DIY Project

Beads and jewelry

Pony bead lizard keychain

The classic beaded lizard, built row by row on a cord, clipped to a backpack zipper.

Pony bead lizard keychain
LevelAdvanced
AgesAges 8 to 10
Time1 hour
Cost$3 to $8

What you'll need

Materials

Tick them off as you find them.

Tools

How to make it

Safety

Pony beads are choking hazards, so keep them away from kids under 3.

  1. Step 1: Start at the nose
    1

    Start at the nose

    Fold the cord in half through the keyring. Slide 2 beads onto one end, then push the other end through those beads the opposite way. Pull even.

  2. Step 2: Build the head
    2

    Build the head

    Do the same with rows of 3 beads, then 3 with the black eye beads on the ends, then 2 for the neck.

  3. Step 3: Add the front legs
    3

    Add the front legs

    On each cord, slide 4 beads. Skip the last bead and push the cord back up through the other 3.

  4. Step 4: Build the body
    4

    Build the body

    Make rows of 3, 4, 4, 4 and 3 beads, crossing the cords through each row.

  5. Step 5: Add the back legs
    5

    Add the back legs

    Make 2 more legs the same way as the front ones.

  6. Step 6: Make the tail
    6

    Make the tail

    Make rows of 2, 2, 1, 1 and 1. Tie the cords in a double knot and trim.

Edie's tip

Pull both cords snug after every row. Loose rows make a floppy lizard.

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