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A Christmas tree decorated with various vintage clocks and glittery ornaments. The tree is dusted with faux snow, creating a wintry effect. Each clock shows a different time, adding a whimsical touch to the festive display.
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DIY Vintage Christmas Ornaments with Old Clock Faces

A fun tutorial on how to make DIY Vintage Christmas ornaments with clock faces.
Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Cost$10-$20

Equipment

  • Drill
  • Hot glue gun
  • Scissors

Materials

  • Print out my FREE CLOCK FACE PRINTABLES
  • Round wood discs or canvas discs
  • Wood ornament shapes
  • Mod podge
  • Archival ink
  • Twine or ribbon
  • Clock hands
  • Gold brads
  • Black craft paint
  • Clear spray sealer
  • Foam brush
  • Paper towel
  • Dark wax

Instructions

  •  Step 1: Print the Clock Faces: Make as many copies as needed of my FREE CLOCK FACE PRINTABLES.
  • Step 2: Choose Your Ornament Base
  • Decide what kind of base you want to use to make your new ornaments. I purchased wooden discs at the craft store that were 6.5" around and 3.5" around. These fit the artwork perfectly. 
  • In addition, I also purchased a few round paint canvases and a few wood DIY ornaments in a package of 4 that were in the shape of an ornament. Be creative and try different sizes and shapes.

.  Step 3: Drill holes in the discs:

  • Using a hand drill or a drill press, drill a small hole at the top of the ornament to run a string through to hang them.
  • Step 4: Prepare the Surface
  • Choose your paint colors. I used Annie Sloan dark wax and black acrylic craft paint.
  • For the clock faces, I stained them using dark wax, but first, I used Mod Podge to attach the clock faces.
  • For the black bases, I painted the entire surface of the disc black on the front and back before adding the clock faces. 
  • Another idea would be to decoupage the disc before adding the clock face. Use book pages, old sheet music, or a paper napkin.  
  • Step 5: Adding a Vintage look: 

 Antiquing with wax:

  • Using the dark wax, add a bit to a cloth and dab it onto the clock face to distress the ornament. (to get a darker color, add a second layer after the first layer dries)
  • Using various colors of the archival ink pads is a great way to add additional distressing and dimension. 

Add Clock Hands:

  • Use vintage clock hands if you can. If not, you can always use new ones or print them and cut them out. 
  • I drilled a hole in the middle of the disc, placed my clock hands over the hole, and put a brad through the hole. 
  • Add a few hot glue dots to the back to secure the brad.

Step 6: Embellishing:

  • The perfect way to add a little glitz is with glitter! So fun and easy. 
  •  You can also add some other vintage pieces you may have collected from old jewelry or trimmings from your craft closet. 

Step 6: Finishing touches:

  • Once your clock faces are complete, spray them with a clear sealer to protect them for years.