We moved into a new house this year! It still feels very new, and many small projects are yet to be completed (as I am sure anyone who has moved recently understands).
But since moving into our new house, I’ve been working to add little touches that make it feel like home AND celebrate this small milestone for our family.
We recently had some family portraits taken in our house, which was special. And most years, I make some kind of DIY Christmas tree ornament, so this year I thought I would make a new home ornament by which to remember this special year.
I’m going to share exactly how I made my new home ornament DIY as well as LOTS of ideas for customizing this basic idea in different ways.
This is a fun ornament to make for yourself if you’ve moved, but it also could make a really sweet housewarming gift idea.
This DIY ornament can be summed up in two parts: house key + embellishments = new home ornament. It’s simple, but really fun. Here’s what I used to create mine.
Supplies:
- House key
- Gold leaf sheets
- Glue
- Two paint brushes
- Mini wreath (buy one, or make one from pipe cleaners)
- Pipe cleaners or ribbon (for the bow)
- Yarn
How to Make a New Home Ornament:
- Add gold leafing to the house key. You can do this by using a brush to coat the key in glue. Allow it to get tacky, then wrap the key in gold leaf. Use a second brush to brush away any excess.
- You may need to go over certain areas of the key again, as gold leaf can be quite flaky.
- Create a bow from a pipe cleaner or small ribbon.
- Use yarn to tie the key and bow to the mini wreath, leaving a loop on top to hang from a Christmas tree.
Ways to Customize:
- Customize the key – Instead of covering in gold leaf, other options could include painting the key, covering in glitter, or wrapping it in tissue paper or wrapping paper (as if you are wallpapering the key).
- Customize the mini wreath – You could add mini pom poms, glitter, confetti, or faux greenery to your mini wreath base to create whatever look you want.
- Instead of a mini wreath – You could choose to add your decorated house key to another object like a mini house or other ornament base. You could paint this like the new house, add the year, or a house number.
FAQ:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the house key after leafing/painting/adding glitter?
No. You don’t want to use this key after you add elements like this to it. The gold leaf, paint, or glitter would likely rub off inside the lock causing issues. Once you alter the key, it’s purely decor.
Is it safe to use an actual house key?
As this key will stay inside your home more than the key you likely carry with you, yes. However, if it bothers you to use your actual house key for a project like this, you can use a random key or even a key-shape or vintage key for a similar decor effect.
While I chose to keep my new home ornament DIY super simple, you could absolutely change up this basic idea in lots of ways to fit your aesthetic or create a housewarming gift for a friend.
More DIY Christmas Ornaments:
- Dried Citrus Ornament DIY
- A-Frame Putz House Ornament
- Boba Tea Ornament DIY
- DIY String Art Ornaments
- Make Your Own Clay Ornaments
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Get the How-To
Supplies
- 1 house key
- gold leaf
- tacky glue
- mini wreath
- pipe cleaner or ribbon (for the bow)
- yarn
Equipment
- 1 Pair of scissors
- 2 paint brushes
Instructions
- Add gold leafing to the house key. You can do this by using a brush to coat the key in glue. Allow to get tacky, then wrap the key in gold leaf. Use a second brush to brush away any excess.
- You may need to go over certain areas of the key again, as gold leaf can be quite flaky.
- Create a bow from a pipe cleaner or small ribbon.
- Use yarn to tie the key and bow to the mini wreath, leaving a loop on top to hang from a Christmas tree.
Such a cute idea!
What a sweet idea and welcome gift for a new ‘nester’- thanks for sharing!