key frame

[serialkiller.livejournal.com]

I have amassed a nice collection of keys and skeleton keys over the past couple of months. It was always my intent to get them put together in a frame but somewhere between Procrastination St. and Slacker Rd. I just never got around to it till yesterday.





I could have easily gone out and bought a shadowbox style frame but I wanted something that wasn't so thick. Doing it this way it would not protrude from the wall so much. It wasn't nearly as complicated to do so I figured I would share my crafty hour with you.

Here is what you will need...



1 8x10 photo frame. I got myself the trusty and cheap Ribba frame from IKEA. ($9.99)
double sided tape ($2-4 depending where you get it)
double sided clear mounting tape ($5-7)
a piece of cardstock/paper for use as background. I went with black.
keys, lots of them. I used a dozen.

Step 1:
Take apart the frame and on the backboard of the frame, line edges with double sided tape. Mount your background paper onto that so it stays in place. Trim the edges with scissors or x-acto.



Step 2:
Lay your backing down, place your matte over it. This is where you may take a little time cause you take the keys and play with the placement of each item till the desired shape is achieved.



Step 3:
This is where it gets tedious... you take each key one by one and add tiny strips of mounting tape to each one. I found the best way to do it is to cut the strip, place it and then peel off the label to expose the sticky side. Now, you can use a glue gun if you want but I chose not to cause that would basically ruin the keys. This stuff comes off. After you have it ready for mounting, set it down in the place you had chosen for it but don't press down, you do that at the very end once all of them are adhered and in their spot of choice.



Step 4:
Set aside the key/backing and grab the matting. On the back of the matting you layer the mounting tape as such. This will give the frame some dimension and depth.



These keys are relatively flat but they still need a little room to breathe so they aren't flush to the glass. I am sure you can use the foam version of mounting tape. I added 2 extra layers (right) on the corners and once I was ready to mount it you peel off the corners and adhere it to the backing with the keys.

Step 5:
Assemble frame and hang it somewhere awesome.



I get a lot of love on that wall color so I figured I would just put it here for posterity: poolside blue by Benjamin Moore. Have had it for almost a year and no, I am still not sick of it.