Pony beads can be used in a variety of ways.
Just a few pieces from a craft store, including colorful beads, can create a lizard keychain both kids and adults can make. Color choices are limited only by the available bead selection; however, you can find pony beads in a large variety of colors. The project will take a couple of hours to make, depending on the age of the person making it. Older kids can help younger ones, making this a project suitable for families to work on together.
Instructions
Getting Started
1. Fold the plastic cord in half, pinching the bend together. Slide one dark green bead on the cord to the halfway point. You should have equal amounts of cord on either side of the bead.
2. Take two more dark green beads and slide them onto the left cord. Fold the left cord to the right, then run the right cord through the beads. Basically, the cords have traded places. This is the basis for weaving the beads onto the cord. Now, the overall shape should look like a triangle.
3. Add a black bead, a dark green bead and another black bead to the left cord. Bend it up to the right, then run the right cord through the beads. This is the head of the lizard.
4. Add two more dark green beads to the left cord, raise it to the right and run the right cord through. This is the neck.
The Body and Legs
5. Place two dark green and three light green beads onto the left cord. Thread the left cord through the dark green beads, skipping the light green ones. This turns the light green ones into the foot of the lizard, while the dark green beads form one of the legs. Repeat this procedure with the right side.
6. Using the left cord, string one dark green bead, one light green bead and one dark green bead onto the cord in order. String the right cord through these beads.
7. On the left cord, slide on one dark green bead, two light green beads and one dark green bead in order. Run the right cord through the beads. Make another row just like this one.
8. Place one dark green bead, one light green bead and one dark green bead onto the left cord in order, then run the right cord through. This is the final row of the body.
9. Make another set of legs, just like in the first step of this section. Now you are ready for the tail and finishing.
The Tail and Finishing
10. Slide two dark green beads onto the left cord. Thread the right cord through the beads.
11. Slide one light green bead onto the left cord and thread the right cord through. Repeat this step, alternating bead colors, until the tail is as long as you like, or you run out of beads.
12. Tie the cords tightly together and attach the key ring, then tie the cords again.
