How to make acrylic keychains with acrylic blanks

What you need

• Clear acrylic blanks, ideally with a keyring hole, so you don’t have to drill acrylic
• Permanent adhesive vinyl. Removable vinyl is made to peel, and keychains get handled every day.
• A cutting machine such as a Cricut, a weeding hook and transfer tape
• A scraper or an old card for burnishing
• Jump rings or split rings, keychain rings and two small pliers
• A lint-free cloth

We sell the blanks, not the rings, so get keyrings and tassels from a craft supplier.

Pick your blanks: 2 mm or 3 mm

Both are clear acrylic circles with smooth, laser-cut edges and a protective film on both sides. 3 mm is 50% thicker than 2 mm, so it feels heavier and more solid in the hand. 2 mm is lighter on a bag and costs less per pack.

Size	2 mm, 50 pieces	3 mm, 50 pieces
1 inch (25 mm)	₱140 (₱160 with hole)	₱160 (₱180 with hole)
1.5 inch (38 mm)	₱180 (₱200 with hole)	₱230 (₱250 with hole)
2 inch (51 mm)	₱220 (₱240 with hole)	₱330 (₱350 with hole)
2.5 inch (64 mm)	₱380 (₱400 with hole)	₱470 (₱490 with hole)
3 inch (76 mm)	₱480 (₱500 with hole)	₱575 (₱600 with hole)

Testing a design first? The 2 inch, 2 mm pack of 10 is ₱95 and has a 3 mm keyring hole. Full packs: 2 mm blanks and 3 mm blanks, or see all acrylic blanks.

As a guide, 1 inch suits small charms and zipper pulls. 2 to 2.5 inch fits a name or a small logo. 3 inch works as a bag tag or ornament.

Design and cut the vinyl

1. Draw a circle at the exact blank size as a guide, and mark where the hole sits.
2. Keep the design 2 to 3 mm inside the edge and clear of the hole, so nothing catches and lifts.
3. For the back of the blank, mirror the design before cutting. Seen through the acrylic, it then reads the right way round.
4. Cut, then weed away the extra vinyl. Very thin lines and small text are the hardest to weed, so thicken them if you can.
5. Lay transfer tape over the design, burnish it, and peel off the vinyl backing.

Apply it to the acrylic

1. Peel the protective film from one side just before applying. Leave the other film on, so that side stays scratch-free while you work.
2. Don’t wipe acrylic with alcohol or glass cleaner. A lint-free cloth is enough on a fresh blank.
3. Line the design up using the hole as your reference. Lay it down from the center outward to push out air.
4. Burnish firmly, then peel the transfer tape back slowly, folded flat against itself.
5. Remove the last film. Give the adhesive a day to bond before heavy use.

Layering front and back

Clear acrylic gives you two faces to work with. A common build: the main design on the back, mirrored, then a backing layer over it, such as white or patterned vinyl cut as a full circle. The backing makes colors stand out and hides the adhesive.

On the back, layers go on in reverse. The layer you want on top goes on first, and the backing goes on last. On the front, apply the bottom layer first as usual, for example a name over the back design.

Sealing and finishing

• A design on the back is seen through the acrylic, so the front surface takes the wear, not the vinyl.
• Vinyl on the front takes the knocks. Round off sharp corners and keep it away from the edge.
• For a fully sealed finish, some crafters add a thin coat of two-part epoxy resin. Test any sealer on one blank first.
• Clean finished keychains with a microfiber cloth and mild soapy water. Skip alcohol and glass cleaner.

Add the hardware

Open a jump ring sideways with two pliers, never by pulling it apart. Thread it through the hole, close it, then add a keychain ring, clasp or tassel. The 10-pack’s hole is 3 mm, so choose rings with wire thinner than that.

No cutting machine?

Order a vinyl sticker sheet. We print your designs in full color on a glossy, waterproof A4 sheet: ₱30 print only, ₱45 square cut or ₱60 machine cut to shape. Upload your designs on the product page; it is made in 2 to 4 business days.

When to have it laser cut instead

Blanks are circles. Laser cutting is the better choice when you need:

• A custom shape, like a logo outline, a mascot or a name cut as one piece
• Engraving: the laser marks the design into the surface, so there is nothing to peel
• Black or gold mirror acrylic instead of clear
• Another size or shape of blank, or a batch of 30 or more

Upload an SVG, DXF, PDF or AI file to the Make Lab for an instant estimate. We confirm the exact price before you pay, and custom laser jobs start at ₱150. See laser cutting and engraving and cutting vs engraving.

Acrylic keychain FAQ

What thickness of acrylic is best for keychains?

2 mm and 3 mm both work. 2 mm is lighter and costs less; 3 mm feels more solid in the hand. Our clear circle blanks come in both, from ₱140 for 50 pieces in 2 mm and ₱160 in 3 mm.

What vinyl should I use on acrylic keychains?

Permanent adhesive vinyl. Removable vinyl is made to peel off, and keychains get handled every day. Let the adhesive bond for a day before heavy use.

Can I use heat transfer vinyl on acrylic blanks?

It’s risky. Most iron-on vinyl is pressed hotter than acrylic can take, so blanks can warp. Use permanent adhesive vinyl instead.

Do I need to mirror my design?

Only for the back. A design on the back is read through the acrylic, so mirror it before cutting. Designs on the front are cut normally.

Do your acrylic blanks have a hole?

You choose. The 50-piece packs come with or without a keyring hole, in 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 inch. The 2 inch pack of 10 has a 3 mm hole.

Do you sell keyrings?

No, the shop sells the blanks only. Get jump rings, split rings or keychain rings from a craft supplier.

How do I clean acrylic keychains?

Wipe them with a microfiber cloth and mild soapy water. Skip alcohol and glass cleaner.

Can you cut acrylic keychains in a custom shape?

Yes. Upload your design to the Make Lab for an instant estimate. We laser cut clear 2 mm and 3 mm, black 2 mm and gold mirror acrylic. Custom laser jobs start at ₱150, and the exact price is confirmed before you pay.