Beaded Keychains and Car Charms You Can Make, Gift, or Sell
If you follow along here at all, you already know the beaded bag charms post turned into one of my most popular projects ever, and honestly, I get it. There is something so satisfying about stringing a handful of beads onto a little clip and ending up with something that looks store bought in twenty minutes flat. So many of you asked for more ideas in the same vein, and the answer that kept coming up was keychains and car charms.
They use almost the exact same technique as the bag charms, just with different hardware on the end, which means if you already have leftover beads from that project, you are basically halfway done. These make fantastic gifts (teacher gifts, stocking stuffers, “just because” presents for a friend), and they sell incredibly well if you have ever thought about setting up a little shop on Etsy or at a local market.
Below are five different styles to try, from a simple wooden bead tassel to a chunky statement design, plus how to turn any of them into a car charm instead of a keychain with one small hardware swap.
What You Will Need
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- Wooden beads in assorted sizes: the base for almost every design here, and they take paint or stain beautifully if you want to customize the color. These earthy boho wooden beads come in the perfect color palette for keychains.
- Letter beads: perfect for a personalized keychain with a name or initial. This letter bead set has every letter you will need.
- Beading wire or elastic cord: strong enough to hold up to being tossed in a bag or clipped to a belt loop every day. This 0.019 gauge beading wire is sturdy and easy to work with.
- Split key rings: the actual keychain hardware. Look for a sturdy double loop so keys do not slip off. These small split key rings have exactly that.
- Lobster clasps: makes the finished piece removable, which readers loved on the bag charms too. These small lobster claw clasps work perfectly for that.
- Jump rings: the tiny connector rings that link your beaded piece to the clasp or key ring. These jump rings come in both gold and silver.
- Jewelry pliers set: you need at least a flat nose and a round nose plier to open jump rings and crimp beads cleanly. This jewelry pliers set includes everything you need.
- Silky tassels: adds movement and a little bit of that boutique polish to the finished piece. These silky handmade tassels come in an assortment of colors.
- Crimp beads: tiny metal beads that secure the ends of your wire so nothing unravels. Grab a pack of these so you always have extras on hand.
- A small bead storage organizer: keeps every color and size sorted so you are not digging through one giant bag every time you sit down to make one. This stackable bead organizer keeps everything sorted by size.
How to Make Beaded Keychains and Car Charms, Step by Step
1. Gather Your Beads and Plan Your Color Story
Before you string anything, lay out your beads on a tray or napkin and pick a color story: two or three colors that work together, plus one neutral like a natural wood tone to break it up. This is the same trick that made the bag charms feel put together instead of random, and it works just as well here.
2. String Your Base Design
Cut a length of beading wire about six inches long, then thread on a crimp bead, your split key ring, and back through the crimp bead to anchor it. Crimp it flat with your pliers, then start stringing your beads in the pattern you planned. A simple stack of five to seven beads is plenty for a clean, classic look.
3. Add a Tassel or Charm for Movement
Once your beads are strung, finish the other end with another crimp bead and a jump ring, then attach a silky tassel or a small charm. This is the detail that makes a keychain look finished rather than like a loose string of beads, and it takes less than a minute.
4. Finish with Jump Rings and Hardware
Use your pliers to open a jump ring (twist the ends apart rather than pulling them wide, which keeps the ring round), slide it through your split key ring and your beaded piece, then twist it closed. Give everything a gentle tug to make sure it is secure before you call it done.
5. Make It a Car Charm Instead of a Keychain
Car charms are having a huge moment right now, and the good news is you already know how to make one. Simply swap the split key ring for a rearview mirror charm clip, and skip the tassel in favor of something a little heavier, like two or three chunky beads, so it hangs nicely without swinging into the windshield. Everything else about the process stays exactly the same.
Tips for Keychains That Actually Hold Up
A few small details make the difference between a keychain that lasts and one that falls apart in a week. Always double check your crimps with a gentle tug before you consider a piece finished. Choose beading wire over plain elastic for anything that will be used daily, since it holds its shape and does not stretch out. And if you are making these to sell, keep a small stock of extra jump rings and clasps on hand so a repair takes two minutes instead of a whole afternoon.
Perfect for Gifting or Selling
These come together fast enough to make a whole batch in one sitting, which makes them ideal for teacher gifts, birthday party favors, or a little lineup for a craft fair table. A personalized letter bead version makes an especially sweet gift, since it takes the same five minutes but suddenly feels one of a kind. If you do decide to sell them, a clear little bag or a simple kraft paper tag goes a long way toward making even a five dollar keychain feel like a real, considered gift.
Ready to Bead More?
If this one was fun, you will probably also like my beaded bag charms guide, which uses the same basic technique on a different piece of hardware, or my beaded bracelets tutorial if you want to keep the same supplies going a little further.
