All Keyed Up: Decorating A Papier Mache Key

While searching the shelves of a local craft store, my mother found a decorative, antique-looking, papier mache key. After she brought it home, I “unlocked” my creativity by using  random scraps of tissue paper, newspaper, gel window gems, antiquing stamp pads, decorative foil and scissors and metal embellishments (brads) to design a key fit for a queen! 

Decoupage was the method I used to create my key. Decoupage is an art technique where you glue random scraps of paper onto an object using a watered-down glue. You then place a thin layer of the watered-down glue mixture on top. This makes a clear, varnish or shellac-like top-coat. Continue collaging on tissue paper and adding watered-down glue mixture top coats for sturdiness. 

To make this ravishing keepsake, you will need: 

• Papier Mache Key 
• Watered down glue (50 water/50 glue mix) or Modge Podge 
• Small bowl or cup for glue mixture 
• Paint brush to brush on glue mixture
• Various scraps of color-coordinated tissue paper 
• Thin strips of newspapers 
• Decorative letter and small circular-shaped brads 
• Gel Window Gems 
• Pinking Shears (scissors with zig-zagged shaped blades generally used to prevent fraying in fabrics) 
• Decorative foil
• Antiquing Stamp pads
• Optional: Colored computer paper and quote about “keys”. 

How To: 

1. Gather all items needed for the project. Create watered-down glue mixture (50/50) and place in a small bowl or cup. 
2. Rip small pieces or color-coordinated tissue paper into random shapes. Use paint brush to paint glue mixture onto the papier mache key. 
3. Place ripped pieces of tissue paper in desired pattern over painted on glue mixture. 
4. Then place a layer of glue mixture on top of ripped tissue paper pieces to create a varnish coat. Continue this method over entire key. 
5. Use pinking shears to cut small strips of decorative foil and a circular shape for middle of key. Wrap around and glue down foil pieces on top of key as shown using a sturdy glue such as Elmer’s School Glue. Glue on circular shape using watered-down glue mixture. 
6. Place random Gel Window Gems in between decorative foil and circular shape in middle. 
7. Apply a coat of watered-down glue to top area of key you just decorated. 
8. Cut thin strips of newspaper and glue onto the key in a cross hatch design. Apply another coat of watered-down glue mixture to the entire key. 
9. After the glue mixture has dried, use antiquing stamps to “age” the key using a cosmetic sponge. Gently rub antiquing medium over the key.
10. Find the letters J, O, Y from a pack of decorative brad letters. Cut backs off of letter brads with regular straight-edge scissors. Be very careful, brad backs are notorious crafting missiles. 
11. Glue on brads using a thick craft glue. 
12. Optional: Find a quote about keys on the Internet such as “The key of happiness is having Dreams. The key to success is making Dreams come true.” Type out the quote using a word processing program and print onto colored computer paper. 
13. Cut into desired shape and poke small holes into shape using decorative brads. 
14. Fasten backs of brads. 
15. Glue quote shape onto key using glue. 
16. Use stamps to give the quote shape an “aged look”. 

Now everyone will be “all keyed up” over your talent and artistic ability!