How to Make Avocado & Watermelon Keychains with a Cricut
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to make Watermelon and Avocado Faux Leather Keychains using faux leather, heat transfer vinyl, and a Cricut! This keychain is an easy and fun summer Cricut craft.
Learn how to make a Watermelon and Avocado Faux Leather Keychains with a Cricut
I love using faux leather and heat transfer vinyl to make simple and fun summer faux leather keychains with my Cricut. These Watermelon and Avocado Keychains are so easy to make with a Cricut Maker, Maker 3, Explore Air 2 or Explore 3, or even the Cricut Joy.
I have the keychain SVG templates for sale in my SVG shop here.
Get the SVG for this project from my SVG Shop
These SVGs are also included in my Summer Keychains Event SVG Bundle – you can learn more and get it here.
So if you’re ready to try making these Watermelon and Avocado Faux Leather Keychains with a Cricut, let’s get started!
Want to watch a video tutorial on YouTube instead? Check it out below!
How to make Cricut Watermelon and Avocado Faux Leather Keychains Video Tutorial
You can watch this video now on my Youtube Channel
Printable Instructions for this Project
For printable instructions for this project, click here.
How to make Watermelon and Avocado Faux Leather Keychains with a Cricut Step by Step
This page contains some affiliate links (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you). Read my full disclosure policy here.
Materials you’ll need to make Watermelon and Avocado Faux Leather Keychains with a Cricut
Get all 12 Days of Cricut Summer Keychain SVGs!
Love this Cricut Summer Keychain project? It’s one of my 12 days of surprise faux leather keychain designs created just for my Cricut Summer Keychains Event. Get all 17 event keychain SVGs at once by purchasing the Instant Access SVG Bundle below.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Get the keychain SVG templates for these keychain projects
You can get the Watermelon and Avocado Keychain SVGs templates included in the Cricut Summer Keychains Event Bundle here or individually from my shop here. You’ll receive an order confirmation email with a link to download the SVG after purchasing.
Save the zipped folder that downloads to your computer. You’ll need to unzip or extract the folder FIRST so you can upload the keychain SVG files to Cricut Design Space.
Step 2: Upload the SVG templates to Cricut Design Space.
Click on Upload Image, then browse to where your unzipped file SVGs are located on your device.
If you want to make both keychains at one time, click on one file to upload it.
You’ll then see a preview of the keychain SVG on the screen. Click the UPLOAD button.
Click the UPLOAD button. You’ll see the SVG in your Recent Uploads row.
Then return to the Upload Image button and select the other SVG and upload.
Then select the SVGs from your Recent Uploads row and click Add to Canvas. You can click on them both to add them to your canvas at the same time if you’d like. Or you can add them to your canvas one at a time. Your canvas should look like this:
If you are using the Cricut Joy, you may need to resize the keychain layers down a bit to fit on the Joy sized mat. For any other Cricut machine, it isn’t necessary to resize the keychains. Click the green “Make It” button.
Step 3: Prepare to Cut the Keychain Shapes in Cricut Design Space
First, select “On Mat” for how you’ll upload your materials to Design Space.
Then click on each mat in the Mat Preview screen and toggle the MIRROR button to ON (green). This is because faux leather and heat transfer vinyl cut in reverse (face down) on the cutting mat.
Begin by dragging the shapes on each mat away from the edges of the mat and away from each other slightly.
Arrange the shapes on your mat preview screen to get the shapes set up to cut from the least amount of faux leather possible.
Make a note of what size faux leather you need to place on your mat to cut the keychain base shape out completely with a little room to spare. For this project and cutting with a Cricut Maker, I need a piece of faux leather about 5 inches wide and 8 inches tall.
Repeat the mirroring and spacing steps with the vinyl mats.
Then click back on the faux leather mat to select it again. Click the green CONTINUE button to make the first material selection.
Step 4: Make Material Selections
Choose the material selection you’ll use to cut the faux leather mat. I always cut the faux leather mat first.
I use the Faux Leather (Paper Thin) setting with “More” pressure for the faux leather mat.
If you don’t have this faux leather material setting as a favorite, click “Browse All Materials” to search for it and select it.
Note for Explore Air 2 users: Cricut Explore Air 2 users will need to turn the dial to “Custom” before choosing Faux Leather (Paper Thin).
Step 5: Cut the Faux Leather Mat
Cut a piece of faux leather just slightly larger than the size shown in the mat preview screen.
Place the faux leather pretty side down on a purple Cricut Strong Grip mat in the location shown on the mat preview screen.
Press the faux leather down to the mat well with your hands or roll over it with a brayer. Then put blue painter’s tape around on all sides.
Make sure the white “star wheels” on the roller bar are pushed off to the side so the wheels don’t make indentations in your material.
Load the mat into the Cricut and begin the cut.
Once the cut is complete, BEFORE unloading the mat, use a sharp weeding tool to check and see if the cut is complete.
If not, press the C button again to repeat the cut. You can repeat the cut as many times as necessary as long as you haven’t unloaded the mat.
When the cut is complete, unload the mat and remove the keychain shapes. You can trim any stray fuzz with small curved scissors.
Step 6: Cut the Vinyl Mats
Repeat the cutting process on the Heat Transfer Vinyl mats using a Standard Grip green cutting mat and the recommended cut settings for your particular vinyl selections.
I use the Vinyl or Washi Sheet setting with “Default” pressure for my regular vinyl mats, and the Glitter Vinyl setting with “Default” pressure for my glitter HTV mats.
If you are using Siser Glitter HTV like I do, I find it’s best to repeat the cut one time before unloading the mat.
Remove the cut vinyl from the mat and weed away the excess vinyl.
Trim apart the shapes for the front and back of each side of the keychain.
When all of your vinyl layers are trimmed apart, it’s time to heat press the vinyl layers of the Watermelon and Avocado Faux Leather Keychains.
Step 7: Heat Press the Vinyl onto the Watermelon and Avocado Faux Leather Keychains
Remember to refer to the Layering Guides for this project to see which layers to press in what order.
I press vinyl to faux leather using a Cricut EasyPress Mini on the “low” setting (one green bar). You can also use a traditional EasyPress set to 255-265 degrees.
Place the first vinyl layer onto the faux leather layer on a heat pressing pad.
Then cover with a piece of Teflon sheet, parchment paper, or butcher paper.
Press for about 10 seconds. After 10 seconds, remove the cover sheet and carefully try to peel up the clear vinyl cover sheet. If it peels up easily, remove it.
If the vinyl is pulling up, place the clear vinyl cover layer back down and repeat pressing for 5-7 seconds. Repeat this process until the vinyl adheres to the faux leather well.
Once the first layer is well pressed onto the faux leather keychain shape, repeat with the other vinyl layers in order.
Then repeat the pressing process on the second keychain.
PRO TIP: When both sides of the keychains have all the vinyl layers applied, place the warm faux leather keychains under your pressing pad or something flat for a minute or two to help them cool flat.
Step 7: Glue the Faux Leather Keychains
Thread a 1.25″ keyring onto the center of the keychain shapes. You can do this step either before you heat press your vinyl, or after.
Now it’s time to glue the faux leather keychain together.
I’m using Fabri-Tac glue, but you can use any good fabric glue or craft glue that spreads easily and in a thin, even layer, like Bearly Art Glue.
Place the connected faux leather keychain shape pretty side down on your work surface. Spread glue evenly onto the back of one shape only, avoiding the center connector shape.
Fold over the top half of the keychain onto the bottom half. Carefully line up the front and back edges and press together. The edges will not stick together right now, and that’s ok!
Repeat gluing with the second keychain.
The next important step will make sure we get flat keychains with an almost seamless edge.
PRO TIP: Place the glued keychain under something heavy like a book for several hours to let the glue dry well.
After several hours, remove you keychain from the book and admire your lovely glued edges!
You can color the white edge of the keychain with a colored Sharpie marker if desired.
8: Attaching a Tassel (optional)
Next, to attach an optional faux suede tassel, use flat nose jewelry making pliers to open a 10mm jump ring. Connect the jump ring to the tassel loop and then attach it to the keyring. Close the jump ring securely.
That’s it! Your Watermelon and Avocado Faux Leather Keychains are ready to attach to your keys or hang on a backpack!
I hope you’ll enjoy creating these summer and fun Watermelon and Avocado Faux Leather Keychains with your Cricut. Let me know in the comments which one is your favorite!
Will you make this project?
I would love to see what you have created! Please join my free jewelry making & crafting Facebook group and share your creations with me and all of my crafting friends!
For Printable Instructions, click the image below!
Cricut Watermelon and Avocado Faux Leather Keychain
Materials
- See blog post for materials & links.
Tools
- See blog post for tools & links.
Instructions
- Download and unzip the keychains SVG folder. Upload the SVG files to Cricut Design Space.
- It isn't necessary to resize the keychain SVGs unless you are using the Cricut Joy. (For the Joy, use the sizing arrows to make the keychain shapes smaller until it fits on the Joy sized mat.)
- Click the MAKE IT button.
- When Design Space asks how you will load the materials for this project, select ON MAT.
- In the mat preview screens, click on every mat and toggle the mirror button to ON. (This is for when you are cutting faux leather and heat transfer vinyl for the project. If you are using faux leather and permanent vinyl instead, only mirror the faux leather mat.)
- Now return to each mat and drag the shapes apart from the edges and each other slightly. Make a note of what size material you'll need to cut to place on the mat and cut the shape completely.
- When you've done this for each mat, click back on the faux leather mat. Click CONTINUE.
- I like to cut the faux leather mat first. Choose Faux Leather (Paper Thin) as the material setting. If you don't have this setting selected, click "Browse All Materials" and search for it. (On the Explore Air 2, turn your dial to Custom so you can see the Faux Leather material choice.) Then choose "more" from the Pressure drop down menu.
- Trim a piece of faux leather to the size you noted in the mat preview screen. Place it "pretty" side down on a sticky purple strong grip mat. Tape the faux leather down on all sides with blue painter's tape.
- Load the mat into the Cricut and press the C button to begin the cut. When the cut is complete, BEFORE unloading the mat, use a sharp object like a weeding tool to lift up the corner of a cut to see if it went all the way through. If it did, unload the mat. If not, repeat the cut by pressing the C button again. On a Joy, you'll repeat the cut by clicking on "Rerun" on the screen in Design Space.
- Remove the cut shapes from the mat. Trim away any fuzz with small sharp scissors. Color the edges of the faux leather if desired with a color coordinated Sharpie marker.
- Return to Design Space and cut any vinyl mats using a green standard grip cutting mat. Place heat transfer vinyl shiny side down. I use the Vinyl setting or the Washi Sheet setting with "default" pressure for regular heat transfer vinyl. I use the Glitter Vinyl setting with "default" pressure for glitter heat transfer vinyl and I repeat the cut once if the glitter is thick (Siser brand). For permanent vinyl, I use the Vinyl setting with "default" pressure (make sure mats are NOT mirrored).
- Weed away the excess vinyl and cut the vinyl shapes apart.
- Using a Cricut EasyPress Mini set on the "low" setting or an EasyPress set to 265 degrees, press the heat transfer vinyl layers onto the faux leather van shapes one at a time. Refer to the Layers Guide in the tutorial for the pressing order. Place the first vinyl layer onto the faux leather and cover with a cover sheet - Teflon sheet, butcher paper or parchment paper. Then press for 5-10 seconds. Remove the cover sheet and try to peel away the clear vinyl carrier sheet. If the vinyl lifts up, replace the clear carrier sheet and cover sheet and press again for 5-7 seconds.
- Repeat with the rest of the vinyl layers.
- Place the pressed faux leather keychain under something like book or your heat pressing pad for a minute or so after pressing to allow the keychain to cool flat.
- Thread a 1.25" key ring onto the middle section of the larger connected faux leather keychain shape.
- Using fabric glue, carefully apply glue all over the back of just one of the connected keychain shapes, being careful to avoid getting glue on the center connecter shape.
- Fold the connected keychain shape over so the front and back shapes are touching and the edges line up neatly.
- Place the glued bottom keychain layer under something heavy like a book to dry for several hours.
- To attach an optional tassel, use a 10mm jump ring and flat nose pliers to connect the tassel to the key ring.
Recommended Products
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Until next time… and happy creating!
Answers to your questions about making Watermelon and Avocado Faux Leather Keychains with a Cricut
Q: How do I get the SVG templates for this project?
A: The SVG templates for these projects are in my SVG shop here. They are available with a Personal Use and Small Business Commercial Use option.
Q: Can I get all the Summer Keychain Event SVG templates at once?
A: You can purchase all the Cricut Summer Keychain Event SVGs (17 in total) as a Instant Access Bundle in my shop here.
Q: What Cricut is best for cutting faux leather?
A: The good news is there is no “best” Cricut for cutting faux leather. You can cut faux leather with any of the five current Cricut machines – the Cricut Maker, the Cricut Maker 3, the Cricut Explore Air 2, the Cricut Explore 3, and even the Cricut Joy. That’s because you can cut faux leather with a Cricut using the standard Fine Point Blade that comes with each of these machines.
Q: What setting on Cricut do I need to cut faux leather?
A: I use the Faux Leather (Paper Thin) setting with “More” pressure to cut faux leather with any of the five current Cricut machines. I use the standard Fine Point Blade and repeat the cut as needed before unloading the mat. For more of my best Tips, Tricks, and secrets to cutting faux leather with a Cricut, check out my blog post here.
If you loved this Cricut faux leather keychain project, you’ll love these projects too:
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So cute!!!
I love these!!
I like the watermellon best but the avocado could be great for a guy! Thank you so much!
So very cute
Watermelon 🍉 is my favorite part of summer. Love it 😍
These are adorable! Your tutorial makes it so easy to follow. Thank you!!
Love your keychain event! Super cute!!!
Absolutely love the watermelon keychain!
Loving the watermelon and have a friend that will love the avocado one 😁
enjoy watching the video will be trying them out
So cute, thank you, Amy!
My dil and sister love avocados so cute
The watermelon is great not a big avocado person lol
wicked cute! Love both of them. 🙂
Love your step by step instructions. Thanks for sharing.
Love these! So summery and festive! I love that I can use up some of my HTV scraps for these keychains as well and have realized how easy it is to work with Faux Leather through your tutorials. Thank you!
Awesome detailed instructions as always. Love both the 🍉 & 🥑! Thank you for all your hard work in what you do for us!
Wow! Thanks again for your generosity! Loving these keychain files!
I’m really loving your designs. I’m in the middle of another project; but as soon as I have completed it, I will be trying these on my Joy.
Loving these! I think they will make great s favors for summer pool parties! Thanks for sharing.
Too cute
Definitely making an avocado
Your designs ste too cute
Love the designs and the sharpie idea for the seams.
Partial to that avocado! Thank you for the instructions.
I love them!! These are a great summer keychain. Thanks so much!
Watermelon, perfect for summer.
These are very detailed directions! The keychains are adorable.
Ah! These are so cute! Fun and stylish for summer.
Another fantastic design! Your SVG files are so well laid out that even I (a Cricut Novice) feel confident. Thank you for your in-depth tutorials!
I really like that you give written directions as well as the video. Thank you
Super Cute!!! Now I’m hungry. LOL…
Thank you for these great tutorials.
Love all of these projects.
I love the watermelon!!! It’s so cute! Can’t wait to make it!
I’m really enjoying this Summer Keychain Event. Every day I look forward to seeing what the next one will be. Thank you for this fun event.
I love love love the avocado! And adding the glitter seed gives it a nice touch and makes it fancy.
Made the avocado! My other faux leather should be here today for the daisy and the van. I can’t wait.
Amy, love your videos. They are always so comprehensive. Thanks so much!
I especially like the watermelon keychain and will be trying that! Thanks.
It should be stated that you need to watch the video through the link for the giveaways if you want to have that count toward 3 entries. I watched the entire video on YouTube; when I went back to check that on the giveaway form, it required me to watch the video again through that link; it wouldn’t count that I’d already watched it. I noticed this on previous days as well. I’m sure there is a way to correct that.
Great instructions. Love the avocado!
Watermelon for the win! Avocado is cute too.
Your designs are wonderful as always. Thank you for sharing.
So cute! I have avocado & watermelon earrings sitting in DS waiting to be cut right now, inspired by your designs! Thank you!
Cute keychains. Love the watermelon! Thank you!
Although both of these are really cute, I think I will find myself making the watermelon one. Thanks again for another great tutorial!
two lovely key chains that would look great together.
I really like the watermelon but both are cute.
These Are So Cute I Love Them. Thanks Amy!!!!
I love both, but if I make one it would be the watermelon for sure. Thanks
Love the clear directions on making these adorable keychains!
Awesome 😎!!! Great ideas ! Cant wait to try! Thank you Amy
Very cute
another darling design keep them coming thank you
thank you Amy
OMG, these are so cute .. I am partial to the avocado, LOL! But they both are super cute, thank you for sharing this!
Cute designs! Your avocado is perfectly beautiful, no brown spots like mine usually have! LOL!
i was hoping for a watermelon. Yum!
I have loved making all these keychains. Every one have been adorable
these are so cute!!
These 2 are so cute and can’t wait to make them.
Almost too good to eat 😉 These are super cute and yummy looking. I cant wait to make the watermelon one now!
Another great couple of designs
My granddaughter loves avocados’, going to make her the avocado keychain she will love it.
Thank you for the tutorial.
Thanks! these are really cute!
So cute! Especially the watermelon! Why is faux leather placed face down on the mat?
Hi, Melinda! I find that it cuts better that way. 🙂
Another cute design that will definitely make it in my craft list.
My vegan daughter is going to LOVE these!
Looks like someone got hungry…heehee
I like them both, can’t wait to make them.
I can’t wait to make these. they both look fun. summer vibes
I don’t know what to say….such cute designs!! 🙂
I’m going to look for toast charm and make Avocodo toast keychain for grand-daughter. 😂
Thanks, Amy, for another TWO fantastic keychain projects! Love them, especially the watermelon keychain – so very much speaks SUMMER!
I love the watermelon one. Your keychains are so cute! The tutorials are very thorough.
Both are cute. Thanks.
Look forward to making the watermelon, avocado keychain.
Both are adorable but I am going to make the watermelon keychain.
I really like the watermelon keychain!! 🍉
So cute and summery. Thanks.
Wonderful summer crafts! Your series is definitely building my stash up. I hope you’ll do a jewelry making series soon.
Love the avocado!
I like the watermelon the best.
watermelon design is sooo cute!
These are so fun!
So, so cute!!!!
Thank you Amy! I love how you show in video, as well as write out the instructions to follow. I am gonna have to order all the colors before I can make either of these, but the watermelon will be my first one 🙂 Thank you so much!
I especially like the watermelon keychain but know someone in my life who would love the avocado!
That avocado is to die for!! i cannot wait to make it!
Thanks for the inspiration.
Thank you very much for the great instructions for these awesome designs! I love how the photos compliment the directions, and there are so many pictures. I adore both of these designs!
Two more fun keychains. I hate that I’m stuck at home and my cricut is at our cabin. At least I have many fun projects to do when I get there. Thanks for all the cute ideas.
You give so many great tips, thanks.
I love the watermelon Keychain. I always like to use glitter vinyl when possible. I love the avocados because green is my favorite color. Thanks for sharing.
These are so adorable!! Can’t wait to make all of these!!
I just love how you mix glitter HTV with the faux leather. Genious!
Sweet!!
Thank you so much for another great tutorial that is so easy to follow. The watermelon and avocado are both adorable, but I think the avocado is my favorite! 🙂
Im really enjoying the keychain summit, but the watermelon is adorable. Thank you