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Create a cute beaded turtle keychain or keyring with pony beads and cord. The pattern also works nicely for crafters looking for a sea turtle or tortoise project, giving you plenty of ways to make your amphibian friend your own.
Surprisingly simple to make, this beaded turtle takes shape one row at a time with just pony beads, cord and a little looping and knotting. Attach the finished turtle to a key ring, backpack, beach bag or zipper pull, make one as a handmade gift for a turtle or sea turtle lover, or use the pattern for summer camp, classroom and group crafts. It can also be made in school colors for a turtle mascot or made in quantity for school, club and group fundraisers.
Looking for a different turtle? We have other beaded turtle keychain patterns too, including designs with different shapes and styles. Take a look at the other turtles and choose the one that looks most like the turtle, sea turtle, water turtle or tortoise you have in mind.
If you make this project please share your photos with us. With your permission we'll add it to the page and credit it to you.
Googly eyes are also known as wiggle eyes, and not all of them have to be glued in place. While the familiar flat-backed versions can be glued onto a project, some wiggle eyes have a shank on the back, much like a button, so they can be sewn onto fabric and other materials.
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 turtle.
There are lots of different types of cords you can use. We prefer a cord that is 1mm to 2mm thick because it helps your turtle keychain critter keep it's shape better. Alternatively, you can use a thinner cord and weave a little wire or a pipe cleaner into your keychain critter 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 good choices would be jute or hemp cord, leather necklace cord, rattail cord, shoelaces, ribbon, paracord, or a strong jewelry cord like tigertail.
Beads needed:
2 - Black Pony Beads for the eyes.
54 - Green Pony Beads. Green glitter pony beads or transparent green pony beads would also work well for your turtle.
29 - Brown Pony Beads. Gold glitter pony beads or transparent champagne colored pony beads would also work well for your turtle.
Other Things Needed:
GlueOptional: For a stiffer critter you can include a little wire or a pipe cleaner with your cord to help keep it's shape
Beading Wire
OR
Pipe Cleaners
3. After finishing the pattern tie a double knot in the cords at the bottom and apply tacky glue to secure.
4. Weave your wire or pipe cleaner through your beaded turtle keychain to make it stiffer and hold it's shape. You probably only need to do this on the first or second row.
(Seed beads or E beads can be used in place of pony beads to create smaller characters.)
