
    • Pinterest summeryumbrella 
    • DIY Flowers Quote Wood Sign
    • we still do svg
      We Still Do Wood Sign
    • funny laundry room sign
      DIY Laundry Sign
    • How to Paint Your Metal Front Door
    • how to paint metal bar stools
      How to Paint and Distress Metal Bar Stools
    • How to Create a Pretty and Functional Chicken Coop
    • Easy Hand Lettered DIY Wood Sign
    • diy mason jar pendant light
      DIY Mason Jar Pendant Light
    • DIY Nightstand

    This post was originally created in August 2015, and then updated in August 2020.


    17 Comments

    About LZ Cathcart

    LZ is an artist who loves creating illustrations, custom hand lettering and patterns for gifts, home decor, fabric, and wallpaper. She is also the creative mind behind The Summery Umbrella where she shows you how to make handmade signs, various DIY projects and gorgeous home decor.

    When she’s not dreaming up new projects and designs you can typically find her drinking her fair share of coffee, hanging out with her super handy husband and her sweet and sassy daughter. They all have a hard time sitting sit so this family is constantly on the go!

    Don’t Miss Out!

    Learn how to create GORGEOUS signs with my FREE guide. It's the perfect source for getting started and moving forward!

    « DIY Farmers Market Sign PLUS Free SVG Cut File Just for You!
    Create an Easy DIY Macrame Plant Hanger »

    Comments

    1. Hollie says

      April 24, 2015 at 1:18 pm

      My goodness that is clever!!

      Reply
      • LZ Cathcart says

        April 24, 2015 at 6:07 pm

        Thank you Hollie! Just checked out your creative date night recommendations… love them!! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Nikki Frank-Hamilton says

      May 3, 2015 at 9:17 pm

      LZ, this is so you and so cool! I love it. Did you and Danielle dig out the center? I can see you two laughing and sweating and maybe a little swearing. But it was worth it, wasn’t it! Love it.

      Reply
      • LZ Cathcart says

        May 4, 2015 at 3:16 pm

        Believe it or not, Danielle is actually in SC and I’m in NC. However, if she was closer I would most definitely make her cut out the middle of this wood slice! Definitely not the easiest part of this project!! Swearing? Us? Lol. I’ll just leave it at that!

        Reply
    3. Jude says

      August 11, 2015 at 2:09 am

      Where oh where can I get the clock works (the hands-never seen any like them b4). My sister is doing a wall of clocks & I would love to make this for her.

      Reply
      • LZ Cathcart says

        August 11, 2015 at 10:30 pm

        Hi Jude! This particular set was from a clock I had, but you can definitely buy just the clock “innards” on Amazon or even at Michaels. Good luck 🙂

        Reply
    4. mary springer says

      March 4, 2017 at 12:44 pm

      Wow..caught my eye quickly! not a fan of clocks but love this! Nice post like others to,nice site simple yet divine! In TN myself and just starting blogging recently..long way to go lol….fourcatsandact.com hope to know you more following pinning sharing!

      Reply
      • LZ Cathcart says

        March 8, 2017 at 8:10 pm

        Hi Mary and welcome! I completely understand about clocks. It’s not one of my typical posts, but I just had so much fun creating this beauty. Happy blogging 🙂

        Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. How To Make A Clock - Collection - Clever Current says:
      June 16, 2016 at 9:53 pm

      […] Check out the article from The Summery Umbrella here – DIY Wood Slice Clock […]

      Reply
    2. Ideas on How To Add Wood Slice Decorations For A Cozier Home - Homesthetics - Inspiring ideas for your home. says:
      September 29, 2016 at 1:44 pm

      […] Source  thesummeryumbrella.com […]

      Reply
    3. 15 Amazing & Easy DIY Wood Craft Project Ideas for Home Decor says:
      October 14, 2016 at 8:25 am

      […] Tutorial: thesummeryumbrella.com […]

      Reply
    4. 20 Creative Project Ideas Using Wood Slices - DIY CHICKS says:
      August 25, 2017 at 7:59 pm

      […] Source & Project : thesummeryumbrella […]

      Reply
    5. Things to make out of scrap wood : Woodshop project ideas – ProWoodpecker says:
      July 3, 2018 at 2:14 am

      […] the perfect 'Time' to build a clock. I just love the way how The Summery Umbrella has created this amazing clock out of a […]

      Reply
    6. DIY Clock Ideas – ProWoodpecker says:
      July 17, 2018 at 2:55 am

      […] the perfect 'Time' to build a clock. I just love the way how The Summery Umbrella has created this amazing clock out of a […]

      Reply
    7. 35+ Amazing DIY Wood Log Decoration Ideas For Your Home says:
      October 4, 2018 at 11:46 pm

      […] Source […]

      Reply
    8. Best Ways to Use Wood Slice in Your Home Decor - DIYCraftsGuru says:
      February 27, 2019 at 12:49 pm

      […] thesummeryumbrella […]

      Reply
    9. How to Make Butterfly Specimen Art for Spring | LZ Cathcart says:
      April 13, 2020 at 4:19 pm

      […] Wood Slice Clock […]

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Hi! I'm LZ, and welcome to my humble abode! Don't be shy. Come on in! This is my happy place where I share my life, creativity as well as my quirky and country sense of humor on a daily basis. So, grab yourself a tall glass of something yummy, and let me introduce you to my realm. :)

    I want to find…

    Post Categories

    Featured On

    Let’s be social

    Day 25 - Who knew that painting coral could be so Day 25 - Who knew that painting coral could be so complicated?! I started off with a completelyyyy different version, and quite frankly, I was so disappointed in it. However, I just kept playing with the design until finally... this lovely was accomplished! The colors are all from the original piece, and then I used a clipping mask over this new design. All these textures just make my heart sing!! #lzcathcart #thesummeryumbrella  #illustration_daily #dailyillustration #30daychallenge #30daydesignchallenge #artistcommunity #handcraft #illustrationnow #designchallenge #printart #designaday #thatsdarling #supporthandmade #designingdaily #instagramartist #rusticillustration #oceanprint #sealife #sealifeart #sealifeillustration #summervibes #summerart #dreamingofsummer #coralart #coralreef #corals #coralillustration #coralprint #oceanlifeart
    Day 23 - I'm a huge fan of Finding Nemo and an obv Day 23 - I'm a huge fan of Finding Nemo and an obvious quote fanatic... ;) So, you know that whenever I see these beauties I'm totally thinking about the conversation between Marlin and Crush. “You've got serious thrill issues, dude.” Lol.
    Day 21 - Is the start of the sea life section of t Day 21 - Is the start of the sea life section of this amazing challenge! If you haven't noticed... I've been using a lot of warm tones as much as I can. I tend to be a very cold-natured person so during the winter months, I do my very best to think all things summer to get me through! Plus, doesn't this seahorse just look so warm and toasty in its environment?
    Day 19 - Stargazer Lilies. While I might love... t Day 19 - Stargazer Lilies. While I might love... truly love... all flowers, the stargazer lily has always held a very special place in my heart. How do I even explain? They're just a wonderful combination of tropical yet southern, but exotic yet familiar. Happy, playful, soothing, and fragrant. 🥰
    Day 17 - Have you ever grown Sweet Pea Flowers? I Day 17 - Have you ever grown Sweet Pea Flowers? I have not, but after doing my research for this piece I'm tempted to try my hand at it this coming season. They are so pretty and come in such a lovely color palette!
    Day 15 - Bumblebees. I have countless videos of th Day 15 - Bumblebees. I have countless videos of these gorgeous insects buzzing around my azaleas in vibrant shades of magenta every spring. With that being said, I just couldn't resist capturing a similar illustration to remind me of those delectable and much warmer days.
    Follow on Instagram

    Copyright © 2021 · LZ Cathcart of The Summery Umbrella, LLC

    Log in