DIY Polymer Clay Charms – A Handmade Summer

These DIY polymer clay charms are a great summer project from A Handmade Summer.

I decorated each charm with colorful paper napkin designs, sealed them with Clay Glaze, and attached them to key rings and clips for the perfect bag accessory. They are easy to make, completely customizable, and a fun way to add personality to your favorite tote, purse, or backpack.

Two canvas tote bags, one with pink straps and one with blue straps, hang on a staircase railing. Both have colorful feather-shaped keychains attached.
Four images: a decorative glass ornament, a kitchen with flowers on the counter, a living room with white furniture, and a bowl of soup with scattered toppings.
Text reads "MY 100 YEAR OLD HOME | A HANDMADE SUMMER" in uppercase letters on a white background.

DIY Polymer Clay Charms

A cream and pink tote bag with pink handles hangs on a door knob. A flower-shaped keychain is attached to one handle.

A Handmade Summer

A beige and yellow canvas tote bag hangs on a glass doorknob, with two round keychains featuring yellow citrus slice designs attached to the handle.

One of my favorite things about crafting is discovering a project that is both fun to make and actually useful. I love creating things that don’t just sit on a shelf but become part of everyday life. That’s exactly why I fell in love with these DIY Polymer Clay Charms.

If you’ve been paying attention lately, you’ve probably noticed that bag charms are everywhere. From designer handbags to tote bags and backpacks, charms have become one of the biggest accessories of the year. The more personalized and unique they are, the better. Some people spend hundreds of dollars collecting charms for their bags, while others create their own versions with beads, ribbons, and vintage trinkets.

Naturally, I decided I needed to make my own.

A blue and white tote bag with striped fish-shaped keychains hangs on a table next to a white lamp and a small dish.

As soon as I started experimenting with polymer clay, I realized it would be the perfect material for creating lightweight charms. It bakes hard, holds its shape beautifully, and can be decorated in countless ways. While many polymer clay projects involve painting after baking, I decided to take a different approach. Instead of paint, I used some of the beautiful paper napkins from my ever-growing collection.

If you’ve followed my A Handmade series, you already know how much I love crafting with decorative paper napkins. The designs are gorgeous, inexpensive, and available in almost every pattern imaginable. I have drawers filled with floral prints, vintage-inspired patterns, botanical designs, and whimsical artwork just waiting for the perfect project.

These polymer clay charms turned out even better than I expected. The napkin designs look almost hand-painted once they’re sealed with Clay Glaze, and the finished charms have a polished appearance that feels much more expensive than they actually are.

Even better, they were incredibly fun to make.

Why I Love Polymer Clay

Eight fish-shaped ornaments with colorful horizontal stripes in orange, red, green, and blue, arranged in two rows on a light surface.

Over the years, I have experimented with many different crafting materials. Some become favorites, and others quietly disappear from my craft room.

Polymer clay definitely falls into the favorite category.

Unlike air-dry clay, polymer clay bakes in the oven and becomes very durable. It is easy to roll, cut, shape, and customize. It also creates a smooth surface that works beautifully with decorative papers and transfers.

For these charms, I wanted something sturdy enough to clip onto bags and use every day. Polymer clay was the perfect choice because it produces a hard, durable finish without adding much weight.

That’s important because nobody wants a charm that weighs down their favorite tote bag.

Supplies You’ll Need

Assorted crafting supplies on a white surface, including napkins, paints, Mod Podge, FIMO clay, wooden sticks, cookie cutters, sandpaper, binder clips, and a rolling pin.

I may sometimes use affiliate links on this blog, which means I earn a small commission if you purchase through the link. The price will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link.

A package of Staedtler FIMO Soft white oven-bake modeling clay, 454g, showing product details and usage instructions in English and French—ideal for crafting unique polymer clay charms.
Soft Polymer Clay
A set of gold oval key rings in various sizes, with examples showing a set of keys, a teddy bear keychain, and colorful polymer clay charms attached to the rings.
Brass Key Rings
A clear plastic box filled with silver U-shaped hair pins, displayed alongside delicate polymer clay charms. Several pins spell out "NUNU" in large letters using their unique shape.
Wire ornament hooks
Assorted sets of cylindrical metal cutters and colored handled punches, perfect for shaping polymer clay charms, are arranged in various sizes on a white background.
20PCS Stainless Steel Clay Cutter 
Various metal clay cutters, pattern tools, and accessories arranged above images of completed patterned polymer clay earrings, polymer clay charms, and crafting supplies.
Polymer Clay Cutters
A metal tin containing various metal cookie cutters in different geometric and themed shapes, perfect for making cookies or crafting unique polymer clay charms, with the cutters displayed in front of the tin.
Mini Cookie Cutters
A small, white bottle labeled "Clay Glaze" with a blue label indicating it's a gloss varnish. The label shows art-related icons and states the volume as 100ml/3.4oz.

 Air Dry Clay Varnish

Mod Podge
Waterbase Sealer

A set of clay sculpting tools including wooden and metal shaping tools, a round yellow sponge, and a wire clay cutter arranged on a white background.

8 Pieces Wooden Pottery Sculpting Clay

Two triangular metal files with wooden handles, ideal for shaping polymer clay charms—one shown with the file facing up and the other with the handle facing up.

Clay Knife

Paint Brushes

A wooden rolling pin with handles on both ends, perfect for crafting polymer clay charms, shown on a white background.
J.K. Adams BRP-1 10-1/2-Inch by 2-1/8-Inch Maple Bakers Rolling Pin
Yellow lemon slices are illustrated in a repeating pattern on a white background, inspired by playful polymer clay charms.

3-Ply Party Paper Napkins Deluxe Disposable Picnic Lunch

Four stylized fish with alternating colored stripes—pink, green, orange, and blue—resemble whimsical polymer clay charms as they’re arranged horizontally on a blue background with a subtle patterned border.
Cocktail Napkins Disposable 3-Ply Paper Party Napkin Pack, 5″ x 5″, Stripers, 20-Count
Stacked floral-patterned paper napkins with pink, red, and yellow flowers on a white background, perfect alongside handmade polymer clay charms for a charming table setting.

3-Ply Cocktail Beverage Paper Napkins

More Napkin Designs

An assortment of decorative paper napkins with various floral, fruit, and fish patterns arranged on a marble surface.

This may have been my favorite part of the entire project.

If you’re anything like me, you probably have a collection of beautiful paper napkins tucked away somewhere in your craft room. I always seem to find designs I love and convince myself I’ll use them someday.

The wonderful thing about decorative napkins is the endless variety. Floral patterns work beautifully. Vintage-inspired prints are charming. Fruit motifs are perfect for summer. Even whimsical designs with bows, hearts, or birds can create adorable charms.

I chose several designs so each charm set would feel unique.

Some looked elegant and sophisticated.

Others felt playful and fun.

Together, they created a collection that looked perfectly mismatched.

Stacks of paper napkins with a lemon and lemon slice pattern in bright yellow and green on a white background, perfect for pairing with cheerful polymer clay charms at your next summer gathering.
Yellow Citrus Fruit Lemons Decorative Napkins
Several white paper napkins are stacked, each printed with various colorful succulent plant illustrations that resemble charming polymer clay charms.
Caspari Succulents Paper Cocktail Napkins – 40 Count
Four floral napkins with pink rose patterns on white and light green backgrounds. Each napkin features a different flower arrangement style.

40Pcs Floral Napkins

A grid of fruit-themed patterns: lemons on yellow, oranges on white, cherries on pink, and strawberries on red backgrounds, arranged in horizontal rows.

Floral Paper Napkins Watercolor Flower 

A stack of white paper napkins featuring a repeating pattern of blue and green fish, perfect for pairing with ocean-themed polymer clay charms. Four napkins are fanned out in front of the stack to showcase the design.
200 Pcs Summer Fish Guest Napkins
Illustration of various flowers including roses and daisies in pink, orange, and purple hues with green leaves on a beige background.

3-Ply Cocktail Beverage Paper Napkins

A stack of white paper napkins decorated with rows of blue and green fish illustrations, reminiscent of whimsical polymer clay charms. Four napkins are fanned out in front.

Floral Paper Napkins Watercolor Flower 

A collection of square tiles with blue and white floral patterns, some featuring yellow lemons, and a matching bowl with similar lemon and floral designs.

120 Pack Vintage Mediterranean Lemon

A pattern of blue hydrangea flowers and green leaves gracefully emerges, as if freshly picked from a garden, against a crisp white background. Imagine them thriving in a charming terra cotta pot, adding rustic warmth to the elegant design.

20-Count Lunch Size, Hydrangea Scatter

Step One: Roll Out the Clay

A rolling pin flattens white clay between two wooden guides on a gridded work surface with measurement markings.

Begin by conditioning your polymer clay according to the package directions.

Once the clay is soft and workable, roll it out on a smooth surface until it reaches your desired thickness. I prefer a thickness of about 1/4 inch because it creates a sturdy charm without becoming bulky.

Try to keep the thickness consistent so the charms bake evenly.

Step Two: Cut Your Shapes

Blue napkin with colorful fish shapes cut out, placed on a white surface; cut-out pieces and fish shapes are arranged nearby.

Now comes the fun part.

The first step is to cut out the shapes from the napkins. This gives you a pattern to use to cut the clay. Cut two for each, as you will want to add napkins to both sides of the clay. (Don’t worry that for some napkins, you will have to use the backside. The colors still show through, as long as you remove the two-ply napkins attached to the front of the napkin.)

A craft knife cuts white material near a small fish-shaped piece with red, white, and blue stripes, placed on a gridded cutting mat.

Using clay cutters, cookie cutters, or even simple templates, cut out your desired shapes.

You can create:

  • Hearts
  • Circles
  • Ovals
  • Flowers
  • Stars
  • Tags
  • Bows

I experimented with several shapes to ensure the finished collection felt varied and interesting.

The more shapes you create, the more personalized your finished bag charms will feel.

Step Three: Add the Wire Hooks

Three round white clay ornaments with paper clips inserted at the top are on a white surface, next to several unused paper clips.

Before baking, insert a small wire ornament hook into the top of each charm.

This step is important because it creates the attachment point you’ll use later when assembling your keychain charms.

Make sure the hook is firmly inserted into the clay but remains visible above the surface.

Once baked, the hook will become securely embedded in the clay.

Step Four: Bake the Charms

A baking tray with parchment paper holds unbaked clay shapes: two circles, eight fish, and three irregular blobs arranged in rows.

Place the charms on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

For most brands of polymer clay (including Sculpey Premo, Sculpey III, Fimo, and Cernit), the standard baking temperature is:

  • 275°F (130°C)
  • 15 minutes per 1/4 inch (6 mm) of thickness

Since we are making polymer clay charms, which should be about 1/8″ to 1/4″ thick, I would bake them for:

  • 20–30 minutes at 275°F

One of the reasons I love polymer clay is that it transforms so dramatically during baking.

The soft clay becomes strong and durable while maintaining all of the details you’ve created.

Allow the charms to cool completely before decorating, as they are a bit soft when they come out of the oven.

Step Five: Apply the Napkin Designs

A hand holds a striped fish-shaped craft, with several similar colorful fish-shaped pieces and metal hooks on a white surface.

Once the charms have cooled, it’s time for my favorite part.

Carefully separate the decorative layer from your paper napkin. Most decorative napkins have multiple layers, but you’ll only use the printed top layer.

Cut pieces slightly larger than your napkins.

Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the surface of the charm.

Carefully place the napkin design on top and gently smooth out any wrinkles.

Work slowly because the napkin becomes delicate once it comes into contact with the glaze.

Four colorful fish-shaped crafts with striped patterns are laid out on a table next to a bottle of Mod Podge glue.

Once dry, coat the entire clay piece with Mod Podge and let dry.

This step reminds me a bit of decoupage, and it’s always magical watching the artwork blend seamlessly into the clay surface.

Next, flip the clay piece over and add another napkin to the back side.

It’s okay if the napkin needs to be turned backward to match the cut-out clay, as the design will show through!

As a final step before glazing, add metallic paint around the edges, if desired, to finish them off.

Step Six: Seal with Clay Glaze

Seven fish-shaped decorations with colorful horizontal stripes in blue, orange, green, and pink are arranged on a light surface. Each has a wire loop at the top.

After the napkin design has dried, apply several thin coats of Clay Glaze over the entire surface. Repeat for the back side.

This serves two purposes.

First, it protects the artwork.

Second, it creates a beautiful finish that enhances the colors and gives the charm a polished appearance.

I chose Clay Glaze instead of resin because I wanted something simple, lightweight, and easy to work with.

The finished surface still looks glossy and professional without the extra steps that resin often requires.

Allow the glaze to dry completely between coats.

Step Seven: Assemble Your Charms

Two key rings, six small gold rings, and two fish-shaped charms with colorful stripes are arranged on a white surface.

Once everything is fully dry, it’s time to turn your creations into bag charms.

Attach key rings and keychain clips to the wire hooks.

This instantly transforms the clay pieces into functional accessories.

You can use a single charm or combine several together to create a layered look.

I love mixing different shapes and coordinating patterns to create charm clusters that feel collected over time.

The result is stylish, personal, and completely unique.

How to Make More Charms

I also made floral and citrus charms.

Floral Charms

Two pink watercolor flower keychains hang from a gold carabiner attached to a white and pink fabric bag.

The steps to make these are exactly the same.

A floral-patterned napkin and three matching floral cutouts are arranged on a light marble surface.
A pair of scissors next to a floral sticker and paper scraps on a gridded cutting mat.
Three decorative stickers featuring pink flowers with green and gray leaves are arranged on a light, marble-patterned surface.
A paintbrush applies white paint to a cloud-shaped object near a white cap and a pink flower graphic on a light surface.
Two pink floral cut-outs, a paintbrush with glue residue, and a bottle of Mod Podge on a light surface, suggesting a crafting project in progress.
Three handmade ornaments shaped like red and pink flowers with green leaves, lying on a light marble surface.

Citrus Charms

A beige and yellow canvas tote bag hangs on a glass doorknob, with two round keychains featuring yellow citrus slice designs attached to the handle.
Three metal cookie cutters rest on a napkin with a yellow lemon slice pattern, on top of a grid-patterned cutting mat with visible measurement markings.
Three metal round cookie cutters, yellow citrus-printed paper, and three white clay circles are on a black grid-patterned surface.
Round ornaments painted with yellow citrus slices are being coated with Mod Podge using a paintbrush; the bottle and brush are visible on a white surface.
Three round white clay ornaments with paper clips inserted at the top are on a white surface, next to several unused paper clips.
Three round pieces of thin paper with yellow citrus designs sit on a white surface next to a plain white round disk with a metal loop.
Three round ornaments with yellow citrus slice designs and metal hooks are arranged on a light marble surface.

Ways to Use Your Polymer Clay Charms

A white and blue bag with a gold keyring holding four striped fish-shaped keychains in green, pink, orange, and blue.

One of the reasons I enjoyed this project so much is that the finished charms are incredibly versatile.

They look adorable clipped onto:

  • Tote bags
  • Beach bags
  • Backpacks
  • Purses
  • Cosmetic bags
  • Travel bags
  • Gift bags
A canvas tote bag with light blue straps and base, featuring a front pocket decorated with two cotton boll illustrations, is perfectly sized for carrying your essentials or even a few polymer clay charms.
1-Pack Canvas Tote Bag with an External Pocket
A set of 14 tote bags in various pastel colors, each with colored handles and trim, arranged in rows on a white background for a vibrant view from above.

Pastel Canvas Tote Bag

A canvas tote bag with lavender handles and base, featuring two cotton bolls on the front pocket and adorned with cute polymer clay charms for a playful touch.
Lavender Canvas Tote Bag
Five zippered pouches with pink and white vertical stripes are arranged in a row, each featuring a gold zipper.

Aspen Lane Makeup Bag Set

Square beige zippered pouch with a gold zipper and colorful scalloped trim along the edges in blue, green, orange, and pink.

Canvas Makeup Bag for Women

Three plain, off-white canvas tote bags with handles, two standing upright and one lying flat, displayed against a white background.

Segarty 3PCS 16.5×13 inch Natural Heavy DIY Tote

They also make wonderful gifts.

A cream and pink tote bag with pink flower keychains hangs on a white stair railing indoors near wooden steps.

Imagine creating a custom charm using a favorite floral pattern for a friend or family member. It’s thoughtful, handmade, and unlike anything they could buy in a store.

I have already started planning holiday versions.

You know me. It’s never too early to think about Christmas crafting.

Why Handmade Accessories Are So Special

Two canvas tote bags, one with pink handles and one with blue handles, each decorated with striped fish-shaped keychains, placed on a table indoors.

One thing I have noticed lately is that people are craving personalization.

Mass-produced accessories are everywhere, but handmade items tell a story.

Every charm I made looks slightly different.

Every pattern has its own personality.

And every piece reflects the creativity that went into making it.

That’s what makes handmade projects so rewarding.

They’re not perfect.

They’re not identical.

But they’re uniquely yours.

A Handmade Summer

A cream and yellow canvas tote bag with a citrus slice keychain is placed on a white woven chair.

This project perfectly captures what A Handmade Summer is all about.

It’s creative.

It’s fun.

And it’s approachable.

And, it results in something you’ll actually use.

I started with a block of polymer clay, a collection of beautiful paper napkins, and a simple idea. A few hours later, I had a collection of custom charms that add personality to every bag they touch.

Honestly, I already want to make more.

I have a feeling these charming little accessories are going to be appearing on a lot of bags this summer.

And if you’re looking for a fun afternoon project that combines creativity, color, and a little bit of personality, I hope you’ll give these DIY Polymer Clay Charms a try.

Happy crafting!

How to Follow Along With A Handmade Summer

A rectangular box frame purse with gold hardware and a light fabric exterior featuring small black dots, placed near pink decorative leaves.

Each week, a new summer craft will be shared here on the blog. I will also be sharing behind-the-scenes moments, progress videos, and finished projects on Instagram so you can see each craft come to life.

You can jump in at any point. There is no need to start at the beginning or complete every project. Choose the ones that speak to you and make them your own.

If you love seasonal crafting, this series is designed to inspire you throughout spring.

Here are all of the A Handmade Summer craft projects so far.

Two canvas tote bags, one with pink straps and one with blue straps, hang on a staircase railing. Both have colorful feather-shaped keychains attached.
DIY Polymer Clay Charms – week nine
A young child walks barefoot on artificial grass in a backyard, with two small golf flags and greenery along a wooden fence.
4th of July T-shirts – week eight
Three folded sweatshirts are shown: two light pink ones and one light blue one with "VENTURA" embroidered in large white letters.
Embroidery Gifts for Friends – week seven
A rectangular beige Box Frame Purse with small black polka dots and gold metal accents, placed on a white surface with pink decorative leaves in the background.
How to Make a Box Frame Purse – week six
Two white handkerchiefs with pink embroidery are displayed on a light wood surface next to artificial pink roses and green leaves.
DIY Embroidered Cocktail Napkins – week five
Two ceramic plates with colorful cocktail glass patterns are placed on a light wooden surface, surrounded by three pink tulips.
Decorative Summer Clay Trinket Dishes – week four
Assorted pink and gold wax seals, some with dried flowers embedded, are arranged on a white surface alongside pressed flowers.
Homemade Fun with Wax Seals – week three
Oval mirror with a frame decorated with various seashells, mounted on a light wood wall.
My New Coastal Mirror – week two
Two ceramic paint tube sculptures, one pink with gold patterns, one with a floral design, each holding two paintbrushes on a white surface.
DIY Clay Brush Holder – week one

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Two canvas tote bags, one with blue straps and one with pink straps, each decorated with colorful feather-shaped polymer clay charms attached to the handles.

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2 Comments

  1. Wow! Love the charms. You are amazing. You keep coming up with these really great projects that are beautiful and practical. Good combo. Have you thought of doing another book with craft-based items? It’d be a bestseller.

    Reply

    1. Oh my gosh, thank you! I love crafting so much. I have something in the works that I am really excited about. Stay tuned!

      Reply

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