How to Make Your Own Cell Phone Charms

Today's market is loaded with cell phone accessories such as beaded, furry and leather cases, designer skins, straps, chargers, headphones (wire and hands-free), and the list goes on. Consumers are looking for ways to make their cell phone more personalized, defining who they are, and one way to do this is with a cell phone charm or charms. Cell phone charms vary in price, with some costing hundreds of dollars. Here are simple instructions on how to make your own cell phone charm.

To make a cell phone charm, you will need the following:

-Charms (suggested size is approximately one inch by one inch)
-Wire (18-22 gauge)
-Round-nosed pliers
-Beads (assorted sizes and colors)
-Mini-lanyard with cap and ring (according to Wikipedia, a lanyard is a rope or cord often worn around the neck or wrist to carry something. Usually it is used where there is a risk of losing the object or to ensure it is visible at all times.)

Cut a six-inch length of wire and thread one end through the ring on the lanyard. Using the round-nosed pliers, bend the wire one inch from the end creating a circle around the ring on the lanyard. Tightly twist the one-inch portion of the wire around the remaining wire several times, securing the wire to the ring. Get the wire twists as close together as possible. Trim off any access wire from the loop and crimp the end to smooth any exposed edges.

For this project, you will need two seed beads and one larger bead (approximate size five). Slide one seed bead onto the wire, up to twisted part. Next, put on the large bead and another seed bead. Push these as tight as you can up to the loop and hold in place.

Attach your charm and make another loop, as you did on the opposite end, trying to get a tight fitting. Trim off any access wire and crimp to smooth any exposed edges.

Another way to attach your charm - after you have your charm on, feed the wire back through all the beads and make several twists at the beginning to hold in place. If you decide on this method, you cannot use seed beads, as the wire is too thick to feed through them twice.

It is important to get the setting tight because wire will stretch over time.

Source: Personal experience, Lanyard Store, Fire Mountain Gems, Oriental Trading