Next week, two days that are symbolic to the freedom of the United States will be celebrated; the first is Labor day, and the second is the remembrance of the attacks on September 11, 2001. As someone who is a New Yorker and patriotic, this gives me yet another opportunity during the year to celebrate our United States flag.
Being that my kids love playing with beads (because they get everywhere), we made United States flag keychains out of pony beads.
For this project you will need:
- a one yard (3 feet) piece of lanyard or satin craft cord
- a keychain ring
- one clear bead (this will represent the stars of the flag, so glitter and decorative ones are okay too)
- nine blue beads
- fifteen white beads
- eighteen red beads
- something to measure with
- a tooth pick
- a scissor
- a lighter
First, measure and cut the cord to the appropriate size.
Then, string the beads on the cord alternating between red and white until you have seven beads (you should start with red and end with red).
After you have the seven beads on the cord, take the end of the opposite side of the cord and thread it through the beads too (so that the cords cross over each other inside the beads).
Then, thread a toothpick through for extra support while you work.
Continue the bead pattern two more times, so that you have a total of three rows of alternating red and white beads.
The next row should be continued by threading three blue beads, followed by a white bead, a red bead, another white bead and another red bead.
The following row should be as follows: a blue bead, a clear bead, another blue bead, a white bead, a red bead, another white bead and another red bead.
The last row should be three more blue beads, followed by a white bead, a red, bead, another white bead and another red bead.
After you are done threading the beads, tie the strings together making a double knot.
Then make another double knot, securing the flag to the keychain ring.
Trim the cord down, and use the lighter to burn the tips together.
When you are done burning the tips together and the flag is secured, you can either remove the tooth pick or trim the tips (I usually trim the tips).
