Y’all it’s Trash to Treasure Tuesday! Do you know what that means? My blogger friends and I have sweet DIY inspiration for you. {{happy dance}} You’ll see their projects in a bit. For me, I’m all about this pile of rusty goodness below. It’s been a couple years in the making, but I’m finally sharing my salvage clock – my junkified creation.
In case you’re not sure what these are, this is a pile of patina perfection found in these antique embossed doorknob backplates complete with skeleton key escutcheons. eep! (I dare you to say that five times fast!)
Will ya just look at that gorgeousness?!? The detail floors me. I run my fingers over it wondering how many hands have touched this same surface over the years.
THE STORY BEHIND MY JUNK
It was about 5 years ago I headed to pick up our milk from the farm we have a herd share with. On my route, I spied a home having a garage sale. If you have experience, you know when it’s really a garage sale or a hoarder unloading some loot. This was the latter and here’s why.
The place was filled with #trashure! Rusty lanterns, curiosities that make your eyes pop, vintage phones, lamps, art, tools galore…you get the idea! The other dead giveaway was that these weren’t garage sale prices either. tsk. I knew this guy knew his stuff, so I had to take my time to find a real bargain.
My loot ended up being a stack of old hand saws that I turned into signs like these…
I also did a few other designs that had scripture, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” Psalm 127
Though he thought me loony, I talked him into letting me buy one of his rusty milk crates. He kept saying, “but it’s so rusty…are you sure?” He had NO IDEA who he was talking too. hee hee. That crate became this…
Notice all of my purchases were RUSTY. yassss… Happy ending for them all so far. All those items have long-since sold from my shop. However, I still had this pile of backplates that needed to become something new. Originally, I almost bought all he had, but decided to settle on these that matched.
TIME TO BUILD
Here comes the fun part…putting together the vision I’ve held in my head for oh so long. First order of business was to find some knobs. About a year or so ago I went on eBay and searched for door knob lots that had at least twelve in them. Finally, I found this lot and am stoked to put them to use.
Then, after their arrival, this whole loot sat for about a year. haha! I had no intention of taking this long, but life happens, and you have to do the have-to’s. Know what I mean?
Now that today is finally here where I can put it all together, I’m more than happy than a kid in the candy store. Next, I dig in my stash of wood and pull out a few boards. The super long one is a piece of tongue and groove siding I found during last year’s city cleanup curb run on the street behind me.
However, the other piece is from a workbench that I found the year prior a street over from me. Can you tell I have fun?!?
Last, I cut it all to length with my handy-dandy mini circular saw and put it all together with a dry fit.
ASSEMBLY TIME & REVEAL
Since part of it was tongue and groove and part not, I used my pocket hole jig to assemble it. Plus, I also used a thin piece of luan as added reinforcement stapled to the back with my stapler.
After that, I needed to use my Dremel with plunge router attachment to make a spot for the clock works. Can I just say I love this tool and all the attachments it offers? woot!
Then, I headed to the local hardware store to find bolts that would hold each of the randomly sized doorknobs. At long last, my long-awaited salvage clock is done!
Finally, I can see it up and keeping time just fine. My salvage clock sure tells an interesting story, don’t you think? You can see all my other clock creations in these posts too.
Well, I had fun with it and I hope you did too. If you’d like to own this clock, you can find it available in my online store with all my other finds and creations.
Do pin and share my salvage clock junkified creation. I’m sure I’m not the only one with a love for trashure.
Up next, I have a huge surprise for you! Take a peek HERE.
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Time to see what my blogger friends have worked on for you!
More junkified projects like my salvage clock:
Susan Sosbe says
Oh my goodness…I LOVE this! Your visions are amazing. I always do a little “squee!” in my head when I see new posts from you. Scrolling down and reading through…it’s like slowly unwrapping a present to savor it 🙂
Catherine Klose says
You just keep amazing me with your ability to think “outside the box”. This clock is just gorgeous Larissa! Well done!!!!
Larissa says
aww…that’s funtastic to hear. I had a blast with it. Thank you, Catherine. 😀
Nancy E Sharp says
That is fantastic. Love it!
Larissa says
Happy dance! Nancy, I had such fun with this. It made my junk-lovin’ heart happy! 😀
Christy James says
Simply amazing! Love how this came together and imagine all the hands that have turned those knobs over time! XOXO
Larissa says
It gives me goosebumps, really! 😀 Thank you, Christy.
Cate says
Larissa, this IS A KEEPER!! I’m fairly creative but would never have thought of this! THANK YOU!!
Larissa says
You’ve made my day, Cate! 😀 Thank you for the extra smile and giggle today.
Lynn says
Your posts are always my first read of the day. I love that we share the same love of chippy, rusty beautifulness! Your ideas and projects inspire me.
Larissa says
Lynn, what a blessing you are! I just love to hear from my readers and your words mean so much. Thank you!
Rena says
Truly amazing what ideas you carry around in your head……love to watch!
Larissa says
Thank you bunches! I have such fun sharing my work. I’m delighted to hear from you and my readers.
Marie says
Oh my word, do I LOVE this clock, Larissa! Seriously, if I lived in the USA I would grab it from your shop (assuming it’s for sale). If that guy could see his backplates now.
Larissa says
I wish you were so I could hug you! 😀 I would give it to you in a heartbeat! {{hugs}}
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
Such perfect farmhouse decor!! And so creative, as usual!! xoxo
Larissa says
Thank you so much, Nancy. I had a blast, can you tell?
Kaycee says
Hi Larissa, Wowzers girl, look at the beautiful creation of yours. Each piece of this clock works perfectly with the next. Fantastic work my friend!!!
Larissa says
Oh so fun!! I enjoyed every bit. Thank YOU for taking the time to show love!
Cheryl Atkinson says
Hi Larissa! This is just awesome all over. I wish i had your creative brain….and your tools. 🙂 Thank you for all your wonderful makeovers.
Larissa says
What a treat to hear, Cheryl. It is my absolute pleasure, to share. Thanks!
Lauren Shaver says
Girl! You are a genius!
Larissa says
Or kinda crazy, but I like genius better. haha. Thanks, Lauren. 😉
Mary says
That is such a fun upcycle Larissa. I had no idea you were going to do this.
Larissa says
hahaha…yippee!! I’m so glad I caught you off guard. 🙂 Just kidding! Thank you, Mary.
Jen @ Girl in the Garage says
What a creative upcycle Larissa!
Larissa says
Thank you, Jen. It was fun to get it out of my head. 🙂
Cyndee@Restyled-Junk says
That turned out so cute! And I totally would have grabbed those things from the curb too!
Larissa says
You are a smart gal, Cyndee! 😀
Dawn Ziccardi says
Oh wow! That is gorgeous! You are so creative. I would love to have something like that in my home. I have glass knobs throughout my home so it would have been a perfect addition. Do you ever regret not keeping some of the items that sold?
Larissa says
Awww…thank you, Dawn. I have original glass knobs in my home as well and they make my heart happy. Yes, I absolutely do. Living in a small home affords very little “keepers”, so you know the ones I do keep are dear to me. hugs! 🙂