Hello, amazing friends! Today, I have a simple holiday craft for you! I’m sharing how to turn a clock into a shadow box. In this case, a holiday shadow box!
This was part of a blog tour of holiday crafts back in 2018, and I thought it was a fun one to share as the big holiday is coming near.
I started with this fabulous clock I found for half off of $5 at the thrift store:
Y’all know I love a clearance at the thrift store! The best! It had that weird off-center knob on the top that was in place of a handle that was there originally, so maybe that’s why there were no takers?
This wasn’t just any clock!
Behind the clock was a secret hidden jewelry box. No burglar would ever think to look there!
All the innards came out though and I ended up accidentally doing this to it:
Whoopsie. Nothing a little wood glue and filler couldn’t fix…
I knew I wanted the focus to be a photo, but that is all I knew at this point.
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Paint
I started by painting the box in two coats of white paint. Then I sanded and sealed with Clear Wax.
Then, here is what I used to pull the rest together:
1. Festive paper to line the inside
3. Medium sized Christmas Tree
4. Miniature battery-operated lights
5. Drill (That’s my favorite!) and small drill bit
7. Something cute to decorate the inside
8. Buffalo Snow Flurries (Hands-down the BEST faux snow there is!)
9. Cute sign for the top
To line the inside, I cut the paper to fit and adhered it with double-sided tape.
Next, I drilled a small hole in the back to feed the lights through:
Michels wanted way too much for their miniature battery-operated lights, but I got super lucky when I came across the fairy garden section and it was all 70% off. That included miniature battery-operated lights! I picked these up for only 99¢!
I pulled the lights through and wrapped them around my tree:
I had to remove the white stand that was on the bottom of the tree so it would fit, then I used the Gorilla Glue to secure it in place.
I added my babies’ photo next and secured the deer to the bottom with Gorilla Glue as well. A little faux snow finished it off inside.
Turn a Clock into a Shadow Box Reveal
Here’s this clock now as a shadow box:
This photo is a favorite from several Christmases ago…
Here you can see the faux snow…
To secure the sign on top, I drilled two tiny holes in the front and ran floral wire through it so I could attach it to the new knob I added…
That one off-centered-knob-on-the-top came in handy after all.
You can barely notice the wire coming through the front:
I added that little embellishment on the corner of the sign and that was that!
And because the lights were fed through the back, I can easily access the battery pack to turn them on and off.
This would make a sweet gift for someone special with meaningful mementos in it.
You could fill it with just about anything you can imagine…
The possibilities are endless!
And here it is on our coffee table during my last Christmas home tour back in 2022:
It casts a cozy glow at night!
I don’t share our holiday home every year because I don’t change our holiday decor much from year to year as I really like it the way it is. Everything looks pretty similar this year to our last home tour except for our tree.
Our tree has changed quite a bit!
I snapped a couple of quick photos with my phone this week…
The topper is actually a wreath I stuck up there for something different…
This is one packed tree and I love it!
Maybe I’ll change things up next year and share our whole home tour again.
If you have a minute, you can take that 2022 Christmas Home Tour HERE if you like! Just don’t look at that old tree ha ha!
I am so glad you took a minute to stop by today! I hope you enjoyed this quick last minute holiday project!
Now this clock was pretty deep, but you can absolutley do it with a more shallow one as well!
I created this one over a decade ago:
You can see more of that super oldie HERE if you like!
Of course I won’t be here on Thursday since we celebrate Christmas, and I plan to take off Tuesday as well. I am hoping to be back next Thursday sharing your favorite furniture makeovers from the past year!
UP NEXT: I recapped all your favorite furniture makeovers from 2025:
UPDATE: See them all HERE now!
❤️❤️❤️
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
EMAIL * INSTAGRAM * FACEBOOK * PINTEREST
Get FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $50. No code needed at checkout! Orders under $50 always enjoy $8 flat rate shipping! Most orders ship same or next business day!
Mary Kaiser says
Oh do I remember that shadow box with those cute boys in it!!! I love that you still have that and use it for Christmas! Your new tree looks so beautiful, and I love it packed with all the ornaments.
Merry Christmas to you and your family! Looking forward to the New Year and watching for your makeovers in 2026! Enjoy your time of with your family!
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! Yep, I still use it. And did you spy your special ornaments on the tree?? I treasure those! Merry Christmas to you and yours as well, and I hope this brand new year brings you many blessings! XOXO
Janice Redden says
Christy, what an adorable, creative idea ! I love it and don’t know how I missed the original post! And your tree, Wow! I thought ours was jam-packed with ornaments…
I wish you and your family the merrierst Christmas, with all the love, joy and peace of the season; the warmth of family and friends and hope for a bright, healthy, happy year ahead.
Christy says
Thank you, Janice! I’m so glad this was new to you! I am wishing you and yours a beautiful Christmas as well, my friend and I can’t wait to see what 2026 has for us! XOXO
Cecilia says
A very Merry Christmas and New Year’s to you and your family! I hope you have a wonderful time with your family.
Hugs, Cecilia
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! I wish you a very merry Christmas as well! See ya in the new year! XOXO
Cyndi says
This is SO clever! So cute! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Christy says
Thank you, Cyndi! Merry Christmas and many blessings to you in the new year! XOXO
Mother Deer says
What a clever idea. Bravo! Merry Christmas to you and your family 🙂
Christy says
Thank you, Mother Deer! Merry Christmas to you and yours as well! XOXO
Jackie C says
Wishing you and yours, a very happy and healthy holiday season.
Merry Christmas! xoxo
Christy says
Thank you, Jackie! Merry Christmas to you as well, my friend, and I’ll see ya in the new year! XOXO
Rose Lefebvre says
Such a cute idea!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Rose! XOXO
Berni says
Love this idea, how creative! I have a bunch of these trees from Hobby Lobby (on sale now) that I put in an old terrarium with lights, but now I’m heading to thrift store to find a clock! Once again I’m going to copy your creative idea! Thanks for all the beautiful projects you have shown us this year. Merry Christmas and keep painting!
Christy says
Thank you, Berni! I bet your terrariums are so pretty all lit up! I hope you find a good clock in your search! Wishing you and yours a lovely Christmas and a wonderful New Year! XOXO
Sharon L Austin says
I love both of those clocks; marvelous idea! Now I’ll be on the lookout for a thrift clock lol
Christy says
Thank you, Sharon! Ha ha…I hope you find one…they’re so fun to redo! XOXO
Camille says
I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!
Couldn’t wait to come to the comments 😄
You have such wonderful creative skills and I often come here for ideas. Thank you so much, and Merry Christmas to you! 🎁🎄
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Camille! I’m so glad you love it! So many possibilities, right?? I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Christmas!! XOXO
Olivia says
What a talented, creative, hard working lady you are, Christy! When l saw the detailed process of you creating the shadow box, l thought that you must be having fun!
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Christy says
Aww thanks so much, Olivia! Yes! This was so fun to do and there are so many ways to create something fun inside! Enjoy the rest of your holidays too! XOXO
Joanne says
Happiest of Holidays to you and your family from Wisconsin. I have a (mostly antique) clock collection so Love anything you do with clocks. You always do an awesome job on your do-overs. Look forward to your projects in 2026.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Joanne! My sister just moved to Racine from Germantown and was in Kenosha before that. I love visiting up there (but not in winter ha ha!). I’m so glad you enjoyed this one…see you in 2026! XOXO
Caye says
That is the sweetest makeover! I love the paper design too. Great job!
Wishing you and your family a warm, sweet Christmas. Have fun, enjoy!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Caye! I hope you and yours enjoyed a wonderful Christmas, my friend, and happy new year! XOXO
Helen Rodgers says
Hi from Niagara Falls Ontario. What a wonderful idea. I will certainly be keeping my eye open for a clock like that thriftying in the new year. Thank you so much for all your ideas and giving me so much insperation. Have a wonderful holiday and looking forward to your make overs in 2026.
All the best.
Christy says
Hi Helen! Thank you so much! I appreciate you following along with me, and I too am looking forward to another year of fun makeovers! XOXO
Michele M. says
Christy, you truly are genius. How on earth do you continually come up with such incredibly clever ideas? This is AWESOME.
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. May your new year be peaceful, successful, happy and healthy. Hugs.
Christy says
Aww you are the sweetest, Michele, thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed this fun project! We had a lovely Christmas…I hope yours was as well. Much health and joy in the new year to you, my friend! XOXO