How to Make a Lizard Bead Keychain

Need a cute, fun, and creative afternoon activity you can show off on your backpack or even wear as a necklace? Introducing the beaded lizard! This neat project is simpler than it looks, and all it takes are some beads, string, and a keychain clasp. In this article, we’ll show you how to create this reptilian masterpiece step by step. Let’s get beading!

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Preparing the Body

Download Article

The longer the string, the longer the lizard. Three feet is a good start.
This will lead to a loop at the other end of the string.

Advertisement
Really, any sort of clasp will work. All you need to do is create a slipknot around the clasp. You should have your loop on one side of the clasp, and the long excess string on the other.
Reach into the loop and pull the strings through, pulling until tight. This creates a simple slip knot that will hold the lizard in place as you work.
Make sure the strings are not tangled up, and that you can clearly tell which string is the left string and which one is the right.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Making the Head & Neck

Download Article

These beads will be your body, so choose the color you want for the bulk of the lizard. Don't feed the beads all the way down; just let them dangle a bit towards the end. In this video, the body will be yellow.
If the leftmost string enters through the left, thread this one through from the right. You'll have both string going through the center of the two beads in opposite directions.
Lightly pull on the opposite ends to force the beads up to the top.
You want to sandwich the body bead with the two eye colors. Here, the eyes are green and the body is yellow, so you'd put them on as green, yellow, green.
Repeat the same procedure as you did with the first two body beads. Slide the three beads on the left string, thread the right through them, then pull both strings to move the beads to the top.
" Take two body colors, thread them on the left, slide the right through, and pull tight. This is your neck.
7
Take three more body beads and pull them through. Again, it is the same procedure. For a little flair, you can use a different color for the center bead here, allowing you to put a "stripe" on your lizard's back.
- These three beads are the beginning of the "back." You'll need to start the limbs after this.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Building the Legs

Download Article

Here, the body beads are still yellow and the feet will be black.
Push them almost all the way to the body. These are your legs.
Keep them close, but separated.
You just want to thread through your two yellow beads, not the three for the feet.
Use your fingers to make sure nothing bunches up. This is your first leg! Note how it only requires the left string to make -- you should never touch the right one when making the left leg.
Once done, it is time to move back to the body.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Finishing the Body & Tail

Download Article

1
Build three more body rows identically to the first. Put three beads on the left string, remembering to alternate them if you're doing a two-colored body. Then slide the right string in the opposite direction as the left and pull the two ends to slide the beads up to the body.
- You need three more rows before starting the feet again.
After the three lengths of the body, add two more legs. The process is identical.
You should have the process down pat by now. Two beads on the left string, feed through the right string and pull tight.
The tail is simply the same process as the body, but its only one bead per layer. You can choose any color you want. Alternating looks great too, and you can use as many beads as you want for the length of tail you like.
You can tie any knot you want, but a simple square knot will do just fine. You can use the knot used to tie your shoes as well, but make sure you double knot it.^{[1]
X
Research source}

Video

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

What can I do if I have lost 2 beads?

BobsonJoe

Community Answer

A good way to solve this without doing much damage would be to shorten the tail by two beads.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 7 Helpful 25
Question

What size beads should I use?

Community Answer

The best beads to use are pony beads. Pony beads measure about 6 by 9 millimeters, and the hole is about 4 millimeters.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 5 Helpful 20
Question

How can I give the lizard a longer nose?

BobsonJoe

Community Answer

After you secure the string to the clasp, you could first tie one bead on the string. Then you would make the lizard as explained in the article, which would give it a slightly longer nose.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 8 Helpful 14

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Things You'll Need

Pony Beads (about 60)
1/8th-inch wide ribbon
Scissors
Beads
Tape
Nice flat surface (recommended)

Tips

You can mix and match colors and lengths with ease once you get used to the process. For a bigger lizard, add one bead to each smaller section (legs, head, neck) and two beads to each body section. This will keep the proportions roughly the same.

Thanks
Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1