Vintage Keys in a Rustic Frame
4 Materials
Who doesn't love vintage, right? Count me in, whenever I see antique items I bring them home and figure out what to do with them later. This was the case with this Winners store purchase, it was bought, stored and over a year later before they saw the light of day again.
They were huge and heavy so the "key" was how to display them without harming my walls or someone's toes if they fell off the wall!
I had this existing oak frame that I applied a dark stain onto, my husband had put a thin wooden back on it for the previous use it had served as a memo board with a cork top.
Next, I had all of these oak wood strips that are sold at a local cabinetry business as firewood kindling. We had bought a full bag of them so logically, I stashed away a bunch for crafting before they all got burned!
The strips were measured, marked and cut to fit within the dimensions of the interior of the frame. Once the frame was all filled in with the strips, they were all removed again to get individually stained.
I had numerous colors of stain to apply, I chose cosmetic sponges and latex gloves to do this procedure. Simply follow the directions on the can for stain application.
As seen above I had a variety of both light and dark shades of wood to work with.
The wooden slats were now glued in place with carpenters glue and left to dry, says it bonds in 30 minutes but I know I left it a little longer to be sure.
Here's how they look glued into the frame, I alternated the colors. This project could be done similarly with paint stir sticks or wood shims I'm sure.
Lastly, the keys were secured onto the frame over small c-shaped hooks so that they would have to be raised and perhaps twisted a little in order to actually come off. I'm sorry I don't have a picture of that. The hooks are gold color like the keys and the keys have a filigree design to allow them to fit over the hooks, it works out perfect! They aren't noticeable and the keys are safely on display without fear of falling off!
Closeup of Key Pattern and Color
Thanks for taking a look everyone, now take off to the hardware store for wood shims!! Enjoy!
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2 of 21 comments
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Thanks Jess glad you liked it!
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OMG!!! I've had these same heavy, iron keys for almost a year now!!😀 I got them from the Goodwill but I didn't know what to do with them. Now I do!😊 Thanks.
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