14 DIY Keychains That Make Great Gifts

Wooden Bead Keychain

Go for a vintage-western vibe with these simple keychains. String pastel wooden beads (or paint your own) onto leather string, then tie off the ends securely. This is a great craft for a party—the supplies are inexpensive and each guest can individualize their piece easily.

Animal Figurine Keychain

Capture your spirit animal in a cute keychain! Grab a cheap bag of plastic animal toys (your dollar store likely has a variety), select your species, coat with metallic spray paint and secure to a keyring with an eye screw. 

Polymer Clay Fruit Keychain

Sculpt a selection of miniature fruits out of brightly colored clay, then bake and varnish for a lasting finish. These look especially cute grouped a few at a time: create a lemon and lime for a citrusy pair, or mold an apple and orange as lunchbox pals.

DIY Tassel Keychain

Assemble this do-it-yourself tassel keychain, and customize to match your favorite handbag. Add a few glass beads for a touch of sparkle, and these will look so professional, you’ll want to craft one in every color.

Wood Monogram Keychain

Create your own color-blocked, monogrammed keychains for your preppiest pals. Customize the color scheme to coordinate with a leather tassel, attach both to a key ring, and wow your recipients with this totally DIYed gift.

Candy Heart Keychain

Channel some of that candy heart sass into these clay figurine keychains. With the help of a small cookie cutter and stampable letters, this craft couldn’t be more straightforward. It's a perfect little present for this Valentine’s Day!

Resin Map Keychain

A great alternative to a framed photo, this personalizable gift perfectly captures the memories of a shared road trip or vacation. Paste a recognizable bit of map into a pendant, then seal with resin for a professional finish.

Shrinking Plastic Keychain

An accessible option for kid crafters, shrinking plastic is as simple to use as it is magical. Draw (or trace) a quirky image, then color with a permanent marker before popping into the oven to heat-shrink. Make extra to use as sturdy gift tags too!

Fabric Cuff Keychain

A perfect use for fabric scraps, these contrast-lined cuffs bring a ton of color and pattern to your keyring. Once you have your sewing machine out, whip up a bunch of options to change up the look of your accessories on any occasion.

Wine Cork Keychain

Have you been saving wine corks for a future craft, but can’t quite decide how to put your collection to use? Tap into your stock a bit with this craft! Attach a couple of pretty charms or beads to a clean cork, then pop onto a keyring. These are especially lovely gifted with a bottle of your favorite red!

Felt Cactus Keychain

If you’re not opposed to hand stitching around some tight curves, attempt this lovely little felt cactus. Your tight handiwork will definitely be rewarded, as this mini-plushy turns out incredibly cute.

Rope Tassel Keychain

Use a length of versatile cotton rope to craft a set of coordinating keyring tassels. Finish by wrapping the frayed rope in embroidery floss to add a few stripes of coordinating color.

Glass Orb Keychain

Add a dash of sophistication to your next DIYed gift. Source your favorite patterned scrapbook paper, cut to size, and layer a store-bought glass hemisphere over top. These keychains come together quickly; settle in to make a bunch during your next craft session.

Pom Pom Keychain

Spunky and festive, these yarn pom poms will add a burst of joy to any set of keys.

Pro tip: invest in a plastic pom pom maker in a couple of sizes—they’ll save you on labor and time in the long run.