key cabinet

Designer: Kendra McCracken

Ugly piles of keys lying around on tables. Lost keys. Keys stored in a purse away from home while someone AT home needs them. There are so many frustrations associated with something so vital to everyday life! And something as simple as a central location for storing keys, when they're not being used, can reduce most of these problems. Why not give someone the gift of a little reduced stress by creating a pretty key cabinet to display in their home?

Difficulty rating

Advanced

Instructions (Print version)

1. I started with a small cabinet purchased at a thrift store and gently popped the decorative tile out of the center panel with a screwdriver.

2. Using the #8 Razor-Edged Bent Scissors, cut a double layer of material (one side can be an inexpensive liner material as it will be hidden), slightly larger than the template opening you'll be using. Pin the layers together, right sides together.

3. Trace the desired shape using a shape template onto the double layer of fabric.

4. Stitch along the line drawn in step 3 and cut a very small seam allowance.

5. Cut a slit in the liner material of the stitched shape and turn the shape right-side out. Iron flat, straightening the seam out. Cut a circle of quilt batting using the same template opening from step 3 and using the stuffing tool from the 12-in-1 Sewing tool, push the batting into the shape.

6. Place the stuffed shape back in the template opening. Line the 6" x 24" Acrylic Ruler up with the grid lines on the template and draw lines (horizontal and vertical) onto the stuffed shape.

7. Stitch along the lines from step 6 to quilt the shape. Cut loose threads if desired. I trimmed mine shorter and used them as a decorative element on the finished piece.

8. Cut a piece of chipboard 1/8" smaller than the opening in the cabinet panel and set aside. Cut a piece of liner material large enough to cover the chipboard and wrap around the back a bit. Center a piece of quilt batting (cut the same size as the chipboard) on this. Cut a piece of material for the background of the panel large enough to cover the layers below and wrap around the back a bit.

9. Determine the placement of all decorative elements and stitch them in place through all 3 layers. Make sure to remain centered over the quilt batting. I actually liked the ragged look of the opening cut in the shape for turning and stuffing so I placed it facing up and stitched on Kimberly Poloson Metal Keys and miscellaneous other keys.

10. Place the chipboard from step 8 under the finished layered quilting.
Wrap the excess fabric around the chipboard and adhere to the back, stitching the pieces together if necessary so everything lies flat.
Adhere the chipboard to the cabinet using a strong adhesive such as E6000.

Supply List:
48507097 Shape Template Tool-Circles 1
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_shapetemplate-tool-circles-1-wsca.aspx

94547097 #8 Razor-Edged Bent Scissors

http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_no-8-razor-edged-scissors.aspx

87627097 6" x 24" Acrylic Ruler
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_6-x-24-acrylic-ruler.aspx

23597097 Mini Heart Hand Punch
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_hand-punch-14-heart.aspx

01-002230 Kimberly Poloson Metal Pieces

01-003622 Kimberly Poloson Small Black Blooms

01-002245 Kimberly Poloson Antique Flourish

Other: Fabric, miscellaneous keys, disassembled costume jewelry, thread, eyelet trim