How to Make a Beaded Lizard

Here's a cute,fun, and creative afternoon activity that you can attach to your backpack or wear as a necklace.

1. Obtain some pony beads.

    

2. Cut a length of 1/8th inch ribbon around two yards (or meters) long.
3. Fold it in half to find the center.
4. 

    Example of larkshead knot
   Larkshead knot the center to your lanyard clip or keyring.
5. 

    Tape the ends of the ribbon.
   Tape the ends of the ribbon to make them stiffer (and easier to thread through the beads.)
   

Head

1. 

    Ribbons go through opposite sides of the bead.
   Thread one bead onto one ribbon end and then pass the second #
   

    Snug against the knot.
   Snug them down to push the bead to the knot.
2. 

    Two beads... same thing. Ribbons go through from each side.
   Thread two beads the same way, with the ribbons crossing through from opposite sides.
3. 

    Snug them against the knot/keyring end.
   Snug down.
4. 

    Add the eyes...
   Thread your eyes... one eye color bead, one body bead and one eye color... pass ribbons through from each side.
5. 

    Snug them down...
   Snug them down.
6. Thread two body beads (neck) and snug.
7. 

    Neck, and finished leg
   Thread another two (neck) and snug.
   

Legs

1. 

    5 beads... two of the body color, three of the toe color.
   For the legs, thread two body beads and three foot color beads onto one ribbon and move them as close to the body as you wish the leg to be long (i.e. 1 inch away = 1 inch long leg).
2. 

    Loop the end of the ribbon back through the two body colored beads.
   Take the end of that same ribbon around in a loop and pass it BACK through the two body colored beads towards the head.
3. 

    Snugged down.
   Snug it down as shown.
4. 

    Left front leg... 5 beads in a loop...
   

    Both front legs attached.
   Repeat for the other front leg. (and again, after the body for the hind legs)
   

Body

1. Begin the body...

   Thread three beads; body, contrast and body color. Snug them down.
2. Thread four beads; body, contrast, contrast, and body. Snug them down.
3. 

    Middle of the body...
   Thread five beads; body, contrast, body, contrast and body. Snug them down.
4. Thread four beads; body, contrast, contrast, and body. Snug them down.
5. Thread three beads; body, contrast and body color. Snug them down.
6. 

    End of the body... ready for the hind legs.
   Thread two body beads. Snug them down.
7. Add the two hind legs. (see above)
8. Thread two body beads. Snug them down.
9. Thread single beads in a row ... usually 6 is a good number... until tail is the length you like.
10. 

     Completed lizard.
    Tie off the ribbon. Cut the ends and you've got a beaded lizard!

     

• Pony Beads
• 1/8th inch wide ribbon (two yards or meters)
• Scissors
• Beads