How to DIY a Phone Case: The Simple DIY Personalised Phone Case Guide (Beginner-Friendly)

The Charmé Edit DIY phone case kit, laid out with case, gel and tools

You do not need any craft experience to make your own charm phone case at home. Our DIY phone case kits come with everything you need already in the box, and the actual placing and sealing takes most people 15 to 30 minutes from start to finish. Here is exactly how it works, step by step, plus the small things that make the difference between a clean finish and a messy one.

What Comes in the Box

Every kit includes a silicone phone case, silicone gel, a tweezer, a spreader, alcohol pads, and plastic gloves. Our build your own kit, from £22, comes with the case and tools only, so you choose and buy your charms separately from the charms collection. Our other kits, from £42, come with a curated set of charms already matched to a specific look, so there is nothing extra to choose if you would rather it was all decided for you.

How Many Charms to Use

If you are building your own layout from the charms collection, we recommend 12 to 20 charms for the best-looking result: at least 2 grande charms as your focal pieces, mostly midi charms filling in around them, and a few minis tucked into the gaps. Too few charms tends to look sparse once the gel dries, and laying everything out on the case before you commit to the gel is the easiest way to check the balance looks right first.

A DIY phone case kit from The Charmé Edit with charms laid out ready to place

Step by Step: Making Your Case

  1. Wipe the case. Clean the case with the alcohol pad provided and let it dry fully before you start.
  2. Plan your layout. Lay your charms out on top of the dry case and move them around until the design feels right. Take a photo of the layout so you have something to copy once the gel goes down.
  3. Draw the border. Use the silicone gel to trace an outline around the edge of the case first, then fill in the space inside it.
  4. Spread it evenly. Use the spreader to smooth the gel into a clean, glossy, even layer. Wear the gloves provided and avoid touching the gel with your skin.
  5. Place your charms. Working from your photo, use the tweezer to press each charm into the gel one at a time so it stays put once everything cures.
  6. Leave it to cure. The surface is dry to the touch after about 24 hours, but it is fully cured after 2 to 3 days. Keep it somewhere flat and dust-free while it sets.

Mistakes Worth Avoiding

The gel dries faster than most people expect, so add your charms within about 5 minutes of spreading it rather than stepping away to plan your layout at that stage, that planning should happen beforehand with the dry-run layout. Once the gel is down, try not to touch or reposition it too much, since this is what tends to ruin an otherwise smooth finish. If you have a kit with charms already included rather than the build-your-own version, use the gel within a week of it arriving to avoid it oxidising, and keep it in the fridge in the meantime if you are not ready to start yet.

Personalising Your DIY Case

The same charms collection used for a fully custom order also works for a DIY kit, so you can still add initials, a birth date in numbers, or a zodiac sign charm to your own layout at home in exactly the same way as any other charm. If placing everything yourself feels like more than you want to take on, our made to order case lets you choose your charms and have us place and seal them for you instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need any tools I do not already have at home?

No. The kit includes everything required: the case, silicone gel, tweezer, spreader, alcohol pads, and gloves. You only need to buy charms separately if you have chosen the build-your-own kit rather than one with charms already included.

How long does the whole process take?

Placing and sealing your charms usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. The surface is dry to the touch after 24 hours, and fully cured after 2 to 3 days, so it is best to leave the case flat and undisturbed during that window.

What happens if I do not use the gel straight away?

Use it within a week of receiving your kit to avoid oxidation. If you are not ready to start yet, keep it in the fridge in the meantime to help keep it fresh for longer.

Can I still personalise a DIY kit with initials or a zodiac sign?

Yes. Letters, numbers, and zodiac charms come from the same charms collection used for fully custom orders, so you can add any of them to your own layout in exactly the same way as your other charms.