Computer Key Interchangeable Frame

My husband is an IT Guy and always has old keyboards laying around that need to go to the e-recycling center. So I thought I’d save a few keys and make this interchangeable picture frame for him to keep in his office. The top strip holds a binder clip for pictures that he can swap out.

I wanted to spell out “We Love Dada”, which has two E’s and two A’s and two D’s. So asked him for two keyboards and he had two laptop ones to spare. I popped out the keys with a screwdriver.

I used an 8x10 frame with the glass removed and trimmed a piece of cardboard to fit the frame.

Then I cut a piece of fabric about 1 inch bigger than the cardboard. He loves brown and grey.

I then cut some strips of fabric the same length as the other fabric, and 2.5 inches in width (so two strips about 13x2.5 inches).

I folded the strips towards the center and pressed them to form a finished edge. One is slightly bigger than the other…use the bigger strip as the bottom one i.e. with the computer keys.

 

Now try out the fabric and the strips in the frame. The bottom strip should sit right at the bottom edge of the frame, and the top strip should sit about 1 inch from the top edge of the frame, to allow room for the binder clip (and your fingers to change out the picture).

 

Insert the fabric and cardboard

 

Do a test run…looks good so far!

Mark where the strips go with a disappearing ink pen.

Top stitch the top strip along the edges.

Sew the bottom strip to the fabric along the edge.

Oops forgot this…insert everything back into the frame and mark 2 inches from the sides of the frame. This is where you’ll sew down the top strip, leaving the middle free to insert the binder clip.

Sew the top strip to the fabric with two vertical lines along your two-inch marks.

Lay out the computer keys so they’re centered on the bottom strip. I marked the center of the fabric with a pin.

Hot glue the keys to the fabric.

And hot glue the fabric to the cardboard on all sides and the corners…doesn’t have to be very neat as the frame backing will cover it.

Insert it all back into the frame plus the frame backing, and you’re done!

Tap tap tap.

I think I am the most excited about this gift of all. I know he has been wondering what I’m going to do with the computer keys, so I hope he is surprised!

And that was our last We Love Dada Week project! A wrap-up post of all my Father’s Day gift ideas from this week is coming up next.

Linking: Petite Hermine :: Tip Junkie :: Sugar Bee-Crafts :: Rook No. 17 :: Tea Rose Home :: The Trendy Treehouse :: Sew Woodsy :: Somewhat Simple :: Momnivoire's Dilemma :: The Frugal Girls :: Tidy Mom :: WhipperBerry :: Creation Corner :: Craft Envy :: Along for the Ride :: Tatertots and Jello :: Lolly Jane Boutique :: Be Different...Act Normal :: Flamingo Toes :: Homemaker on a Dime :: Sassy Sites