How to Make Acrylic Name Keychains DIY with xTool P3

This post may contain affiliate links, sponsored content and products received at no cost.

6:00 AM

How to Make Acrylic Name Keychains DIY with xTool P3

There’s something extra special about having your name on something—especially when it’s colorful, handmade, and just plain cute!

These pastel acrylic name keychains are a fun project to make with the xTool P3 CO2 Laser, and they come together with just a few pieces of acrylic and some colorful hardware.

I love the layered look of these keychains because the soft pastel background makes the off white name really pop.

You can customize them with any name, nickname, word, or even a short phrase, making them perfect for gift tags, back-to-school baskets, party favors, teacher gifts, stocking stuffers, or just a fun handmade gift for friends.

The xTool P 3 makes cutting the pieces incredibly satisfying because you can watch the laser beam work its way around every curve and letter.

And once the cutting is finished, the assembly is as simple as gluing the two acrylic layers together and adding a pastel keychain clip.

This is also a great project for experimenting with different types of acrylics and color combinations. I used beautiful pastel cast acrylic for the background and nearly white acrylic for the names, but there are so many possibilities!

Supplies Needed for Acrylic Name Keychains:

affiliate links

xTool P3 laser cutter
xTool Studio software
Pastel cast acrylic sheets
Creamy white opaque acrylic
Acrylic-safe adhesive
Pastel-colored keychain hardware
Key rings
Acrylic cleaning cloth or soft cloth (optional)

You can use an acrylic sheet specifically designed for laser cutting. Cast acrylic is a great option for projects like this because it cuts beautifully and is available in a huge variety of colors.

A Quick Note About Acrylic

There are lots of types of acrylics available for crafting. Transparent acrylics, clear acrylic, frosted acrylic, mirrored acrylic, glitter acrylic, and opaque acrylics can all create very different finished looks.

For these keychains, I wanted a soft, colorful, solid background, so pastel opaque acrylics were perfect.

It is important to choose acrylic that is appropriate for your particular laser machine and follow the manufacturer's recommended settings. The xTool P3 CO2 Laser is a CO2 laser machine, which is different from a diode laser system. Different laser systems, laser modules, and materials have different capabilities, so always use the appropriate material settings for your equipment.

And remember: never leave a laser cutter unattended while it is operating.

How to Make Pastel Acrylic Name Keychains

Step 1: Peel the Protective Film from the Acrylic

Start by removing the protective film from the acrylic sheet.

Depending on the material, you may have protective film on one or both sides. Carefully peel it away so you have a clean surface ready to place on the laser bed.

I know this part seems ridiculously simple, but there is something deeply satisfying about peeling that protective film away from a brand-new sheet of acrylic!

Set the acrylic directly onto the P3 laser bed according to your machine's normal setup instructions.

If your acrylic is particularly glossy, keep fingerprints and dust off the surface as much as possible. A clean surface makes it easier to see your design and gives you a nice finished piece.

Step 2: Design the Names in xTool Studio

Now for the fun part—creating the personalized design!

Open xTool Studio and create your name design. Choose a font with a nice, substantial shape that will work well when cut from acrylic.

For this project, I used a script-style name because I love the way the flowing letters look against the scalloped pastel background.

Type the name and size it to your desired finished dimensions.

The design consists of two layers:

The pastel offset background
The ivory/white name

The background is slightly larger than the name, creating that cute dimensional border around the letters.

Create the Offset Background

With your name selected, create an offset around the lettering.

The offset essentially creates a larger shape surrounding the name. This will become the colorful pastel layer underneath the white name.

Adjust the offset amount until you have a border that looks proportional to the size of the name. You don't want it so narrow that the background disappears, but you also don't want an enormous border.

For these keychains, I love a soft, rounded offset because it gives the finished piece that almost sticker-like appearance.

Add the Keychain Hole

Next, add a small hole near one end of the offset shape for the keychain hardware.

The hole needs to be part of the background piece rather than the name itself.

Position it where you want your keychain hardware to attach, making sure there is plenty of acrylic surrounding the hole so it won't be too close to the edge.

Then weld the hole and the offset name shape together so they become one cuttable background piece.

This is one of those little details that makes the project so much easier later. Instead of trying to drill or modify the acrylic after cutting, the attachment hole is created right in the design.

And just like that, your personalized acrylic keychain is ready to cut!

Step 3: Cut the Pastel Acrylic Background

Choose your favorite pastel cast acrylic color for the background.

I love colors like mint, blush pink, lavender, peach, coral, and baby blue for this project. You could even make an entire rainbow collection!

Set your material in xTool Studio and use the appropriate cutting settings for the specific acrylic you are using.

The pastel background is the larger bottom layer, complete with the hole for the keychain hardware.

Once everything is positioned correctly, start the cutting process.

And then comes one of my favorite parts of working with a laser machine: watching it cut!

The P3 moves around the design, following the curves of the offset shape and creating that smooth, rounded silhouette.

The laser beam follows the programmed path, cutting through the acrylic precisely where the design tells it to.

There's something oddly mesmerizing about watching a laser cutter work. You can start with a flat acrylic sheet and a digital design and, a few minutes later, have an actual physical piece sitting on the laser bed.

Step 4: Cut the White Name

Next, switch to the off-white acrylic.

This will become the top layer of the keychain.

The white acrylic creates a beautiful contrast against the pastel background. It also gives the finished piece a little bit of dimension because the name sits on top of the larger colored shape.

Again, place the acrylic according to the recommended P3 setup and select the appropriate material settings.

Send the name design to the laser cutter and let the P3 do its thing.

Watch as each letter is carefully cut from the acrylic.

Script fonts can be especially fun to watch because the laser module traces all those swooping curves and connecting letters.

Once the cut is complete, carefully remove the name from the sheet.

At this point, you should have two pieces:

A larger pastel acrylic background with a keychain hole
A white acrylic name

If you're making several names at once, this is also a great way to create a whole collection of personalized acrylic keychains in coordinating colors.

At this point, you should have two pieces: A larger pastel acrylic background with a keychain hole A white acrylic name If you're making several names at once, this is also a great way to create a whole collection of personalized acrylic keychains in coordinating colors.

Step 5: Glue the Acrylic Layers Together

Now it's time to turn the two laser-cut pieces into one finished keychain!

Before gluing, make sure both acrylic surfaces are clean and free from dust or debris.

Apply a small amount of acrylic cement adhesive to the back of the white acrylic name...this adhesive is water-thin...and a little tricky to work with.

You don't need a huge amount of adhesive. A little goes a long way, and you don't want excess glue squeezing out around the edges.

Carefully position the white name onto the pastel background.

Take your time lining up the edges so you have an even border of pastel acrylic showing around the entire name.

Press the pieces together gently and allow the adhesive to cure according to the adhesive manufacturer's instructions.

Once the glue has set, you have that adorable layered acrylic look!

The white name almost looks like it's floating above the pastel background.

Step 6: Add Pastel Keychain Hardware

Now for the finishing touch!

Choose a pastel-colored keychain clasp and coordinating key ring.

I love matching the hardware to the acrylic color, but contrasting colors can be just as cute.

A mint keychain with pink hardware, lavender with aqua, or peach with baby blue would all be adorable.

Attach the keychain hardware through the hole you created in the offset background.

That's it!

Your personalized acrylic name keychain is finished.

Customize Your Acrylic Keychains

One of the best things about this project is how easy it is to customize.

You can change the font, size, colors, and even the shape of the offset background.

Make a tiny name keychain for a backpack or purse, or create a larger version to use as a luggage tag.

You could also experiment with different acrylic finishes. Clear acrylic could create a completely different aesthetic, while transparent acrylics would let you see through the background. Glitter acrylic would be adorable for party favors, and mirrored acrylic could give the names a more glamorous look.

You could even combine several different colors for a layered effect.

If you're familiar with other design programs such as Silhouette Studio, you'll recognize the concept of creating an offset shape, but everything for this project can be designed directly in xTool Studio.

And while a laser engraver can also be used for many personalized projects, this particular project is about cutting the acrylic shapes rather than creating an engraved design.

If you have access to a UV printer, that's another option for adding detailed artwork, patterns, or colorful graphics to acrylic blanks, but you don't need one for this project. The beauty here is the simplicity of the layered acrylic.

Ways to Use Personalized Acrylic Name Keychains

These aren't just cute little accessories—they make fantastic handmade gifts!

Gift Tags

Instead of using a disposable paper gift tag, attach the personalized acrylic keychain to a wrapped present. The recipient gets a second gift they can use afterward.

Back-to-School Baskets

These would be adorable tucked into a back-to-school basket with school supplies, snacks, notebooks, and other goodies.

Make one for each child with their name in their favorite colors.

Backpack Accessories

Attach them directly to backpacks, lunch bags, sports bags, or pencil cases.

Party Favors

Personalized keychains would make fantastic birthday party favors. Match the acrylic colors to the party theme and make one for every guest.

Handmade Gifts for Friends

Make a set of names in different pastel colors for your friends. They're inexpensive to make once you have the design figured out, and personalized gifts always feel a little more special.

Teacher Gifts

Add a teacher's name, classroom name, or even a word like "Teach" or "Create" for a fun end-of-year or back-to-school gift.

Tips for Making Laser-Cut Acrylic Keychains

Choose a sturdy font. Very thin lettering can be more difficult to cut and handle. Bold script fonts or chunky lettering work especially well.

Give yourself enough border. Make sure the offset is large enough to create a substantial background around the name.

Don't put the hole too close to the edge. Leave enough acrylic around it for strength.

Test your acrylic settings. Acrylic can vary by manufacturer, color, thickness, and composition, so use the recommended settings for your particular material rather than assuming every acrylic sheet will cut identically.

Keep your materials clean. Dust and fingerprints are much easier to remove before assembly than afterward.

Don't rush the glue. Allow the adhesive to fully cure before attaching the hardware or putting the keychain into use.

Make one for everyone on your list!

Once you make one of these, it's hard not to start thinking of all the names you could make.

I love the combination of pastel cast acrylic and white because it has such a cheerful, almost candy-colored look. And because the design is so simple, it's easy to make these for lots of different occasions.

You could create personalized acrylic keychains for an entire classroom, make coordinating ones for siblings, add them to handmade gift baskets, or keep a few generic keychains on hand for last-minute gifts.

The xTool P3 makes the cutting portion of this project incredibly fun because you get to see the digital design become a finished physical object right before your eyes. From a simple acrylic sheet to a personalized, layered name accessory, the whole process is quick, creative, and completely customizable.

And let's be honest—there's just something extra fun about seeing your own name cut perfectly from acrylic!

So grab some pretty pastel colors, fire up your xTool P3, and start making a whole collection of these sweet personalized keychains. They're useful, giftable, and a great way to put those colorful scraps of acrylic to personal use.