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in Crafts· Decorating

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!

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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!).

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It’s hard to tell, but this frame is thick like a shadow box.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Next I took a school glue/water mixture and painted it right on the front side of the back of the frame.

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I just stuck the torn up paper all over the glue. Trust me, this is going to work!

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Take your glue mixture and paint it all over the top of the paper now so that it all sticks down nice and flat.

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I left it over night to dry. This is how it looks once it’s dry. Isn’t it looking better already?!

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Ok so obviously you don’t want all the extra edges, so I took a blade and just carefully sliced them off.

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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.

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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.

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Don’t the keys against the paper bags just look so fab?!

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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!

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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.

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After that I just put brown paper on top, smoothed it out, and then cut the edges off with a blade.

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Done.

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This frame is little, so I chose to hang it in a very small space in my hallway.

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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.

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This turned out so much nicer than I pictured it in my head.

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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.

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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”.

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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!

Filed Under: Crafts, Decorating Tagged With: accessories, artwork, before and After, decorating with keys, diy artwork, key decor, keys, skeleton key, skeleton key art, spray paint, tips

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Comments

  1. Heather says

    05/10/2010 at 3:25 pm

    That turned out really nice good job! I love the skeleton key’s

    Reply
  2. Tracy says

    05/10/2010 at 2:38 pm

    Love key art as well. In the middle of my own key art.

    Reply
  3. Kristi says

    05/10/2010 at 2:40 pm

    Thank you, thank you for posting this! I’ve had some skeleton keys for like 5 years and have always planned to put them in a shadow box (I even bought a shadow box too), but I couldn’t figure out how to attach the keys or what to use as a background. I’m copying this one! Thanks again.

    Reply
  4. Ashley says

    05/10/2010 at 2:40 pm

    Looks good! I like it!

    And seriously, this commenter just told me my comment was too short. Lame!

    Reply
  5. sarah of handbagsnpigtails says

    05/10/2010 at 2:51 pm

    This is great. I, too, have had skeleton keys laying around not sure how to use them. Theyre actually originals to the doors in our home! What a great story huh?
    Id seen Kristin make one of these with a single key but have not yet found the right frame to mount mine in. You scored perfectly with this shadowbox.
    Love your ideas:)

    Reply
  6. Ashley @ Cute as a Fox says

    05/10/2010 at 3:05 pm

    Oh wow! That turned out fabulous. I love it. I’ve been hoping to find some skeleton keys somewhere so I wouldn’t have to order them, but now I don’t want to wait anymore.

    Great job!
    Thanks!
    Ashley

    Reply
  7. Shanna says

    05/10/2010 at 3:14 pm

    LOVE it! Looks so great! Awesome job 🙂

    Reply
  8. SueAnn says

    05/10/2010 at 4:33 pm

    Fabulous!! And I love the frame!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

    Reply
  9. alicia says

    05/10/2010 at 3:55 pm

    Who knew it would turn out so well?? Very cool.

    Reply
  10. kristine says

    05/10/2010 at 4:52 pm

    that looks really great. i really like how you did that.

    Reply
  11. Lisa says

    05/10/2010 at 4:53 pm

    SO pretty! I’m also really into keys lately, but I haven’t hung any up in my house yet. Great inspiration!

    Reply
  12. Sarah says

    05/10/2010 at 5:23 pm

    What a great looking piece! Love the look of this and it fits perfectly in your space. Thanks for sharing the step by step instructions. ~ Sarah

    Reply
  13. Dana says

    05/10/2010 at 6:05 pm

    This looks awesome! Great job!

    Reply
  14. debbie says

    05/10/2010 at 8:17 pm

    That does look fabulous! I would love to join your party on this week, hopefully I will remember:)

    Reply
  15. RJ says

    05/10/2010 at 7:01 pm

    So cute! I do love the brown paper behind the keys, they work perfectly together!

    Reply
  16. Margo says

    05/10/2010 at 7:12 pm

    I love it!!! Great job! Might have to start looking for those skeleton keys myself now!! :O)

    Reply
  17. Ellen says

    05/10/2010 at 7:18 pm

    I love this…I have a handful of skeleton keys, I will definitely be trying this one!

    Reply
  18. Tracy Deupree says

    05/10/2010 at 7:43 pm

    I would so hang that on my wall. I really like it.

    Reply
  19. Leithaakagrover says

    05/10/2010 at 7:44 pm

    So cool!! I love it.

    Reply
  20. Ginger says

    05/10/2010 at 8:20 pm

    Looks awesome! I have a BOX of old keys like this that I have had for years…now I may have to do something like this with them! Thanks for linking up to Mad Skills Monday!

    Ginger
    SSB

    Reply
  21. Jill says

    05/10/2010 at 8:56 pm

    I love this! My boyfriend just moved into an 80 year old house and there are rings and rings of keys in the garage that I have already expressed interest in. 😉 I had something like this in mind, and I really like the paper bag idea. Looks really great!

    Reply
  22. Jessica says

    05/10/2010 at 9:23 pm

    Wow! I love this! Have seen you around at numerous “blog parties”. I love all of your stuff, this one is brilliant. May have to start collecting keys! 😆

    I am your newest follower…. stop by sometime and check out my blog!

    Have a good week!

    Reply
  23. jamie says

    05/10/2010 at 9:32 pm

    So cool! Thanks for linking up to Making Monday’s Marvelous!

    Reply
  24. Stephanie Lynn says

    05/10/2010 at 10:37 pm

    Allison – I love this! Super fabulous!!!

    Reply
  25. Queen of Dreamsz ~ The Art of Stuff says

    05/11/2010 at 12:03 am

    Hi Allison,

    I love, love skeleton keys..I gather them up with my hand painted ribbons and hang in different places…you can never have too many keys!

    You did a terrific job…I know you’ll be doing more too. :0)

    I’m visiting for Three or More Tuesday…do stop by when you have a chance.

    Have a wonderful day…

    Hugs,
    Stephanie ♥

    Reply
  26. Rene says

    05/11/2010 at 4:29 am

    OK I am seriously about to fall out of my chair that is so dang cute!

    Reply
  27. sarah of handbagsnpigtails says

    05/11/2010 at 5:12 am

    I am just putting the final touches on mine and hope to post about it later today,linking back to you of course:)

    Reply
  28. Bridgette says

    05/11/2010 at 6:55 am

    I LOVE skeleton keys! This is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I LOVE it! Thanks for sharing at Anything Related!
    ~Bridgette

    Reply
  29. Becky - Clean Mama says

    05/11/2010 at 7:08 am

    I have an obsession for old keys – love this project!

    Reply
  30. Brooke says

    05/11/2010 at 7:31 am

    I have a thing for skeleton keys also. I did a project a few weeks ago. I love yours and the background is so perfect for the keys.
    Brooke

    Reply
  31. Natalie says

    05/11/2010 at 10:09 am

    I love this! What a great job recycling an old frame.

    Reply
  32. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    05/11/2010 at 10:38 am

    I do love it! What a great frame for this project, too! Love the colors you did the frame and mat ~ really works well with the color in the keys.

    Reply
  33. burlap+blue says

    05/11/2010 at 11:02 am

    you have some beautiful crafts…so glad I found you!! will have to look through your archives and shop when I get a chance:)

    Reply
  34. Lara Harris says

    05/11/2010 at 11:20 am

    LOVE, love, LOve this!!

    Reply
  35. Lara Harris says

    05/11/2010 at 11:21 am

    LOVE, love, LOve this! I love anything vintage and these keys are awesome!

    Reply
  36. Jamara says

    05/11/2010 at 1:10 pm

    Love it! Looks so great!!

    Reply
  37. Missy says

    05/11/2010 at 3:56 pm

    love this! I have some large brass skeleton keys that I’m pretty sure my mom got from Home Interiors in the early 70
    s. I’m still deciding what to do with them but I like this one! thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  38. Tracy says

    05/11/2010 at 2:36 pm

    SOLD!! OMG, that is just soooooo “ME”!!
    I can’t wait to try this! I’ve done tissue paper on my walls before but never thought to use brown paper bags for a smaller project. You’re such a Smarty Pants, I luv it *Ü*

    Reply
  39. Melissa Howard says

    05/11/2010 at 4:17 pm

    These look better than commercial key shadow boxes that I’ve seen!!

    Reply
  40. Amanda says

    05/11/2010 at 6:43 pm

    This looks amazing! I would totally buy it if I saw it in a store. Or better yet, be inspired to make it myself. 🙂 Great work, and thanks for the how-to!

    Reply
  41. Creative2xmom says

    05/11/2010 at 9:52 pm

    This looks incredible. Anyone would swear you spent a fortune.

    Thanks for linking up!

    Reply
  42. Vicky says

    05/12/2010 at 9:58 am

    LOVE this! I am going to figure out how to incorporate this, even though I don’t have any keys! I can find SOMETHING that needs this technique!

    Reply
  43. Katie L. says

    05/12/2010 at 11:29 am

    I’m totally inspired just by your frame refab!!! Amazing results and love those keys!

    Reply
  44. Erin says

    05/12/2010 at 3:13 pm

    I love this idea! It turned out great!

    Reply
  45. Maryann @ Domestically-Speaking says

    05/12/2010 at 3:14 pm

    Love it… love how you crinkled the paper for the background… it really added great texture and made for an awesome project.

    Reply
  46. BLJGraves Studio says

    05/12/2010 at 5:10 pm

    OMG! I am seriously in love with it too. 😀 Fabulous!!!

    Reply
  47. natalie @ our old georgia house says

    05/12/2010 at 6:45 pm

    we live in an old house and when we bought it from the 80 year old owner she gave us at least 2 dozen skelton keys…that don’t fit any of our doors! haha
    your idea would be perfect for all my extra keys!

    Reply
  48. Ann says

    05/12/2010 at 10:49 pm

    Love the framed keys and the paper bag background. It looks a bit like leather. I wonder how it would look with a bit of Polyshades? You know, stain and polyurethane sealer all in one? Have to try it. You are one clever cookie.

    Reply
  49. annalisa says

    05/13/2010 at 5:33 am

    😛 ❗ 😳 😀 😯 😕 😎 😆 😡 😈 🙄 😉 💡 ➡ 😐 😥 :mrgreen:

    Reply
  50. Kim @ seven thirty three says

    05/13/2010 at 6:01 am

    Another great wall decor piece from HOH!

    Thanks for linking up with Sugar & Spice.

    Reply
  51. DogsMom says

    05/13/2010 at 7:41 am

    I like the photo where you show the depth to the case/frame.
    This could look good with more modern keys as well.

    Reply
  52. Julie says

    05/13/2010 at 8:21 am

    This is super cute – love the paper bag idea

    Reply
  53. Jackie says

    05/13/2010 at 4:50 pm

    WOW! That is really cool and for so little $$$! Awesome.

    Reply
  54. Rita E says

    05/13/2010 at 8:37 pm

    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!

    Reply
  55. Shelley cline says

    05/13/2010 at 8:55 pm

    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.

    Reply
  56. Laura Ingalls Gunn says

    05/14/2010 at 7:09 am

    Sigh…swoon…my heart is going pitter pat.

    Reply
  57. Sweet Charli says

    05/14/2010 at 8:53 am

    I love keys! This is so vintage and very cute, I love it! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  58. lori says

    05/14/2010 at 8:07 pm

    your key picture box is stunning!

    Reply
  59. Tere says

    05/15/2010 at 5:38 am

    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

    Reply
  60. Anita says

    05/15/2010 at 5:20 pm

    This is really cute and I especially like that you matted it in the paper bags!

    Reply
  61. Bec says

    05/15/2010 at 6:38 pm

    Such a cool idea!

    Reply
  62. Kim @ Cheap Chic Home says

    05/15/2010 at 7:37 pm

    This turned out great. All of the elements suit one another perfectly.

    Reply
  63. Funky Junk Interiors says

    05/15/2010 at 10:44 pm

    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

    Reply
  64. Fawnda says

    05/16/2010 at 12:20 pm

    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! 🙂

    Reply
  65. Kristi says

    05/16/2010 at 3:14 pm

    I featured you again. 🙂

    http://thespeckleddog.blogspot.com/2010/05/weekly-faves_16.html

    Reply
  66. carolyn says

    05/17/2010 at 10:33 am

    I adore that paper bag technique. What a gorgeous colour to highlight your keys. Love it and may just have to copy it!

    Reply
  67. Michelle says

    05/17/2010 at 1:33 pm

    Of course you did awesome!! I love the way this turned out…it does look fab!!! Thanks again for linking up!!!

    Reply
  68. robyn says

    05/17/2010 at 8:04 pm

    😀 LOVE it! I did one recently as well and I still love it! You idea with the paper bag is FABULOUS!

    Reply
  69. Pam @ diy Design Fanatic says

    05/17/2010 at 7:35 pm

    Love it!!! Making some key artwork is on my list of projects I want to make! Yours looks great!

    Reply
  70. Pam @ diy Design Fanatic says

    05/17/2010 at 7:36 pm

    Love it!!! Making some key artwork is on my list of projects I want to make! Yours looks great! 😀

    Reply
  71. J.Hill says

    05/18/2010 at 1:15 pm

    Hah. Take that Pottery Barn/Ballad overpriced wall art.

    Thanks for linking up to the Mad Skills party!

    Reply
  72. Kaysi @ Keeping It SImple says

    05/23/2010 at 2:56 pm

    What a great idea!! It looks great!

    Reply
  73. Shannon says

    06/07/2010 at 9:07 pm

    Love the key art. I love that you used paper behind the keys, it looks fabulous!

    Reply
  74. Di says

    06/07/2010 at 9:41 pm

    I’m in love with this project too… A whole lot of style for very little moola.

    DI

    Reply
  75. Carla @ Let's Get {Cookin} says

    06/17/2010 at 6:59 am

    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!

    Reply
  76. Gloria says

    07/21/2010 at 1:10 pm

    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.

    Reply
  77. Mom in High Heels says

    09/08/2010 at 8:49 am

    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!

    Reply
  78. Melanie {The Tiny Tudor} says

    09/26/2010 at 3:36 pm

    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!

    Reply
  79. Renee says

    01/06/2011 at 7:40 pm

    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

    Reply
  80. Nadine in Nevada says

    03/12/2011 at 12:34 pm

    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.

    Reply
  81. Kristy Swain says

    04/14/2011 at 10:12 am

    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!!

    Reply
  82. April B says

    08/22/2011 at 12:04 am

    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!!!

    Reply
  83. Matthew says

    05/13/2012 at 6:24 pm

    Amazing! I have the keys to my Grandmothers house and was looking for a way to honor them! You provided the answer! Thank you!

    Reply
  84. Katherine says

    07/30/2012 at 5:29 pm

    Just wanted to let you know that your skeleton key piece inspired me to make my own, and I linked to this post on my blog (my post is http://oncekitty-kat.blogspot.com/2012/07/framed-skeleton-keys-and-quick-vase.html if you’re interested in seeing my take on the key art!). I wanted to pin your image to my Pinterest “I made it!” board but your images are all unpinnable 🙁

    Reply
  85. Sarah Dyson says

    05/03/2013 at 9:51 am

    I LOVE LOVE this idea! After my grandma passed away and we went thru her things, I have a BOWLFUL of skelton keys. I randomly hang some unique ones on hooks I have on shelves or leave in bowls thru out my house. I am going to take some keys and try this project! End result is so chic!

    Reply
  86. Kara says

    07/23/2013 at 10:00 am

    I Loved this idea. Went my grandmother passed recently, we found some interesting items while clean out her house. Some of the items were an old tin photo of her grandparents farm house and the keys that when to the house. I made a beautiful piece using your method. However, I’m finding that the hot glue isn’t holding the keys in place and they keep falling to the bottom of the frame. Is there any other suggestions about how to keep the keys in place?

    Reply
    • Allison says

      07/24/2013 at 1:18 am

      Have you tried tying them on with a very thin wire?

      Reply
  87. Jennifer P says

    09/17/2014 at 6:20 pm

    I honestly LOVE the finished product. I think I’m going to make to smaller frames of them to put in our tiny hall. Thanks for the awesome inspiration and the great tutorial!

    P.S. I found your blog through a pin from The Pinning Mamma called 10 More Blogs You Need to See to Find Inspiration for Your Silhouette Cameo. Your going on my quick links!

    Reply
  88. Ángel Martin Artime says

    04/06/2021 at 2:30 pm

    I have a large collection of old keys and I have always wanted to make this kind of pictures but what I don’t know is how to fix the keys? Is it using glue or some kind of hook?
    I don’t want to damage them.

    Reply

Trackbacks

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