Plastic Pendants for Jewellery, Keychains and DIY Decorations

Plastic pendants are lightweight decorative pieces with a hole for hanging. Unlike beads, pendants don't sit in the middle of a strand — they hang from a jump ring (a small metal ring that opens and closes), a cord, a bracelet, a keychain or an earring.

You'll find classic shapes such as hearts, flowers and leaves — alongside more playful ones: moons, clouds, bears, dice, fruit, sea creatures and designer pendants with printed artwork. That makes them easy to use in personal and themed projects: bracelets, keychains, bag charms, small seasonal charms and scrapbooking.

Acrylic or resin

Pendants come in two main materials. Acrylic ones tend to be flatter, smooth, printed or graphic. Resin ones are chunkier, more colourful and have a softer coating, sometimes with glitter, a glow-in-the-dark or an iridescent effect.

Both are light. The difference is in the care they need: smooth acrylic stands up to rubbing better, while resin pendants feel lovely to the touch but scratch more easily. For a keychain, acrylic is the more practical choice. For children's and themed projects, resin pendants give you more to work with.

What to look at when choosing

Start with the hole — it decides how the pendant hangs. If it sits right at the top, above the centre of gravity, the pendant hangs straight. If it's off to one side, the pendant will spin and sit at an angle. That's not a fault, but plan for it.

Then check the size and the hole itself. Smaller pendants (under about 2 cm) work well for earrings, children's bracelets and small charms. Larger ones read clearly on keychains and bags, and as the central accent of a piece. Thin elastic and cotton cord pass through a small hole; a jump ring or a thicker cord needs a bigger one.

What they're used for

• Bracelets. One small pendant can transform a bracelet. Add a heart, a moon or another favourite shape to a plain beaded bracelet for a personal touch.
• Keychains and bag charms. Light and colourful, they're visible from a distance and make great personalised gifts. Attach them to a zip, a strap or a ring.
• Seasonal charms. Small hearts, clovers, animals and baby motifs finish off red-and-white handmade charms nicely for the spring craft season.
• Scrapbooking and decorations. Flat pendants aren't only for jewellery — use them on cards, albums, tags, gift wrap and small boxes.

What to combine them with

Pendants pair well with plastic acrylic beads, because the two materials are close in weight. For bolder projects, add opaque beads; for a lighter, airier look, go for transparent plastic beads.

You'll also need a cord. For bracelets and small charms, elastic cord, twisted yarn or thin cord all work well. For keychains and bags, choose a sturdier base — a metal ring, wire or solid cotton cord for extra security.

Acrylic beads

close in weight

Cords and threads

a base for stringing

Metal accessories

rings and stoppers

Pliers and tools

for opening jump rings

Frequently asked questions