My Dad always had TONS of keys. Growing up I always knew when he was awake because I heard the keys on his side rattling. After he got sick he "retired" the keys into a nightstand beside his bed. When he passed December 3, 2012 and I brought the bedroom suit to my home, I found the stash of keys.
I cannot make myself trash anything that belonged to him so I knew they still had a use I just didn't know what that use was until my Sister showed me a picture of a wind chime someone made of nothing but keys. We did it a little differently as they had their keys tied on with string. I wanted something a little more durable so we opted for chain. I showed it to my husband and he went to work on it. My Dad did his porch in cedar and after it was complete he gave me some of the left over pieces. Luckily I held on to it because that made this Key-Chime a little more special.
I cannot make myself trash anything that belonged to him so I knew they still had a use I just didn't know what that use was until my Sister showed me a picture of a wind chime someone made of nothing but keys. We did it a little differently as they had their keys tied on with string. I wanted something a little more durable so we opted for chain. I showed it to my husband and he went to work on it. My Dad did his porch in cedar and after it was complete he gave me some of the left over pieces. Luckily I held on to it because that made this Key-Chime a little more special.
Supplies:
Small Piece of Wood
Small "eye hooks" to hang the chain on ($1.00 at the Dollar Store)
Chain ($1.50 at the Dollar Store)
Keys
My husband cut the cedar to the size I wanted, sanded it, and put gloss paint on it. He then put 4 "eye hooks" on the bottom of the wood where the chain would hang. Attached a chain to each hook, and put a key into each hook of the chain. He then put an eye hook on each side to attach a rope to hang the Key Chime. It now hangs on my front porch and I couldn't be happier about the end result!
That's really inventive! What a neat idea :)Don't think we have enough old keys to make it yet.
ReplyDeleteThis is going on our summer list of things to do! We have a bucket of keys that have just shown up and we have no clue what they are from or if they are needed. LOL..
ReplyDeleteWhat a way to recycle them.
This is so neat!! Love it!! :) God bless!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea since we have unknown keys everywhere :)
ReplyDeleteThat is a very clever idea! I have plenty of "mystery" keys laying around I could this with.
ReplyDeleteLOVE this idea!! There are ALWAYS keys around that we have absolutely no idea what they are or were for! Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteThis is great idea! Your Dad would be so pleased.
ReplyDeleteYour Dad is looking down and smiling. Every time the wind blows your dad is reminding you of how much he loved you. Great idea!
ReplyDeletethats so cool! a nice decorative feature! love it!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome and what a great tribute to your dad! I wish we hadn't thrown away all our mystery keys last year - would love to make this.
ReplyDeleteI'm always looking for easy craft projects for Vacation Bible School, this looks like a fun recycling project.
ReplyDeleteWHAT A GREAT IDEA!!!! I CAN EVEN DO THESE AND I AM NOT THAT CRAFTY
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!!! I think I can even do this myself!!! LOL
ReplyDeletewow that is so cool and not only does it look great, its a wonderful form of reusing something!!
ReplyDeleteVery Inventive! I love my Windchimes, had some made of Chrystals,(glass), in a circlular pattern three layers, that were wonderful, but they got broken, My Son and my Daughter bought me some BIG Brass ones, that I also love, but I will have to try these out too! Thanks for the information!
ReplyDeleteThe idea of using something of your fathers in a creative way to honor yours and hos memories of him is just a good thing to do I will like the idea
ReplyDeleteHow very creative! We have a lot of keys sitting in a drawer that we do not know what they were for. Some were inherited from the previous owner and some are ours. Now I know what to do with them...and if we ever need them, we know where they are!!!
ReplyDeletethat is so cute,I really think I can make that too,,im excited to try
ReplyDeleteI have enough keys to make two or three. I just want them out of my drawer in the kitchen great idea!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely reminder of your dad! Sometimes it's the cheap (in price), small things that mean so much!
ReplyDeleteThis is super-cute! I'm always impressed with ideas like this- crafts are a blast... and cheap ones even better! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete-Olivia F.
What a creative and useful little project to make, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea. We have so many keys from moves...I don't just want to toss them away.
ReplyDeleteI love windchimes and have quite a few, more than what I should, LOL This is an awesome idea I have never seen before and I am definitely going to do this with the grandchildren, Thanks so much for sharing with us.I just love this :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to keep your father's memory. I bet it sounds lovely. :)
ReplyDeleteI love this!! We have tons of keys and this is such a great idea! My son is going to love helping me make this, I bet the keys sound great as wind chimes!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful idea. I have a large collection of keys and I'm definitely going to try and make this over the weekend.
ReplyDeleteold keys as a wind chime especially when its for the memory of someone you love and has passed on is a nice memorial as you hear them chime
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing idea. I am going to have to make one for my mom. she is always saying she wants a wind chime to hang outside her window. This is a perfect project my daughter and I could work on together. Great Mother's Day gift!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE THIS IDEA....it is now on my list of things to do for the grandkids during "Grandma Camp" when they come for a week on the farm. We have keys left over from generations and have them all stashed in cans and now I know what to do with them.....THANKS>..
ReplyDeleteA good way to preserve a bit of your dad's memories and a brilliant invention :D, I never heard of a key chime before and we 've got lots of keys, now I know what to do with them !
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant and beautiful! I may have to give it a try someday.
ReplyDeleteThat is a really cool idea. I don't think I have ever owned enough keys to make something like this. But very cool
ReplyDeleteits a nice idea but i cant imagine that they make any really nice sound.
ReplyDeletethischickwins at gmail dot com
SO cool, you should see my keychain. I still have many keys from my last place I lived at and it's been over 10 years. Do you think it's time? LOL
ReplyDeletesibabe64 at ptd dot net
It's good anytime anything can be recycled. Just don't use any keys that haven't been retired yet.
ReplyDelete