How to Make a Penguin Keychain

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DIY Cricut Penguin Keychain

DIY Penguin Keychain

If you’ve purchased my Penguin Keychain template from my shop and want more information about how to put it together and what materials to use, you’re in the right place! Continue reading for all the details!

Penguin Keychain – Materials List

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Penguin Keychain SVG template
  • The Penguin Keychain SVG template from my shop here. (NOTE: This design is for PERSONAL USE ONLY. If you’d like to sell keychains made from my Penguin Keychain SVG template, you may purchase a Commercial Use License from my shop here.)
  • Cricut Strong Grip (Purple) Cutting Mat – From Amazon here.
  • Cricut Standard Grip (Green) Cutting Mat – From Amazon here.
  • Blue painter’s tape. This will help keep your faux leather in place on your mat. This is regular blue painter’s tape you can get from the hardware store, or Amazon has it here.
  • Glue. I recommend Art Glitter Glue with the precision tip. It doesn’t have glitter in it! You can get it on Amazon in a small bottle here or as a large and small bottle set here. Be sure to get the bottle with a screw on precision tip, which allows you to squeeze very small amounts of glue in very small spaces. You could also use E6000Aleene’s Quick Dry Tacky Glue, or Quick Hold  Glue.

Penguin Keychain – Assembly Instructions

Penguin Keychain SVG template

This penguin keychain design consists of 5 different layers to cut – 2 faux leather layers, and 3 heat transfer vinyl layers.

  • Cut the black layers from faux leather.
    • It is not necessary to mirror the mat.
    • On a Cricut, I recommend cutting the faux leather to a size just slightly larger than the two shapes that will cut. Place the faux leather pretty side down on a sticky purple strong grip cutting mat.
    • Tape the faux leather down to the mat on all sides with blue painter’s tape.
    • I recommend using the Faux Leather (Paper Thin) cut setting with “More” pressure (on a Cricut Explore Air 2, turn your dial to Custom to access this setting).
    • Check the cut before unloading the mat by lifting a corner of the cut shape with your weeding tool. If the cut is complete, unload the mat and remove the shapes. If not, press the C button to repeat the cut again as many times as necessary.
  • Cut the heat transfer vinyl layers. Mirror each heat transfer vinyl mat before cutting. Use the recommended material setting for your specific material. My recommended settings are:
    • I use the Washi Sheet setting with “Default” pressure for solid colored Heat Transfer Vinyl.
    • The Foil Iron-On setting with “Default” pressure for Foil Iron-On.
    • The Glitter Vinyl setting with “More” pressure when cutting Siser Glitter Vinyl.
  • Weed all the heat transfer vinyl layers.
penguin keychain shapes weeded
  • Press the heat transfer vinyl layers one at a time onto the front of the penguin keychain.
heat pressing vinyl layers on penguin keychain
  • Use a teflon sheet or parchment paper to press each layer. Press the white layer first, then the yellow, then the scarf. I use an Easy Press Mini and an EasyPress Pad (8×10 size).
    • You can also use an EasyPress or even a home iron on a low setting with no steam. I don’t recommend using a traditional clamshell or swingaway heat press because it’s harder to control the pressure.
    • Place your just pressed faux leather shape under something flat like a book so the keychain front will cool flat.
  • Glue the front and back black faux leather shapes together.
    • Place the glue close to the edges, but not at the edges. Clean up any glue that seeps out with a damp cloth.
    • Place the glued keychain underneath something heavy to dry pressed and flat for at least a few hours. Overnight is best.
    • If after gluing you want to color the edges of the faux leather because the backing of the faux leather is not black, use a Sharpie marker to color all around the border of the keychain.
gluing penguin keychain together
coloring edges with a sharpie
  • Attach the keyring and optional tassel.
    • Using two pair of flat nose pliers, open the jump ring without distorting the ring out of its circle shape. Slide on the penguin and the keyring. Then close the jump ring again. If you want to add a tassel, use another jump ring to add the tassel to the keyring.
completed penguin keychain
DIY Penguin Keychain with Faux Leather & a Cricut

If you want to make this Penguin Keychain yourself, you can get the Penguin Keychain template from my shop here.

NOTE: This design is for PERSONAL USE ONLY. If you’d like to sell keychains made from my Penguin Keychain SVG template, you may purchase a Commercial Use License from my shop here.

WANT TO REMEMBER THIS? POST THIS DIY PENGUIN KEYCHAIN PROJECT TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!

How to Make A Penguin Keychain Tutorial

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