Clock, To Buy or Not to Buy...

Last year, I tried to revamp a free clock my husband brought home from the trash seven years ago. I sanded and painted the cromed plastic, but was not in love with the now-even-cheaper-looking clock. I came across this tutorial http://alchemyjunk.blogspot.com/2010/01/pottery-barn-clock.html and had some scrap wood from a corny beach sign I had made from scrap (so this was like re-recycling) and set to work.
I loved the result and felt like quite the artsy lady, but wanted the clock to work. I disassembled free hideous clock, but the mechanism wouldn't fit.


I tried to frankenstien the thing, but ended up drilling throught the back of my masterpiece, trying to fix it and ending up with a goth look that I was not going for in my country dining/living area.


I was in mourning for quite awhile, and shopping for clocks was painful. I finally bought this clock. I know. My husband said "You bought THAT clock?!" He only says half of what he means to so the translation is "Seriously! After a year of not having a clock because you were holding out for the perfect clock, after you made your own clock, after you ruined our perfectly good clock THATS the clock you come home with!?"


Look. A clock mechanism is expensive and I have yet to come up with a good solution for how to make my own clock for less than $50, so this is my next best idea. I love the funky design, but the best part is you can customize it, making it your own "hand-made" item. The white frames have the number printed all over them, and they're magnetic. Once you take one off, the number underneath is paper and you can replace it with anything. The clock itself is metal so I'm envisioning removing the frames alltogether and putting on my own magnetic or vinyl numbers. So for now a clock is definitely a "to buy" item, but making my own operational clock is still on my to do list.

Simple Headboard

I have followers! Love you guys, and thanks for checking out the blog. Sunny weather is great for projects, so here's something to inspire you.

Headboards are expensive for a good reason. They are challenging to make, but give a much more finished and “high-end” look to a space. BUT you can make your own if you’re up for it.

An easy place to start is a simple, rectangular, fabric covered headboard. Look for a material’s list and approximate cost for the project at the end of the post.

To make this simple headboard, cut or have your hardware store cut the plywood and 2X2’s down. Use 2 in. screws through the front of the plywood to attach the 2X2’s (they should make a frame on the inside of the plywood and be flush with the outside edge of the plywood). Wrap the batting around the headboard and staple on the back. Wrap the fabric around the batting, pull the fabric tight and staple on the back.


(I know the pics are bad bad bad. I made this many years ago and this is a cropped pic of the headboard)

I did not mount my headboard, but know they sell kits to mount them to the wall. Alternatively you can make it tall enough to drill holes towards the bottom, and use nuts and bolts to attach the headboard to the bed. I’ve always had mine smushed between the bed and the wall, no hardware necessary.

Materials:
1 4X8 sheet of plywood
3 2X2’s
2” wood screws
Batting
2-3 yrds. fabric
Power drill with screw driver attachment
Stapler (heavy duty, like for upholstery)
Staples

Cost:
When I made this headboard, it cost me $60. Fabric is a major expense, so searching clearance at fabric stores or waiting till you have a coupon is a great idea. I reused the plywood base later on to make a more challenging headboard, so it is reusable.

I’m traveling the next three weeks, but will be helping to make a tufted headboard while gone, so I’ll have step-by-step pics and tutorial for that in about four weeks. Have a happy summer and happy headboard building!

In The Begining...

We all want an inviting customized space to call home. This has been a great challenge for me as a student, parent, and long-term apartment dweller. At Hand-Made Home, I'll show-and-tell my mistakes, frustations, and ultimate step-by-step successes.