key to my heart necklace {tutorial}

I've been sneaking out of the house every couple of Saturdays to do some antique shopping with a cute group of girls I know. Girlfriend time + antique shopping = therapy, I tell ya! Recently I saw some gorgeous yet simple necklaces at a flea market made from an antique key and a piece of seam binding ribbon. For $12. I mean $12 isn't bad for a necklace, but you know me--I knew I could make it for waaaay less. So I did. Here's how.


Vintage Key To My Heart Necklace Tutorial

Supplies:
*Key
*Length of ribbon and some scissors, or a chain

1. Find some cool keys. I checked a few antique stores, and they each had a basket full of old keys for about $1 a key. It took some digging--most of them are not as cute as the ones I saw for $12. But I found two that were pretty darn cute. I loved this one because it looks like it's shaped like a heart.


And I fell in love with the beaded edge on this one.


2. Choose some matching ribbon or a jewelry chain.


3. Cut the ends of the ribbon at an angle.


4. Thread the ends of the ribbon from back to front through the hole in the key.


5. Pull the ends through the loop on the other end of the ribbon and pull tight.



I know, that really didn't need a tutorial, but I just wanted to show how easy these are to make, and for only $1! This would be a sweet Valentine's, Mother's Day, or birthday gift.


Then I started experimenting and adding my key to other necklaces that I have. Here's my key with the charm necklace I made at the Tim Holtz booth at CHA (my favorite make and take of the show--wait 'til you see his cool new metal-drilling tool we used!).


It looked pretty cute with this charm necklace my friend made for me, too!


And I liked it layered with a couple of chunkier necklaces. I've been layering necklaces a lot lately.


But finally I decided it was cute just on a chain with this mini bottlecap charm I also made at CHA. They're made by Bottle Cap Inc. and they're adorable with an image or monogram in the middle, or a sparkly rhinestone like I chose. This was the winner because it is so pretty, yet simple enough to wear with my Target sweatshirt!


And here's the other one layered with pearls for a little more sophistication. I'm thinking Valentine's date!