Easy Beaded Geckos

Remember those beaded animals that were so popular when you were a kid? Why not pass on that craft to your kids? With some pony beads and a helpful template, the kids can make these super cute and easy beaded geckos. Put a keychain on the end and it can be yet another thing they hang from their backpacks!

You will need ...

Colorful Pony Beads (bonus if they’re glow in the dark!)
Black Pony Beads
String or Cord (we used satin rattail cord at 2mm).
Gecko template (you could look this up online or just draw your own).
Scissors
Keychain ring

Step One

Cut about 36″ of cord. This will allow for length at the end when you’re tying it off. Take the “nose” bead and string it onto the cord. Hold the two ends of the cord together in one hand, then hold the bead with the string on the other and move them apart. This should put the “nose” bead at the middle of the cord.

Step Two

Take the next row of beads. It should be two beads. String them onto one end of the cord. Then, take the other end of the cord and string it through the beads so that the two cord ends are opposite of each other. Gently pull the two ends apart so that the two beads move closer to the “nose” bead.

Step Three

The next step is the row with the eyes. Take one side of the cord and string on the eye bead, then the colored bead, then the second eye bead. Just like the last row we did, take the other cord and string it through the beads so that both cord ends are opposite of each other. Gently pull to bring this row of beads up to the rest of them. Repeat this method with the next row of two beads.

Step Four

Next, we make the feet. Take the four beads that make up the foot and string them onto one side of the cord. Loop that cord back around and string the end back through the first bead that went onto the cord. Gently pull to bring all the beads close to the body. The beads may need to be adjusted a little to form the rounded foot shape. Repeat with the other side for the other foot.

Step Five

Then, go back to the original method of using both sides of the cord and create the body.

Step Six

Once the body is complete with three rows of three beads each, it is time to create the second set of feet. Repeat the steps in Step Four and create the back two feet of the gecko.

Step Seven

Next, finish off the gecko by using the regular method to add on the last of the beads. It should be one row of two and then the tail of one in each row.

Step Eight

If you are using this as a keychain, string the keychain ring onto one side of the cord. Using both sides, tie a knot. Then, bring the two sides of the cord together and tie them in a knot. Place one end in each hand and pull to tighten. You can then snip off the ends of the cord leaving about a half an inch still on. If you would like, you could burn the ends to keep it from unraveling. You could also place a spot of glue on the knot to help keep it in place.

This is what they look like if you choose to use glow in the dark pony beads. It just adds a bit more fun to it all. Enjoy!

The Mom Touch