The other day I was feverishly cleaning up the living room in order to take a nice photo of the coffee table for my epic hits and epic fails post. As I was cleaning I noticed a blank canvas on the wall, above my chivalrous trunk. What was this I wondered? And why was it here?
It turns out my daughter had left it there after one of her video shoots. I don’t know what that means but who am I to argue with artists!
I really liked the way it looked next to the black display and the sand colored wall. I decided I’d leave it there but it did need a little something. And so I stopped the cleaning and followed my muse! That was how I got an idea to make a simple canvas art with keys.
I got the idea from this dish that I have in the living room full of old keys.
You may recall I first used the keys on my roasted Christmas tree a few years ago and I also have them dangling from the light fixture right now. They are almost like a mobile.
I took the keys and tied them with different lengths of thin twine. I purposely tied them loosely and left the end of the rope sticking out. I think it adds much needed texture to the composition.
I then tried to attach them to the back of the canvas, like this with a staple gun. But this was a bad idea because the staple jutted out so much, the canvas would not hang on the wall properly.
So instead I just taped them on with masking tape. I love easy peasy!
Aren’t these keys cool?
No two are alike!
I think that some of them are actually used for opening things in our house. Shhh… I hope my husband is not looking for them.
I just like to display them cause they look so unique with the chalky type paint, the rust and the patina which has developed since I painted them.
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And that is my easy piece of art!
Here they are in the living room next to the wooden display that I had used last for my Christmas cards. Are you seeing how I can reuse everything for all seasons? Even the homemade “Christmas” ornaments are transitional and look good displayed all year long.
Pumpkin man is such a celebrity, my friend Michelle of A Crafty Mix actually drew his portrait and then she sent it to me as a gift. So my pumpkin man may not last forever (in fact, I cannot believe he is still around) but he will live on in this painting.
Of course the nice thing about this super easy project is that it can be changed up in a flash. I just need to pull the masking tape off the back and I’m back to my original canvas. I just love projects that serve more than one purpose.
I hope you’ve all enjoyed my how to make simple art with keys. Do you ever find yourselves inspired in the middle of cleaning?
I certainly hope those are not useable keys. What should I do if my husband discovers I’ve “borrowed” his keys for an art project?
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Dear Mary,
I cannot believe you really had an unused canvas left! Understadable you HAD to do something about that… And when your husband hasn’t said anything about missing keys at Christmas I think he won’t now either.
Have a great day,
Marjan
P.S.: I love the very old key that is putting on some rust underneath the white coat.
Marjan those keys worked very hard to get that rust on there. 😉
As for the canvas, it is blank no more.
What a great way to display your lovely collection of keys..you can really see them now!
And I know you didn’t ask, but…would you consider painting that canvas something just a little darker…that would really make those keys pop!
Hugs, Lynn
Lynn took the words right out of my mouth. This is a very clever use for your skeleton keys. Of course, you know me, my mind immediately went to red. lol
Marie like I just told Lynn, the canvas has been taken away. My girl is inspired and so she took it back. You see there was a reason to my madness. If I’d painted it she would have given me the evil eye!
But of course, your suggestion is spot on. I would have preferred the background color a bit darker.
Lynn, it has been a week since I made this project and the canvas has been conficated by my daughter. She is painting as I type to you.
It looks great. It is funny how much we (people) all like old keys! Even my kids like old fashioned keys. It must be some kind of connection to the past thing.
That is a very astute observation Krista. Maybe it has to do with unlocking doors? But now we are going into another area altogether.
Mary, your keys found the perfect spot . Hugs and blessings , Cindy
Cindy they have been moved back into their dish as we type. It seems my girl wanted her canvas back.
I like this very much, Mary. Simple and elegant and very clean. It looks great with that arrangement in your house. Thanks for a good idea. (Don’t you just love tape?)
Jeanie tape is great. Easy to use, and just as easy to remove.
Loved this idea!
So simple and yet so fleeting. My girl confiscated my art, or should I say her canvas. But it will live on forever on the blog! That’s why we have them.
I am sooooo stealing this idea Mary, it looks amazing. I love the way the keys look against the canvas and the subtle shadows that the rope and keys cast on the white canvas. Stunning and bonus we got to see Mr Pumpkin Man again. I am so glad he’s still around.
Yes Michelle we did get to see our favorite Pumpkin Man. He is like an old monk from Shangrila who has lived past 100!
This is brilliant Mary! Loved and pinned. It’s both farmhouse and modern.
Love it 😀
Thanks Dione, that is a great way to describe it.
This is a lovely piece of artwork and has character and an interesting patina. How fortunate your daughter left the canvas there.
Debra I was fortunate to borrow it. She has since taken it back to create on it. Oh well….
Hahah that’s too cute that your husband might be missing some of his keys, and you have them on display. Anyway I don’t think he’ll mind. I mean look at what you did with them; they look so awesome against that white canvas. I love the rusticness of the keys and twine. Such a beautiful and creative repurpose Mary!
I too loved it while it lasted Keri. It is now living on as a post on the blog. I guess that’s what we have it for. Maybe I can find another background to replace it.
I just love vintage keys! What a simple, cute way to display them.
Simple is always good in my book. Thank you!
Μου αρέσουν πολύ τα κλειδιά, δίνουν μία όμορφη αίσθηση στο χώρο!!Απλά,μοντέρνα και παλιά παράλληλα!!!Καλό βράδυ!!!
Ευχαριστω Ιωαννα μου! Δυστυχως η κορη μου τον πηρε τον πινακα, αλλα θα βρω κατι αλλο.
Such a cute idea, Mary! Love those old keys, remember my grandma had a few.
Pumpkin man is not rotten yet? He might outlive us all, lol!
I’ve seen Michelle’s painting before. She is simply AMAZING!
I am seriously wondering about Pumpkin man Jas. He must be a supernatural force, or maybe he steals my face cream when I’m not looking!
Mary I love this, it is easy, which is great and then can be changed up really quickly too, awesome! It looks so so nice with the plain white canvas, I wouldn’t paint it!! Those keys on the twine look great and I love it did I mention that???
You know Katrin as I was putting this together I thought of you . And I said to myself “Katrin would be proud of me”. It literally took maybe 2 minutes to make.
What a neat idea Mary! I Love old keys, and I really love the chalky paint, rust, and patina of these. Now you have a fun way to display all the neat keys, maybe the hubby won’t notice.
It is funny how our inspirations come to us. Mine seem to come mostly at night when I am trying to sleep. Then I have to get up and draw a picture, or write it down in order for my mind to shut down so I can go to sleep. LOL.
I have that problem too Linda. When I try to sleep sometimes my mind just perks up and wants to create.
Clever way to display keys. And I love that you can easily change out the item to be displayed for each season too.
Too easy in fact now I’ll have to find a replacement for the canvas since my girl took it back.
This is really cool. It’s simple and seems easy to do but looks really nice. Very creative.
Simple is always best Emily and if you get tired of it, no harm done.
So fun…looks great…gotta love keys!!!
What is there not to love, the shape? The patina? The age? 😉
I love old keys & I like what you’ve done with them here. In fact, I like both ways you’ve displayed them…on the canvas & as a mobile from the light.
Have a great weekend Mary!
Thanks Florence it looks I’ll have to get creative again since my girl took back her canvas.
Very clever idea, Mary; but then again it should surprise me because you’re just very clever! Love this idea of yours.
Thank you Carol, I say the easier it is the better it is!
Now that’s a great idea with all of those extra keys you find? Or is that only me!! Especially when we moved, we found a ton that we had no idea where they went—ha ha!!
I almost think you should paint the canvas or cover it with something so the keys show up more???
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
I don’t have to worry about that dilemma Jodie. My girl took the canvas to paint on. Higher art is calling. But I will look around to find another canvas or something.
Creativity sparked from cleaning, ha! Yes, I have had that little light bulb go off while I’ve been power cleaning the house, and it was the best incentive to finish so I could put my idea into practice, thus I know exactly what you mean.
Your key display is lovely; I like all the different shapes and sizes of the keys all covered in that chalky texture.
Happy weekend, Mary!
Poppy
In my case Poppy I abandoned the cleaning in order to do this project. It’s a good thing it was a quicky otherwise the house would never get cleaned.
What a cute, creative idea Mary! I love old skeleton keys and this is one nice project how one can use them!
And it was super easy to do Maya. Thanks for dropping by!
I love the keys wall art. It’s such a simple, yet effective, project. I really like the final product. I hope your husband doesn’t dismantle your artwork in search of keys to open things around the house.
Haha! Carol here I was worrying about my husband and instead my daughter came by and told me she needed it for an art project. There goes the canvas. Now I need to look for another background.
Really cute idea, Mary! Adding to my Pinterest queue.
Thank you so much Stephanie!
Hi Mary – popping in from the Handmade Monday linky party – LOVE your antique keys and the beautiful artwork you created. Isn’t it fun to use OLD stuff to make NEW and beautiful stuff? That’s what I do too, so I’m always looking for new creative inspiration. Thanks for sharing! Hope to catch up with you again next week at the linky party. Nina @ Vintage Mama’s Cottage
Nina I live for that. I have so much old stuff and junk in my house. And I”m trying to transform everything, one object at a time. We don’t need a fortune to do it, just a bit of inspiration.
Wow Mary! I really love the idea! The white canvas with the whitish keys is very beautiful combination!
Thanks Katerina. It’s time to brighten things up a bit.
Love the simplicity of this idea. The rustic jute and the finish of the keys go perfectly with the piece next to it. They look like they were always side by side. I also love how they are suspended away from the canvas and kind of have a floating feel. Great idea!.
And to think it was a happy accident how that canvas ended up there Melissa. Sometimes those are the best.
Thanks Mary for Hosting. Love your idea for wall canvas art! Pinned it so maybe someday I can get my craft-act together and do it. Visiting Sweet Inspirtion this week with “Select a Car Color That Pleases You.”
Nancy I saw that great post on cars. Thanks for visiting.
That turned out really cool! The best part is even I could pull it off and I don’t have a creative or artistic bone in my body!
I love easy projects Carlee and I love projects that don’t require fancy machinery or skills. Mainly because I don’t have either!
Definitely ties it in to the rest of the room decor now. Keys are always a conversation piece.
They must be trending now Debbie. I use these every chance I get, I love that rust so much.
I love how everything has multiple lives in your house! Why reuse soemthing once when you can use it over and over again. You are so creative!
Of course Julie. How can I use it only once and then what? Throw it away? Horrors! Store it somewhere? I have no room for that. So it either is multi-purpose or it does not enter the house.
I love this idea! I have a thing for keys and this would fit perfectly in my decor – I just may have to copy this!
It’s super easy to make and even easier to take apart!
Old keys are awesome. We actually have skeleton locks on all our doors. Original to the house…never changed them. So I have a keychain full of them. Of course, I can’t use them, since I may need them, but I do hang them about the house to decorate.
Old keys add so much character to a home. And in decorating it can really make for a richer look. Kim my husband has been eyeing those keys wondering where I got them from. 😉
I absolutely love you beautiful ideas with keys. I have a few saved from garage sales and you have enlightened me with ideas. Thank you so much.
Yvonne
I’m always so happy when I can inspire others Yvonne. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
You have just solved a problem for me !!! I have collected keys for years. Now, I have a great way to display them !!!!! Thank you for this great idea !!!!
I am so glad to hear that Sally, it is a fun and easy way to display them.
This is so simple and cute. Thanks for sharing on To Grandma’s House We Go!
Cool collection of keys! I was going to say that you could reuse your canvas for something else when you get bored of this project but I guess she beat me to it! LOL.
You could always paint over a failed painted canvas and turn it back to white with a grey or rust texture….recycle reduce reuse …
Yes this is the best part of all, the repurposing and reusing.
Oh Mary! This is the coolest things I’ve yet to see done with skeleton keys! Now to find mine… beautiful outcome! Love the twine so much.
I’m featuring this project in this weekend’s upcoming DIY Salvaged Junk Projects. Thanks for linking up! 🙂
What a unique idea. I never would have thought of that