Crafts & Fun

You will need: 3 lengths of yarn, each about 25 cm (10-in.) long 1 30 cm (12-in.) long pipe cleaner 1 button 1 16 to 20 mm (5/8 to ¾ in.) wooden macramé bead 1 15 cm (6-in.) long pipe cleaner 4 pony beads 28 dazzle beads (approx.) 2 permanent markers 1. Tie the ends of one of the pieces of yarn together to form a loop. Bend the long pipe cleaner in half and poke one end into the yarn loop so that the doubled pipe cleaner is hanging from it. 2. Thread the button onto the pipe cleaner ends and slide it up to the yarn loop. Thread on the wooden head bead, too. 3. To make the arms, place the short pipe cleaner just below the head bead, between the doubled long pipe cleaner. 4. Thread the four pony beads onto the doubled pipe cleaner and slide them up to the arms. They will hold the arms in place. 5. Separate the doubled pipe cleaner to create the legs. Thread about eight dazzle beads onto each leg and about six onto each arm. 6. To create hands and feet, bend back the pipe cleaner ends and tuck each into the last bead. 7. To finish, draw on a cheerful face. Tie the other two pieces of yarn under the button hat to make hair. Hang up your Bead Buddy!

Originally published on Todaysparent.com - November 2003