Every key holds a secret, and during the holidays, they can unlock Christmas magic!

By painting your spare keys in bright colors and adding cheerful faces, you create ornaments that are fun, unique, and totally budget-friendly.

Hang them on your tree, use them as gift toppers, or tell kids it’s Santa’s special key to get inside.

Materials Needed

• Old metal or vintage keys - 3-5 pieces (2-3" long works best)
• Acrylic paints (red, white, green, black, gold)
• Fine-tip paintbrushes (size 0-2 for details)
• Clear acrylic sealer spray - 1 can
• Ribbon or twine - 12" per key
• Optional: Glitter paint or metallic markers

Step-by-step Guide

Step 1: Wash the keys with soap and water, then dry completely. If the keys are rusty, lightly sand them.

Step 2: Paint a base coat (red, green, or white) on each key. Let it dry before adding details.

Step 3: Add designs: paint Santa’s beard and hat, a snowman’s face and scarf, or festive polka dots and stripes. Then use a fine brush for faces and outlines.

Step 4: Allow the paint to dry, then spray with clear acrylic sealer to protect the design and give a nice finish.

Step 5: Tie a ribbon or twine through the key’s loop to make it ready for hanging.

Tip:

If you’re making these with kids, let them paint simple designs like stars, dots, or stripes—they’ll look just as festive.