How to Make Barrel Pony Bead Animals
Making beaded animals with barrel pony beads is one of the most common kid crafts taught at camps and other kids' crafting events. There are hundreds of animals, characters, objects and people you can make using barrel pony beads and a simple pattern. The process used in this gecko pattern can be tailored to create any barrel pony bead animal you can dream up!
Things You'll Need
- 1 lanyard hook
- 1 1/2 yards clear plastic crafting string
- 53 green pony beads
- 2 blue pony beads
Instructions
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1
Fold the plastic craft string in half to find the center. Put the lanyard hook on the string and let it slide to the center. It will be loose until you start adding your beads to the string.
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2
String on your first green bead until it touches the lanyard hook. String the other half of the plastic craft string through the same bead so they are crossed through the same bead.
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3
String two green beads on one side of the string, moving them all the way to the end closest to the first stringed bead. String the other half of the string through the same two beads.
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4
String on your two blue beads and one green one. They should be in the order of blue, green, blue. String them onto one side of the string, then string the second half of the string through the beads as in the previous two steps. You will do this with each new row of beads you add.
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5
String on two green beads for the neck. String on one side, then cross with the other half of the string as before.
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6
String on four green beads. Again, string the other half of the clear plastic string through the same set of beads. This ensures they are nice and tight and won't come undone.
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7
String four beads onto one side of the string. Using the same string, skip the last bead you just strung and go back through the other three. This is the first leg of your gecko. Repeat this step on the other side with the other half of the string.
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8
String four green beads on one side of the string. Go through the same beads in the opposite direction with the other string. This will stabilize the front legs of your gecko. Repeat this same step two more times. This creates the body of the gecko.
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9
String four beads onto one side of the string. Using the same string, skip the last bead you just strung on and go back through the other three. This is the first of your back legs. Repeat this step on the other side of your gecko body.
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10
String four green beads on one side of the string. Pull your other string through the beads to stabilize your gecko's back legs.
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11
String one green bead onto your string. String the other side through, as well, so that your gecko tail is stabilized. Repeat this step eight more times. Tie off your tail with a tight knot at the end. Your gecko is now complete.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want to add some character to your gecko, add stripes down his back with different colored beads. Changing the color of your gecko's feet or eyes will also give him personality.
Glow-in-the-dark barrel pony beads will give your gecko an interesting look.
You can choose any color for your gecko--green is just a standard color.
If you do not string both halves of your clear plastic string through each row, you will have a very unstable gecko.
References
- Photo Credit Bead Frog image by MrGreenBug from Fotolia.com
