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A New Home Ornament DIY is a simple way to mark a move and create a keepsake for the holiday season. This design pairs a decorated house key with a mini wreath, making it suitable for your own tree or as a thoughtful housewarming gift. The materials are easy to customize, so you can adapt the colors and embellishments to suit a home’s style.
The basic idea is straightforward: decorate a key, add a small bow, then tie both pieces to a mini wreath with yarn. Set out the supplies before starting, and cover your work surface to make handling glue and gold leaf easier.
Supplies for a New Home Ornament DIY
- One house key
- Gold leaf sheets
- Tacky glue
- Two paint brushes
- A mini wreath, store-bought or made from pipe cleaners
- A pipe cleaner or ribbon for the bow
- Yarn
- Scissors
How to Make the New Home Ornament
- Apply the gold leaf: Use one brush to coat the key with glue. Wait until the glue feels tacky, then press gold leaf around the key.
- Remove the excess: Use the second brush to gently sweep away loose leaf. Gold leaf can flake, so check the key and add more to any areas that remain uncovered.
- Make a small bow: Shape a pipe cleaner or a piece of ribbon into a bow. Keep it small enough to sit neatly beside the key.
- Assemble the ornament: Tie the key and bow to the mini wreath with yarn. Make a loop at the top so the ornament can hang from a Christmas tree.
The project takes about 10 minutes according to the supplied instructions, though drying time may vary depending on the glue. Check that the key and bow are securely tied before hanging the finished ornament.
Ideas for Customizing Your Ornament
- Change the key’s finish: Instead of gold leaf, paint the key, add glitter, or wrap it with tissue paper or wrapping paper. Keep in mind that decorative coatings make the key unsuitable for use in a lock.
- Decorate the wreath: Add mini pom-poms, glitter, confetti, or faux greenery for a different look. Use small embellishments so the wreath remains light enough to hang.
- Try a different base: Replace the mini wreath with a mini house or another ornament base. You can paint it to resemble the new home or add the year or house number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the key after adding gold leaf, paint, or glitter?
No. Treat a decorated key as a purely decorative item. Gold leaf, paint, or glitter may rub off inside a lock and cause problems. If you want to keep your everyday key in working condition, use a spare or decorative key instead.
Is it safe to use an actual house key?
You can use a key for display, but consider whether you are comfortable attaching a real key to an ornament. A spare key, an old key, or a key-shaped decoration can create a similar effect. Store the finished ornament indoors and do not put a coated key back into a lock.
A Simple Keepsake for a New Home
This New Home Ornament DIY can be kept simple or personalized with colors and details that reflect the house or the recipient. For a housewarming gift, consider adding the move-in year or house number to the ornament base. Before gifting it, make sure the hanging loop is secure and clearly let the recipient know that a decorated key is for display only.
