When choosing a protective charm to give to someone important—family, friends, or a partner—it’s easy to wonder what would be best.
Buying one at a shrine or temple is certainly an option, but why not try conveying your feelings by gifting a handmade charm imbued with your wishes?
In this article, we’ll share ideas for materials, styles, patterns, and designs.
We’ve selected options ranging from easy-to-make to more elaborate, so we hope you’ll find them helpful when crafting your own.
Send a handmade charm that conveys a special, one-of-a-kind sentiment.
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Handmade amulet gift ideas for someone special (1–10)
With a message
If you have a special message you want to convey to the recipient, we recommend a charm with a message.
When you buy one at a shrine, the phrases are set, like “safety for the household” or “prosperous business.” But if you make the charm yourself, you can write any phrase you like.
The person who receives it will surely be happy to get a charm with words meant just for them.
Because it’s filled with your feelings, it might even work more effectively as a charm! We recommend embroidering the message so you can enjoy the authentic charm-like feel.
Daruma
With its tough-looking expression and round, chubby form, the daruma is somehow impossible to dislike.
It’s a lucky charm: you paint in one eye while making a wish, and when the wish comes true, you paint in the other eye.
Loved as a talisman against evil, the daruma makes a perfect amulet! Its origins go all the way back to the Edo period.
When smallpox was spreading and people were fearful, red daruma—painted entirely in the color believed to ward off evil—became popular as protective charms.
A daruma-shaped amulet will surely protect its owner from misfortune.
soft mold
Let’s use a soft mold for resin art to make a charm that looks just like a keychain.
In recent years, resin art has become more familiar thanks to things like gel nails.
You can even buy UV lights and resin at 100-yen shops now.
Soft molds let you harden resin into any shape you like.
There are all sorts of shapes, like hearts and stars, and some even come in a charm (omamori) shape.
If you use a soft mold and resin to make a charm, you can create a very fancy piece with sparkling, transparent beauty.
Shaker keychain
A shaker keychain with beads inside that rattle and sway—so cute! Let’s make a protective charm (omamori) in a shaker keychain design.
Use resin to create a base in the shape of an omamori.
It’s recommended to make the base somewhat larger so the beads can move around easily inside.
Once the base is ready, put in your favorite beads and seal it with a clear sheet.
Decorate it with your favorite stickers, and finally attach the hardware.
Your omamori-shaped shaker keychain is complete!
Personalized omamori (Japanese good-luck charm)
How about making a personalized amulet with the names of your family, friends, or partner to surprise them? Because it includes their name, it’s filled with thoughtfulness and is sure to make the recipient happy! Felt is a great material even for beginners to work with.
Since it doesn’t fray even when cut, you can freely craft by cutting and pasting.
Try designing it like a name tag, using bright, pop colors, and create a one-of-a-kind original amulet just for them.
club activities
Recommended for those who want to cheer on upperclassmen and teammates in their club activities! Introducing the “Club Activity Amulet.” If you make an amulet while wishing for victory in a match, the recipient is sure to feel motivated! Balls like basketballs, baseballs, and soccer balls make easy motifs and result in cute designs.
If you enjoy detailed work, try adding embroidery or attaching felt pieces.
Making the amulet itself out of felt gives it a warm, handmade feel.
Puzzle Design
The puzzle-design amulet is considered lucky because the image of “pieces fitting perfectly together” evokes ideas like “forming connections in relationships” and “enhancing teamwork.” You can use real puzzle pieces as materials, but making the pieces out of felt adds a warmer, more amulet-like feel, so I recommend it.
For school clubs and the like, try writing the team name or jersey numbers on the puzzle pieces and arranging them so they connect—it’s a fun variation to try!
