DIY Charm Kits

Everything to make your own, in one box

A DIY charm kit puts beads and charms together, so you can make a phone charm, a strap, a bracelet or a necklace without buying each piece on its own. The kits here are mostly beads: acrylic beads, soft clay and polymer clay beads, glass crystal beads, and small charms to hang among them. Several come in a box with sections that keeps the colours sorted, and one is boxed as a present for a child who likes crafts.

What is in this range

• Big bead kits: a large mix of acrylic and clay beads with small animal charms, for stringing into charms, straps and bracelets.
• Themed gift kits: beads and charms on a unicorn and mermaid theme, in a gift box.
• Glass bead boxes: small sparkling glass beads and sequins in a sorting box, for charms, jewellery and sewing. Ready-made ones are in crystal and rhinestone charms.
• Flatback charms: small resin pieces with a flat back, such as hearts, clouds, stars, sweets and bears, made to stick onto a flat surface like a plain phone case rather than to hang.

What else you need

Many bead kits are made with bracelets and necklaces in mind, so check what comes in the box. To turn beads into a phone charm you will usually need three more things.

• The right cord. Elastic is easiest to tie but stretches over time, so keep it for charms that only hang. A strap that will carry the phone needs nylon or polyester cord, which does not stretch.
• Rings or a clasp to join the pieces: see charm rings and connectors.
• Something to fix it to the phone: a lanyard patch, a case with lanyard holes, or a dust plug with a hole for a charm.

The guide to making a phone charm goes through cords, knots, letter beads and making a strap strong enough to hold the phone. For spelling a name, see letter and name charms.

Questions people ask about DIY charm kits

Can children use a bead kit?

Older children who like crafts can, with an adult nearby. Beads, small charms and sequins are small parts, and the NHS warns that babies and toddlers put small objects in their mouths and can choke. Keep the kit well away from little ones, put the tray away when you stop, and pick up anything that drops.

How long should a wrist strap be?

Long enough to slip over your knuckles loosely, plus a little for the hitch onto the phone. Measure your own hand with a piece of string, or measure a strap you already like.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.

More to look at

• Charm rings and connectors
• Letter and name charms
• Lanyard patches and tethers
• Beaded phone charms
• Tassel phone charms
• Dust plug charms
• Guide: How to make your own phone charm