Beaded Platypus Key Chain - Beaded Critters Keychains

Materials Needed:

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You will need one connector such as a
Lanyard hook,
or any type of
Key Ring.

Cord:
You will need about
2 yards of cord for your beaded ghost.
There are lots of different types of cords you can use. We prefer a cord that is about 1 1/2mm to 2mm thick because it helps your keychain keep it's shape better. Alternatively, you could use a thinner cord and weave a little wire or a pipe cleaner into your keychain to help it keep it's shape that way. Either way works just fine but you can experiment with it to see which method you prefer.

One good choice is
Monofilament Cord
or
2mm metallic cording.
Other great choices would be:
1mm Pink Hemp cord,
OR 1.5mm Pink Leather necklace cord,
OR 1.5mm Pink Satin Rattail Cord,
OR
1/8" Pink Satin Ribbon

For ours, we used a 2mm pink cotton jute cord.

Helpful Hint: If your cord end frays easily try dipping it into a little melted wax and smoothing it out with your fingers. This will help prevent fraying and also create a stiffer end for threading into your beads.

Beads needed:
 64 - Orange Pony Beads

 2 - Black Pony Beads for the eyes

 80 - Pink Pony Beads

Note: these are the colors we used. You can use these colors or you can make your beaded platypus in whatever colors are perfect for you.

Other Things Needed:


Glue
 (We used "super glue")

Optional: For a stiffer beaded platypus you can include a little wire or a pipe cleaner with your cord to help keep it's shape
 Beading Wire
OR
 Pipe Cleaners

Instructions

1. Find the half way point of the cord or wire you are using and attach it onto the keyring using a lark's head knot (shown in photo).

2. Begin threading the beads onto the cord following the pattern below. You can click on the image at the top of the page for a larger, better resolution photo.

3. After finishing the pattern you will notice that your cords do not end at the same place. You can either bring them around and tie them together at the bottom with a double knot or surgeon's knot but we found it looked better to tie each one off at the ends of the last row. Add a little glue to each knot to prevent them from unraveling.

(Optional) Weave your wire or pipe cleaner through one of the widest rows near the top of your beaded bat keychain to make it stiffer and hold it's shape.

Follow the same pattern using seed beads or E beads in place of pony beads to create smaller characters and create a great pair of earrings or a necklace pendant.