Key Crafts
Crafting with Keys
If you're like me, you have a junk drawer (or two or three) with loose keys. You don't remember what they went to. Maybe one was to that house you sold or a friend's house key they wanted you to keep, but you've lost track. Put those keys to good use and make some key crafts.
Some of the craft projects listed below use just one key, and some use a whole mess of keys. I've also included clip art of keys for when you want to decoupage a key onto something.
Decide what you want to make and get busy. Most of these crafts are easy and quick, which is just what I like in my crafting projects!
Graphic Source: The Graphics Fairy
Use Clip Art of Keys for Crafts
Crafting with clip art or graphics is a fun way to decoupage a tired item to give it new life. The Graphics Fairy is just one place online to grab free vintage clip art of things like skeleton keys. (The skeleton key shown here is courtesy of The Graphics Fairy.)
Keys are good images to use on all sorts of things like:
- light switch covers
- candles
- canisters
- dressers or boxes
Let your imagination go wild and use key clip art. Links to more clip art of keys are provided below.
Graphic Source: The Graphics Fairy
Clip Art of Keys for Crafting - Use key clip art in crafting.
Use this clip art of keys for crafting or scrapbooking. Add keys to graphic design projects at work, too: "You're the key to our success!"
- *The Graphics Fairy LLC*: Vintage Clip Art - Ornate Key - Steampunk
Today we have a wonderful Ornate Key from an 1870's Science Magazine! I've made a second version, that's a silhouette, to give you some options. - The Vintage Moth..: Happy All Hallow's Eve! Negative of Skeleton Keys
Vintage Moth offers some photos but the negative (instead of the normal positive version), including some skeleton keys.
Loose Keys for Crafting - Plum outta keys? Here you go! Get your own instant key collection.
Key Crafts Using Lots of Keys - Gather those stray keys and start crafting!
Get new ideas for using keys in crafts. Visit these links for ideas for making wind chimes, key racks, and more!
- Sun Hats & Wellie Boots: Magical Key Wind Chimes
Recently we came across several old redundant keys which had been hidden away in various drawers. I hadn't the heart to throw them away, so we decided to create a musical hanging with them for the garden. - Collecting: Vintage Alphabets and Numbers | Just Something I Made
Collecting: Vintage Alphabets and Numbers -- Scroll down to see the collection of keys: This wonderful old numbered board once held hotel keys from an establishment along the Mason-Dixon line. It was a gift from my friend Karen and now displays a few - Discuss Crafts - old keys
Welcome to La Vida Crafty. Discuss Crafts - old keys. Several ideas for crafting with keys. - Repurpose Key Holder DIY
This project is a twofer. With a piece of wood, screws, and some pliers, I transformed the castoffs into a rack to hold and organize my current stash.
Steampunk Art Uses Keys - Make a One of a Kind Widget Using Keys
Get new ideas, get inspired!
Key and Thimble Wind Chime
Use old keys and a thimble to make a windchime
Make an easy wind chime with old keys and a thimble. The tinkling of these three brass keys make a nice, mellow tone. To find the perfect tone for your wind chime, try out keys before hand to get just the right sound.
Directions for making this craft are available at my Thimble Crafts article.
Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood
Keys in the Kitchen - Craft some molded chocolate keys or just open a cold one with a church key bottle opener.
Keys for Crafting
Keys for Kindness
When you have too many keys to craft with. Wait. Is that possible?
Keys for Kindness is a non-profit organization that combines recycling with raising money for Multiple Sclerosis. From the Keys for Kindness Web site:
"Keys for Kindness is an idea that began long ago when a family member was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Kathy wanted to find a way to help raise money for the M.S. society. Recycling has been a family way of life for many years. We realized that combining the two and finding a unique way to help out Kathy and her family would be great .
A drawer full of metal keys sparked an idea. Why not ask others to clean out their drawers of old keys and send them to us. We then recycle them, which in turn allows us to donate more to the M.S. Society, L.I. New York division/ Team friends , while also helping the Go Green effort. Every little bit counts.
If you want to donate cash, please do not send it to us, click on Kathy's personal page and it will take you right there. Kathy has raised her goal for the coming year to $2000. If you cannot send keys, please send what you can to Kathy, no amount is too small. Help her reach her goal any way you can. send the old keys to us. Thank You, it really means a lot."
Photo Credit: Just Something I Made
Make Keys Glow in the Dark - Use Glow in the Dark Mod Podge
Make your keys glow in the dark so you can find them in your purse with Glow in teh Dark Mod Podge.
Amy at Mod Podge Rocks has a tutorial for you so search for it and get busy!
Keep Your Keys Organized
Key Wall Art - Display those keys in art for your wall.
- Refurbished key portrait. - Mod Podge Rocks!
My friend LollyChops is going to love this project - it uses shades of her most favorite color, TEAL! I found this sad little piece of key art, broken and golden, at Hobby Lobby. I'm sure it wasn't supposed to be broken, and what likely happened is s - DIY Craft Projects using Old Vintage Windows - Trash to Treasure - Architectural Salvage
DIY Trash to Treasure Quick Projects Sometimes you might just need a "Project Fix". Well you are in the right place. These are all quick projects to get you thorough those times when you have more creativity than time. Several projects using keys--sc
Jewelry Made with Keys
- HelloGiggles; Item of the Day--Little Key Necklace
Item of the Day by Jennifer Still -- How cute is this little key necklace? I particularly like the antique feel without losing its modern touch. I don't need a mess of rust and moss growing on my jewelry for it to have that nice antique-y vibe. It's - Lark Crafts
Beautiful vintage keys painted with nail polish! - My Salvaged Treasures: Visions of Spring Repurposed Jewelry
Signs of spring direct from my jewelry stash. I'll take it anywhere I can find it, and at least these won't die.
Crafts Using Keys - Get more ideas for key crafts here.
- Discuss Crafts - old keys
Welcome to La Vida Crafty. Discuss Crafts - old keys. - Uses for Old Keys | ThriftyFun
This is a guide about uses for old keys. Old keys cry out for a new crafty life. There are many interesting projects you can undertake to create something fun and useful from old keys. - Craftside: How to make a key and knife frame holder inspired by the book Steampunk Chic
It's Wednesday and that means Craftside Giveaway Day! Whoo hoo! Today's book is Steampunk Chic: Vintage Flair from Recycled Finds and the project I have to share with you is my spin on the book's plant stake tutorial. But first...
Snowman Ornaments -- Key Crafts
Hide a Key - Don't get locked out again with the help of these cute friends.
Make Your Own Key Holders - If you've got the keys, here's how to make a holder.
- LOVE Valentine's Day keyholder. - Mod Podge Rocks!
Have you ever thought about turning a frame into a key holder? I think it's a great idea. Especially when you can do it on a budget, and make it as cute as Man Podger Walter did. There are heart frames like you see above available at Michaels for $1,
Affiliate Disclosure
This author, Peggy Hazelwood, participates in Amazon, eBay, All Posters, and other affiliate advertising programs. When you click an advertising link on this page and make a purchase, I receive a small percent of the sale. Thank you for reading this far!
More Crafting Fun
Silverware Crafts
If you've seen wind chimes made from vintage silverware, you have an idea of what silverware crafts are.
Book Crafts
Books may not be the first thing to come to mind when you think of crafting, but book crafts can be fun and when you're done,
Costume Jewelry Crafts
Costume jewelry crafts are simply crafts made using costume jewelry. This can include using a piece, such as clip on earrings,
Button Crafts
Crafting with buttons is one of the most fun ways to show off pretty buttons whether they're vintage buttons or new ones.
Lace Crafts
Lace crafts can be delicate and beautiful. Embellishing items with lace, using lace as a stencil, or creating lace by knitting or crocheting
Rope Crafts
Crafting with rope can be a fun hobby that results in some useful objects with textures you just don't get with another medium.
Jar Crafts
I usually recycle my glass jars, but I also tend to keep a whole bunch of them for crafts.
Making Bookmarks -- Book Thongs
Making bookmarks, like book thongs, is a fun craft that ends in a useful bookmark to use to keep track of where you left off.
Crafts Using Tins
Do you have empty tins that you hate to just throw away? These crafts using tins will give you lots of ideas.
Matchbox Crafts
Matchbox crafts are a way to craft in miniature, especially if you choose to use the small matchboxes that measure about 2 inches by 1-3/8 inches.
Crafting with Bandanas
Bandanas are patterned handkerchiefs that often have paisley designs making for a lovely square of fabric perfect for crafting.
Bottle Caps Crafts--Making Art With Bottle Caps
Bottle caps crafts range from simple bottle cap necklaces or magnets to this grand lady shown here with bottle cap arms and legs.
Rock Painting -- How to Paint Rocks
I saw an article online about rock painting and decided that I had to try that! I don't consider myself to be artistic at all, but I do love crafts.
Let me know you dropped by to check out Key Crafts.
Thank you for an informative lens, very well done. I'm going to use it as a related lens on one I've just published about keys.
How did you know about my junk drawer with the keys? ;-) I've always loved the old skeleton keys best. That thimble and keys wind chime is darling. Love the Keys for Kindness initiative. What a fabulous mission.
I love keys -- there's just something mysterious and magical about them, kinda like the way certain papers feel when you hold them between your fingers ... or like other things: artistic wine labels, for instance. I enjoyed some of the outbound links you highlighted, especially the blog: My salvaged Treasures; I really liked what she did with her keys! Thanks for this article. Best wishes!!!
I love keys -- there's just something mysterious and magical about them, kinda like the way certain papers feel when you hold them between your fingers ... or like other things: artistic wine labels, for instance. I enjoyed some of the outbound links you highlighted, especially the blog: My salvaged Treasures; I really liked what she did with her keys! Thanks for this article. Best wishes!!!
Never heard of Keys for Kindness, thanks.
This is a great idea I have never heard of a key craft before how interesting. I like the monkey keys they are so cute.
I love the look of old looking antique keys. You have an awesome collection going here and the snowmen ornaments are adorable.
I never knew there were so many things to do with old keys - I love the snowman keys, and the Keys for Kindness is a marvelous idea!
Love the snowman keys ;)
awesome!!
I love the Keys for Kindness... I've got to do something with my keys!
Keys are beautiful! Wonderful lens! :)
I'm glad I learned about "Keys for Kindness" today, thanks for sharing!
I love the idea of a key necklace. I think that is mostly because my Godmother used to wear her house key on a necklace so she didn't have to carry a purse. That reminds me of her :)
I just got such a kick out of you wondering if you could have too many keys for crafts...and Keys for Kindness sounds like an excellent solution to a key problem. There are so many possibilites and one you get started using keys for crafting, I'm thinking it gets a little addictive, I especially like the old keys and many can still be found in junk drawers and rummage sales as well as antique shops. Very creatively done!
I'm a bit of a steampunk loving nerd, so I love skeleton keys and pocket watches so I love this stuff, great work.
I should have found this when we were cleaning out my in-laws house. My dad-in-law never ever threw out a key. What a collection!
I think you've covered all the bases, here! Lots of fun key crafts and ideas!
Lovin' the skeleton keys! My favorite. Wonderful lens.
When I was a little girl I used to play with my mother's keys. She would have loved seeing this!
Lots of great ideas here! I too have a drawer full of old keys. Now I need to get busy crafting! âº
Excellent lens. You do have a way with crafts. I love keys. I believe it has something to do with the fact they link to history, especially if it is an old key. You never can tell what was behind that particular door, safe or box!
Love keys! Like the key symbolism!
You have the most interesting ideas. Love this lens.
I love old keys and was fortunate to have my sister pass me an old one that I carry with me for luck. I just like how it feels so it makes me feel lucky.
Some great ideas here for crafting with keys. I have a drawer with several keys in it and some mysteriously lock something - I just don't remember what!
Fascinating look at keys from an unusual perspective. Well done.
I love antique keys, they have such great fancy designs. Nicely done, I am sure there are many projects that could be inspired by old keys.
I display some nifty old keys on my wine cork board to give it a little extra dimension and interest.
- AUTHOR
@Joan Haines: Thanks, Joan! I appreciate it!
I came by and pinned this under "Projects."
I love keys, especially those fancier types. Great lens! Lots of useful resources :D
I love finding old skeleton keys in junk piles, they're a craft goldmine :)
A very interesting source of ideas and help for key crafting, one theme I have not tried -yet. Great lens - blessed.
What an interesting lens. I have a sister with MS. I didn't know about this non-profit.
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