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How to Make a Keychain on a Budget

Make a keychain using old wood scraps, your favorite image and Mod Podge. It’s a great way to personalize a gift – you can use photos too!

Skills Required: Beginner. Even if you’ve never Mod Podged before, you can make this project. The decoupage area is small enough that you’ll be fine and won’t have to worry about wrinkles.

How to Make a Keychain on a Budget

One of my favorite things to do with Mod Podge is make gift items. Man Podger Walter has come up with a great way to use old wood scraps and make a fancy keychain gift for a friend.

One idea that came to mind when Walter showed me this project was a keychain with my blog logo. Wouldn’t that be fun to do something meaningful like that for yourself? Here’s how Walter did it!


Here’s how you can make a key chain with any images that you fancy. I used an image of a fish, because I just love fishing. It’s a fun end of summer craft to commemorate the months of fun in the water.

But why not use images with typography? I am thinking monograms! How about names? Or images from favorite places? You have so many options!

Wood blocks, Hard Coat Mod Podge, eye hooks, and keychain findings

How to Make a Keychain

Gather These Supplies

  • Assortment of smaller wood pieces, like kid’s building blocks or small scraps of wood. I never throw any scrap pieces away!
  • Acrylic paint
  • Decorative paper
  • Screw eyes
  • Keychain findings
  • Mod Podge (I used Hard Coat)
  • Scissors
  • Awl
  • Pencil
Hard Coat Mod Podge, blue paint, a wood block, two fish images, and an eye hook

Step 2: Prime the piece of wood with FolkArt, let dry. Lay out the images in the order to how you will decoupage. I used Hard Coat to decoupage and seal the final result.

Remember, this is a keychain that will be heavily used, hence a strong sealer is ideal for durability. Let dry.

Using an awl to mark the center for attaching the eye hook

Step 3: Use an awl to mark center of the top part of the keychain for the screw eye.

Hand screwing the eye hook into the top of the small wood block

Step 4: Attach the screw eye hook.

Keyring attached to the eye hook

Step 5: Attach the keychain link to the screw eye using pliers.

DIY keychain hanging from a key in a car ignition

Add your keys to this keychain and project completed! I am very pleased with this simple and yet durable item. Are you ready to make a keychain?

Yield: 1 keychain

Make a Keychain

How to Make a Keychain on a Budget

Learn how to make a keychain using scrap wood and other basic materials. These can be personalized and make great gifts.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Active Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $2

Materials

  • Small scrap of wood
  • Acrylic paint
  • Decorative paper
  • Mod Podge Hard Coat
  • Screw eyes
  • Keychain findings
  • Sandpaper

Tools

  • Saw
  • Scissors
  • Awl
  • Pencil
  • Paintbrush
  • Pliers

Instructions

  1. Trim a small scrap of wood to the desired size using a saw. Sand to smooth.
  2. Trace the wood onto paper. You can trace all six sides or just the main two. Cut out the paper and set aside.
  3. Paint the wood with acrylic paint. Let dry.
  4. Attach paper to the wood using Mod Podge. Let dry and then give two additional coats. Let dry.
  5. Use an awl to mark the wood for the screw eye. Attach the screw eye hook (push firmly).
  6. Attach the keychain link to the screw eye using pliers.

Did You Make This Project?

Please leave a rating or share a photo on Pinterest!


If you enjoyed this project, I’d love for you to check out these other ideas:

Sara @ CleverPinkPirate.com

Saturday 26th of May 2012

Very cool! It looks easy enough and even kids can make them!

creativejewishmom/sara

Thursday 24th of May 2012

Love it Amy, thanks so much for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday, hope all is well. I just posted a nice mod podge project yesterday, check it out! oxoxoxoSarahttps://www.creativejewishmom.com/2012/05/recycled-jar-candle-holders-for-shavous-or-anytime.html

melody

Wednesday 23rd of May 2012

like it!

Jessica Bruno

Monday 21st of May 2012

You are right, great idea for fathers day :)

Nauli

Saturday 19th of May 2012

Looks great and easy.

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