Make Bead and Wire Lizards

These little creatures are really cute, Making them is not difficult, and as you can see by the photos, in no time we had gathering of lizards on the table.

I found the directions to these on the web, and have included a link to the site. I have made a few changes in making mine.

I use 26 or 28 guage wire (depending on the size of the bead hole) so the lizards are posable, and made the feet slightly different than to the ones on the site.

When making the legs, slide your body beads on one side of your wire, loop second wire through beads and evenly pull wire so beads are in place. Thread 2 more beads onto one side of the wire, thread on 1 foot bead, and a smaller spacer bead or pearl, thread over spacer bead and back through the foot bead, pull wire firmly, keeping beads in position, and you don't have a large gap.

Bend wire at right angles to foot bead, thread on 1 foot bead, spacer bead, and thread wire over spacer bead and back through the foot bead pulling firmly. Pull you wire straight (opposite) and thread on 1 foot bead, 1 spacer. Loop wire back through foot bead and pull firmly. Check wire doesn't loop over itself here, turn it straight if needed. Using pliers to pull a stubbern loop through firmly helps.

If your wire does kink, using pointy nose pliers loosen wire back through beads and re-shape to straighten out.

Thread wire back through the two leg beads (this will either be fiddly or easy) and pull firmly.

Repeat on other side and continue with your body beads.

If for some reason, you find you are running out of wire, the leg is a good place to join on a new piece. Thread on the 2 leg beads, foot bead and spacer. Instead of looping wire back through the foot bead, thread a new longer piece of wire through the spacer and foot bead, add a crimper bead to the two wire ends to seal. (Make sure crimper is firm). Trim as close as you can. Now continue with making the foot.

My granddaugter likes to pose them and stacks them on top of one another.

If you want to include them on a card, they can be flattened, and posed later if you want to. I have made different sizes, and on the smaller sizes, I used 6mm beads and approximately 95 cm of wire.

Fold wire in half and this is the first beads position, for the nose.

Threading both ends of wire through your next 2 beads, it's easier if you thread 2 beads near the end of one wire, thread the second wire through, and pull ends, make sure the wire doesn't fold over on itself and form a kink, keeping the wire even on both sides. This is easier than it sounds and doesn't take long to get the hang of. As you go along it gets easier as the wire becomes shorter.

If you are using larger beads, say 8-10mm I would use 182 cm of wire. Although you may have to join, as I have occasionally had my wire break (very annoying), it is better if you don't have to. I have found some brands of wire better to use than others as they are more flexible and tend not to kink as much as others.

If you enjoy beading, these are worth the effort and can be made in many different sizes and colors. if you have a football fanatic as a friend or family member, could be made as a mascot or as a key ring in the colors of their team.

A couple of links you might enjoy:

How to Make an Angel Decoration with Beads

An Easy Bead Spider to Make