You can use an assortment of items to make your charms. I've done this program twice, using different materials. The first time, we used FIMO, a brand of polymer clay. We shaped our clay into our charms (mine was a strawberry with a little green leaf) and place a jump ring in the clay, so that it could be attached when we were finished.
I recommend attaching a lobster claw clasp to the jump ring before placing it inside the clay. You don't need to use a clasp, but it will allow you to attach the charm to bracelets, backpacks, zippers, keychains, etc.
The clay should come with instructions on how to bake it. I printed out copies of the instructions and lets teens take them home to bake. Once baked, the charm is solid. The ring and clasp can be baked along with it, since they are attached. Just be sure to use metal. You can then use the clasp to attach your charm to the cell phone strap.
Where do you get these items? You can get the clay at most craft stores, or through catalogues for children's programs. You can get the lobster clasps and jump rings at craft stores, online (Oriental Trading has them) or my favorite for quality is Etsy.com. It's usually cheaper than the conventional ordering methods, and you have more choices. Make sure that your rings are the open kind, not the shut. If you want to skip the clasp, you will need to be able to open and close the ring around the end of the cell phone strap. You can get the strap from Oriental Trading Company, Etsy, or even make one yourself.
We also used beads to do this craft. I used Sushi lampwork beads I found on Oriental Trading, but you can use any type of bead or charm. I used a headpin to thread the bead and made a loop in the top with pliers. I attached them to a jump ring, and the jump ring to a lobster claw clasp. Some teens chose to use a decorative ribbon, knotted at one end to thread through the bead and tied to the jump ring. This craft is so versatile, there really isn't a wrong way to do it.
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