How to Make Croc Charms

Co-authored by Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 References

Decorating your Crocs is a fun and easy way to express yourself, but Croc Jibbitz or charms can get pretty expensive, especially if you’re looking for a specific design. A little DIY project, though, can let you get creative and make a series of Croc charms for a fraction of the cost! In this article, we’ll show you 4 easy and affordable ways you can make your very own Croc charms. From using Shrinky Dinks to polymer clay, there’s a method for everyone.

Things You Should Know

Print your desired design on Shrinky Dink paper and bake at 300 °F (149 °C) for 3 to 5 minutes.
Alternatively, create a charm from buttons, jewelry, or plastic gems. Or, print digital images and use Epoxy dots to fashion them into charms.
As another option, make homemade charms out of polymer clay. Be sure to flatten the back of your charm so you can secure it to the backing.
Glue your charm to a Jibbitz backing. Allow 24 hours for the glue to dry, then secure your charm to your Crocs.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Shrinky Dinks Croc Charms

1
Print 4 inch (10 cm) images on Shrinky Dinks Ink Jet paper. Shrinky Dinks are a super fun craft product that shrink large images or drawings into small plastic pieces—and all you have to do to make Shrinky Dinks is put your design on paper! Find pictures for your charms, and then import them to a printable document on Microsoft Word, InDesign, or Photoshop. Reduce the images opacity by 20 to 30%, so the design doesn’t come out too dark once it’s shrunk.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Leave enough space between each image so you can cut them out.
- Choose pictures of your friends, pet, or a favorite movie character or quote.
- The software you use to print and format your charm designs doesn’t matter, as long as you can alter the vibrancy of the image and print it out.
- Use clear Shrinky Dinks to draw or paint a custom design rather than print one out.
- Follow the instructions on your Shrinky Dinks when printing your designs, as you may need to adjust a few settings on your printer first.
2
Cut out your designs with scissors. Carefully cut around your printed images as close to their outlines as possible. This will be the general shape of your Croc charm.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Alternatively, you could cut out your images on Shrinky Dink paper using a Cricut or Silhouette machine.
Advertisement
3
Bake your images at 300 °F (149 °C) for 3 to 5 minutes.^{[3]
X
Research source} Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange your cut out designs on the sheet so there’s about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of space between them.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Take your Shrinky Dinks out of the oven once they’ve completely flattened out.
- If your Shrinky Dinks are still curled after 5 minutes in the oven, take them out and flatten them with the bottom of a glass.^{[5]
  X
  Research source}
4
Paint a thin layer of Modge Podge over your Shrinky Dinks. Once the Shrinky Dinks have cooled, use a paintbrush to brush Modge Podge over the front of the charm. This seals the image and will help your Croc charm last longer.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Use a Mod Podge with a gloss or matte finish, making sure to pick gloss if you want your charm to shine.
5
Coat the charms in resin to make them last longer. Adding epoxy resin to your Croc charms is optional but can help them last longer, especially in wet weather. Mix the epoxy resin with a hardener at a 2:1 ratio.^{[7]
X
Research source} Use a craft stick to smooth the mixed resin evenly over the front of your charm. Let the resin dry or cure for at least 24 hours before moving to the next step.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- If you want to add resin to your Croc charm but don’t have much time on your hands, try using UV resin. It’s a faster alternative that doesn’t require mixing and cures under a UV light for 2 minutes.^{[9]
  X
  Research source}
6
Glue a Jibbitz backing to the back of your charm. Use a strong, all-purpose craft glue (like E6000) to stick the flat side of the backing in the middle of your charm. Make sure you do this on the back of your charm, so everyone can see your cool design.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- Let the glue dry for at least 24 hours before putting the charm on your Croc.^{[11]
  X
  Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Button, Jewelry, and Gem Croc Charms

1
Make circular Croc charms by gluing Jibbitz backings to flat buttons. Decide what part of the button will be the front of the charm (we suggest picking the side with the most embellishments). Place a dot of hot glue on the flat end of a Jibbitz backing and press it against the back of the button. Hold the button and backing together for a few seconds until the glue has cooled.^{[12]
X
Research source}
2
Turn jewelry charms into Croc charms with pliers and glue. Select a jewelry charm with a solid, flat backing and use a pair of pliers to snap or pull off the charm’s eye ring (this is the circular piece that would connect it to a bracelet or necklace).^{[13]
X
Research source} Dab jewelry glue in the center of the back of the charm, and press on the flat end of a Jibbitz backing.^{[14]
X
Research source}
- Try pulling eye rings out with a strong tug or bending them off with a twist.
3
Create sparkly Croc charms with large gems and Jibbitz backings. Pick out a gem or rhinestone that’s larger than your Jibbitz backing. Place a dot of super glue, craft glue, or hot glue in the center of the jewel's backing. Press the flat end of the Jibbitz backing into the glue and wait a few seconds for it to dry.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Polymer Clay Croc Charms

1
Mold and bake polymer clay for sculpted polymer clay Croc charms. Polymer clay is a molding clay that’s easy to work with and hardens in the oven. The versatility of the clay lets you create any Croc charm you’d like, whether that’s a simple crescent moon or a life-like ice cream cone. Simply work the clay with your hands until it’s moldable. Then, start shaping it into your desired design.^{[15]
X
Research source} Place your charm(s) on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake in a 275 °F (135 °C) oven for 30 minutes.^{[16]
X
Research source}
- Remember, you’ll be gluing on a Jibbitz backing, so make sure the back of your charm is flat and wide enough to hold the backing.
- Try using more than one color of polymer clay to make your charm even more detailed.
- Read the polymer clay’s instructions carefully and follow the baking directions, as different brands can have different baking times.
2
Fill a silicone mold with liquid polymer clay to create unique charms. Liquid polymer clay is a squeezable clay that can be baked and hardened to make just about anything, including Croc charms.^{[17]
X
Research source} Choose a silicone mold that has the desired shape for your charm, such as a heart, star, or circle. Place the mold in a 275 °F (135 °C) oven for about 10 minutes to warm up. Then, take the mold out of the oven and fill it with liquid polymer clay. Carefully bang the filled mold on a flat surface to remove any air bubbles, and pop it back in the oven for about 15 minutes.^{[18]
X
Research source}
- Play around with liquid polymer clay colors and finishes to make a tie-dye or sparkly Croc charm.
- Follow the directions on your liquid polymer clay, as many products have specific baking or curing instructions.
- Check that your silicone is oven-safe before baking it.
3
Glue a Jibbitz backing to the back of your chosen polymer clay charm. Once your polymer or liquid polymer clay charm has cured and cooled, use hot glue or super glue to stick the flat end of the backing to the back of your charm. Wait a couple of minutes for the glue to dry before snapping it onto your Croc.^{[19]
X
Research source}

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Epoxy Dot Croc Charms

1
Cut out your circular images with a 1 inch (2.5 cm) circle punch. Format your charm designs in a word processing software, making them 1 inch (2.5 cm) long with a circular frame or cropping—the epoxy dots and images should be the same size and shape so they stick easily together. Print your designs and then cut them out.^{[20]
X
Research source}
- If you don’t have a circular punch, cut the images out by hand with a scissor.
2
Stick a 1 inch (2.5 cm) epoxy dot on top of your image. Epoxy dots usually come on a sticker sheet and have a tacky backing, making them easy to stick to anything. Gently peel off the dot, and press the image and dot together with their outlines matching up.^{[21]
X
Research source}
- Try gluing a 1 inch (2.5 cm) glass dome to your image for a greater 3D effect.^{[22]
  X
  Research source}
3
Glue a Jibbitz backing to your charm with super glue. Turn the charm over so that the epoxy dot is facedown. Dot super glue on the flat end of a Jibbitz backing, and then press it into the middle of the charm’s backing.^{[23]
X
Research source}
- Wait at least 5 minutes for the glue to set before popping the charm on your Crocs.
- Consider gluing rhinestones on top of epoxy dots or glass domes for an extra sparkly charm.^{[24]
  X
  Research source}