DIY Acrylic Keychains on the Cricut: Easy & Cute!

Instructions

STEP 1: GET MY FREE DIY ACRYLIC KEYCHAIN FILES

The first step is to download my Acrylic Keychain designs from my free resource library -- it's design #[333].

TIP: If you are not sure how to upload an SVG cut file to Cricut Design Space, watch this helpful video training series I made. If you are on an iPad or iPhone, here is how to download and upload SVG files to the Cricut Design Space app. 

This is what my Acrylic Keychains SVG looks like when uploaded to Cricut Design Space.

STEP 2: PREPARE YOUR SVG DESIGNS

You have four designs to choose from and I'm also going to show you how to make your own personalized monogram keychain design.

HOW TO MAKE A PERSONALIZED MONOGRAM ACRYLIC KEYCHAIN DESIGN:

I used the fonts Times and Breethy. First, click on the Text icon and select your font. I am going to make one with my initial first and I will use the Times font for that.

TIP: Need help installing a font in Cricut Design Space? Check out this video and blog post I made that explains everything step by step.

Type your initial in the text box and move it away from your other designs.

Next, we need to type the script name. Again, click the text icon, select your font, and type your name in the text box. For the name, I used the font Breethy.

Once your name is typed, click out of the text box to get out of the edit mode and then single click on it to select it. You can also select it from the layers panel. Use the resize handle to resize your script name.

When you are happy with the size, select both the script name and the monogram name.

TIP: You can click and drag your mouse over both to select them or click one in the layers panel and hold the shift key to also select the second layer.

When both are selected, click on Align and then Center.

Click on a blank place in your canvas to deselect both layers. Now, we are going to create an offset of the script name. Select just the script name either on the canvas or in the layers panel. Then, click on Offset and change the setting to 0.1 and click Apply.

NOTE: If you do not have the Offset feature in Cricut Design Space, check out this tutorial to create your own knockout design.

With offset on your canvas, select the script name text layer only and hide it. I recommend clicking it in your layers panel to make sure you are only selecting the one layer.

Now we are going to slice the offset and monogram layers. Select both the monogram and text offset layers and click slice.

After clicking slice, you will see several new layers in your layers panel. I recommend clicking and dragging away the parts that we don't need. This way, we won't accidentally delete something we want to keep. The only layer we want after slicing is the split monogram letter.

TIP: If you do accidentally delete something you can always click on the "Undo" arrow at the top. It's the curved arrow in the upper left part of the canvas pointing to the left.

You can now unhide your script text layer. If you have not moved your monogram letter on your canvas, the text layer will appear perfectly centered in the offset area. If they are not aligned, select both the monogram and script name and click on Align then click Center (just like you did when first aligning them).

Now you can change the colors of your design. To do this, select the layer you want to change and then select a color from the color menu.

NOTE: If you plan to make the monogram design with the same two colors, you can select both layers and click Attach to keep them together. If you plan to use two different colors, after you've chosen your colors, select both layers and click Group. This will keep your design together for resizing purposes but will allow each layer to remain its own color.

RESIZING YOUR DESIGNS:

My acrylic keychain designs are sized for 2" round keychains. If you are using a different size, you will want to create a circle template to resize your designs. To make a template, click on Shapes and select Circle (or whatever other shape you may be using). Measure your blank design and then change the dimensions in Cricut Design Space to match what you have.

Your shape will be the topmost layer in your layers panel. This means it will cover all of your designs and we need to see the designs to make sure they are sized correctly. If your shape isn't still selected, select it, click on Arrange and Send to Back.

In order to better see my designs, I changed my circle to white. Now you can drag any design over the circle to envision how it will appear on your keychain. My monogram design is definitely too big so I'm going to select it and use the resize handle to fit on the circle. Mine measured about 1.5" inches wide by 1.5" high.

IMPORTANT: Remember to account for the circle cutout at the top of your keychain when resizing your design.

When everything is sized for your blank keychain materials, you can hide or delete the circle template and any designs that you do not want to make. Then, click Make It in the upper right corner.

STEP 3: CUT YOUR VINYL DESIGNS

If you are using a Cricut Maker 3, Explore 3, or Joy, you will be asked if you are cutting your designs without a mat, on a mat, or multiple ways. Remember that only Smart Materials may be used without a mat. I am not using Smart Materials with this project so I will select "On Mat" and click "Done."

We will be applying these designs to the back side of the acrylic keychains and so we need to make sure to Mirror all of our designs. Toggle Mirror on for all of your mats and when you're done, click back on the first mat and click Continue.

Now we need to select our materials. I am using Premium Vinyl - Permanent Glossy so I will select that then I will adjust my pressure to "More" to ensure a clean cut.

TIP: If this vinyl option isn't listed, click on Browse All Materials to search for it.

TIP: If you are using a Cricut Maker 3 or Explore 3 and using the same material for all of your mats, you can click "Remember material settings" so that you don't have to select your materials after each mat. If you plan to use different materials, you'll want to leave this unchecked so that you can change your settings with each material.

Place your material on your green mat and press the arrows to load the mat into your Cricut. When your Cricut is ready, press the flashing middle button to cut your vinyl.

TIP: If you want to save time, you can cut more than one color of material at once on the same mat. To find out how, check out my blog post or video: The 25 Best Cricut Tips & Tricks. It’s Tip #24!

When your first mat is done, press the arrow button to unload your mat. Flip your mat over and carefully pull it away from your vinyl.

Load the vinyl for your next mat and repeat these steps until all of your vinyl colors are cut.

STEP 4: WEED AND APPLY YOUR VINYL DESIGNS

With your weeding tool, gently remove all of the excess vinyl from your design.

Once your designs are weeded, it is time to apply your transfer tape. Cut a small piece of transfer tape to match the size of your cut design. Peel off the backing of the transfer tape and place it on the vinyl. Use your small scraper to burnish the transfer tape to the vinyl.

Peel away the vinyl backing. If any part of the vinyl does not adhere to the transfer tape, reburnish the area and try again.

Place your design on your acrylic keychain and once again, use your scraper to adhere the vinyl to the keychain.

Peel away your transfer tape. Again, if any parts start to lift with the transfer tape, reburnish the area.

LAYERING VINYL DESIGNS: Start by applying transfer tape to your topmost layer. Burnish the vinyl and peel away the vinyl backing. With your top layer on the transfer tape, lay your transfer tape over the next layer.

Burnish the second layer to the transfer tape and again, remove the vinyl backing. Repeat the steps for all of the vinyl layers so that all layers are attached to your transfer tape.

Once your vinyl is applied to your keychain, burnish the vinyl over the transfer tape to help it stick well to your keychain. Gently remove the transfer tape from the vinyl.

OPTIONAL: I added a layer of acrylic paint over the flower design to add a pop of color. I used a foam brush to brush a thin layer of paint over the vinyl (since that is the back of the keychain). Once dry, I applied a coat of Mod Podge Gloss to seal the back. Allow 1-2 hours to dry.

NOTE: You do not need to seal your vinyl-only designs as long as you used permanent vinyl for your designs.

STEP 5: ASSEMBLE YOUR KEYCHAINS

If you applied paint or Mod Podge, make sure your designs have fully dried before moving on to this step.

Select your chain, clasp, and tassel from your kit. Loop the chain into the ring clasp and then put the ring clasp onto the acrylic hole. Use your pliers to close the clasp to attach the chain.

Repeat the same process to attach the tassel to the chain.

Wasn't that so fun and easy? Imagine how many you could make in a batch. These acrylic keychains make great gifts and are a great item to sell at craft fairs or an Etsy shop.