Skeleton Key Art
I am totally loving the framed skeleton keys, so go figure, I made one for myself!!
I went to Etsy.com and did a search for “skeleton keys”. I finally found some that were the right price and the right size. I paid $6 for this set of 6, but when the seller sent them she threw it two more for free, so I ended up with 8. Perfect!
I sat on these keys for at least a month before I found a frame I liked. I bought it at a thrift store for a few dollars (it was 1/2 off day!).
It’s hard to tell, but this frame is thick like a shadow box.
So the first thing I did was flip it over and rip the paper off. I didn’t bother taking the picture hanger off. I just worked around it.
Once I got the frame apart I took a blade and shaved the image off the glass. Then I just cleaned it really well with Windex.
So next is my favorite part of the entire project. I did the same paper bag technique as the one I did on my large dice decor.
First, take a paper bag and tear it up into random pieces. Then crumble them all up and flatten them out again.
Next I took a school glue/water mixture and painted it right on the front side of the back of the frame.
I just stuck the torn up paper all over the glue. Trust me, this is going to work!
Take your glue mixture and paint it all over the top of the paper now so that it all sticks down nice and flat.
I left it over night to dry. This is how it looks once it’s dry. Isn’t it looking better already?!
Ok so obviously you don’t want all the extra edges, so I took a blade and just carefully sliced them off.
Now my mat is ready for the keys! I seriously LOVE this paper bag technique. I guess it’s like paper mache or mod podge.
I messed around with the layout of the keys for awhile. Finally I settled on this arrangement. I put a dab of hot glue on the back of each key to hold them to the mat.
Don’t the keys against the paper bags just look so fab?!
In addition to the mat and the keys, I also spray painted the frame a brown metallic color and spray painted the top mat with heirloom white. Now it’s time to put it together to see how it looks!
OMG, I seriously am so in love with this.
Having the back of the frame look good isn’t a priority of mine, but I was in an ambitious mood so I decided to finish out the back. First I attached the back mat to the frame with some hot glue. Then I just squirted school glue all over the back of the frame.
After that I just put brown paper on top, smoothed it out, and then cut the edges off with a blade.
Done.
This frame is little, so I chose to hang it in a very small space in my hallway.
It’s so hard to get a good photo of a frame with glass in it! Either my reflection is in it, or there’s a flash on it.
This turned out so much nicer than I pictured it in my head.
I just love it when projects seem to come together effortlessly. I try to start with a loose idea and work with the project, not against it.
I knew I wanted framed skeleton keys. After that I really didn’t have a plan. As I browsed thrift shops, I tried to picture each frame with the keys inside. When I found this one, I just knew it was “the one”.
It still amazes me how much cheaper it is to make your own projects as opposed to buying them retail.
I hope this tutorial has sparked some of your creativity and given you a good starting point to create your own projects!
Have House of Hepworths delivered to your inbox every morning!
Sometimes I participate in these parties: The DIY Showoff, Skip To My Lou, Thrifty Decor Chick, C.R.A.F.T., Tip Junkie, Today's Creative Blog, Blue Cricket Design, Home Stories A to Z, Someday Crafts, House of Hepworths, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Miss Mustard Seed, One Project Closer, Under The Table and Dreaming, Positively Splendid
I {heart} your comments!
Join in on the fun discussion by adding your opinion...
84 Comments
Leave your comment
I {big fat LOVE} your comments! I read all.of.them. (It's true.)
I appreciate all the lovin' you dish out. It makes my day.
THANKS for reading!
* subscribe to House of Hepworths
* join my facebook fan page
* follow me on twitter
Welcome to House of Hepworths! HoH is primarily a Home Blog that specializes in DIY projects and renovations, crafts, and decorating. My name is Allison. My family and I live in Austin, Texas. I'm married to Ben and have two children, a 10 year old son and an almost-8 year old daughter. To find out more or to contact me click 
I like the photo where you show the depth to the case/frame.
This could look good with more modern keys as well.
This is super cute – love the paper bag idea
WOW! That is really cool and for so little $$$! Awesome.
I am SO loving this! I have this post bookmarked … have been looking for skeleton keys. One “antique” store wanted $10 for ONE key! Thanks for sharing!
i love the keys and thank for the idea i have been looking for skeleton keys now i will try online. the paper is cool to.
Sigh…swoon…my heart is going pitter pat.
I love keys! This is so vintage and very cute, I love it! Thanks for sharing!
your key picture box is stunning!
Very cute and crafty of you! Thanks so much for linking to my party and I hope to see more or your awesome projects next Thursday!
Have a great weekend!
tere
This is really cute and I especially like that you matted it in the paper bags!
Such a cool idea!
This turned out great. All of the elements suit one another perfectly.
I am LOVING the background! Love the rustic nature that marries so well with the antique keys, and a wonderful departure from all things burlap. Nice change! Thanks for linking it up to SNS!
FJ Donna
I just wanted to let you know that I featured you here:
http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/2010/05/sunday-spotlight-soys-27-favorites.html
This is fabulous!
I featured you again.
http://thespeckleddog.blogspot.com/2010/05/weekly-faves_16.html
I adore that paper bag technique. What a gorgeous colour to highlight your keys. Love it and may just have to copy it!
Of course you did awesome!! I love the way this turned out…it does look fab!!! Thanks again for linking up!!!
Love it!!! Making some key artwork is on my list of projects I want to make! Yours looks great!
Love it!!! Making some key artwork is on my list of projects I want to make! Yours looks great!
Hah. Take that Pottery Barn/Ballad overpriced wall art.
Thanks for linking up to the Mad Skills party!
What a great idea!! It looks great!
Love the key art. I love that you used paper behind the keys, it looks fabulous!
I’m in love with this project too… A whole lot of style for very little moola.
DI
I LURVE this! I have some skeleton keys that I bought just b/c I thought they were cool, but haven’t done anything with them yet. You have inspired me to DO something with them! Thanks!
Love this little project. I, too, recently acquired a few skeleton keys and hadn’t thought of how to use them yet…I may steal this idea. Here’s a little tip..in case you don’t already know it. When covering the back of your frame with paper, use a spray bottle and mist the paper with water. Then use your hairdryer to dry the paper and it magically smoothes out the back and makes it nice and tight.
Stopping by from TLC. I too adore skeleton keys. Every time I go to a flea market (I live in Europe), I scoop up a few keys, the rustier the better. I have framed a few and get many comments on them. Yours look great!
Hi- I’m a new visitor : ) I love all of your creative projects! I think I am going to try this one. I bought an old home and when I closed on the house the realtor turned over a huge key ring of skeleton keys! We have since replaced the doors, but I have saved all the fabulous keys. This project is perfect for them! Thanks for the great idea!
I love the framing idea and will have to try it with the keys that I have left. I had lots of keys from my husbands grandpa so I decorated a trinket box with them. See what you think:
http://rustic-crafts.com/?p=105
My mom did something very similar to this decades ago.
She used a more ornate frame and put the keys on red velvet. The keys were from my grandmother’s house after she passed away. Nice memories.
I love your blog. I was thinking about what to do with some skeleton keys and came across it! I may snag this idea. Saving it in Evernote for sure. Thanks for the tutorial!!
WOW!! My son was in the Secret Garden at a local playhouse. We have the large skeleton key that was used in the play. It’s been waiting for years for the perfect display…. this is it!!!!
Thanks!!!
Amazing! I have the keys to my Grandmothers house and was looking for a way to honor them! You provided the answer! Thank you!