Pony Beads Craft – Beaded Happy Face Keychain

This is an easy craft that you can do with children of almost any age. Use big chunky beads for smaller children, which will be easier for them to grip.

Supplies:
========
Pony beads – 72 yellow
Pony beads – 8 black
Yarn or ribbon
Two craft needles
Small metal key-loop

Step 1 ~
Load several feet of the yarn or ribbon on to the needles, with one needle at each end. (You’ll have some extra to cut off at the end. It’s much easier to start with too much than too little for this project. So give yourself plenty to work with.)

Step 2 ~
Thread six yellow beads onto your string, and slide them to the middle.

Step 3 ~
Add ten more yellow beads to one needle, and then run the second needle through those ten in the opposite direction. Snug them down against the first six, so that they’re lying in two rows. (The top row has the six. The second row has the ten beads with two passes of yarn inside them.)

Step 4 ~
Make the third row by stringing four yellow beads, then one black bead, then two yellow beads, then one black bead, then four yellow beads onto the first needle, and then running the second needle through and snugging them down next to row #2. (Those two black beads will be the eyes on your Happy Face.)

Step 5 ~
Make the fourth row by stringing 12 yellow beads. Then run the second needle through those six and snug them down next to row #3.

Step 6 ~
Make the fifth row by stringing three yellow beads, then one black bead, then four yellow beads, then one black bead, then three yellow beads. Then run the second needle through those twelve and snug them down next to row #4.

In the diagram, the yellow beads are ‘Y’, and the blacks beads are marked ‘B’. Use this as a guide while you make your Happy Face keychain.

…………Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y
….Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y
Y-Y-Y-Y-B-Y-Y-B-Y-Y-Y-Y
Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y
Y-YY-B -Y-Y-Y-Y- B-Y-Y-Y
Y-Y-Y-Y-B-B-B-B-Y-Y-Y-Y
….Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y
…………Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y

Step 7 ~
Make the sixth row by stringing four yellow beads, then four black beads, then four yellow beads onto the first needle, and then running the second needle through and snugging them down next to row #5.

Step 8 ~
Make the seventh row by stringing ten yellow beads onto the first needle, and then running the second needle through and snugging them down next to row #6.

Step 9 ~
Finally, make the bottom row by stringing six yellow beads onto the first needle, and then running the second needle through and snugging them down next to row #7.

Step 10 ~
Then tie off your yarn/ribbon by hiding the knot inside the last row.

Step 11 ~
Using a smaller length of your yarn or ribbon, attach the metal key loop to the top of your beaded Ying-Yang key chain. It’s all finished and ready to use, or give as a gift.

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