This pony bead heart is such a fun and colourful craft that’s perfect for kids and beginners! Using simple pony beads and cord, you can create a cute heart shape that’s great for keychains, backpack charms, or handmade gifts. The chunky beads make it easy to thread and shape, so it’s a relaxing project that comes together quickly.
This easy pony bead craft is perfect for Valentine’s Day, friendship gifts, or just a fun afternoon activity. You can mix and match colours to create your own unique design, making each heart totally one of a kind.
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How to Make a Pony Bead Heart
Materials:
- Red rattail cord
- Split ring keyring
- Jump rings
- Pony beads (red or other heart colour)
See the craft in action:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Prepare the cord
- Cut a 32 inch piece of rattail cord and use painter’s tape to secure the keychain ring to your working surface.
- Fold the cord so that one end is about 4 inches longer than the other.
- Attach the cord to the jump ring using a lark’s head knot. To do this, slide the loop up through the jump ring and then pull the ends up through the loop.
Step 3: Add the first beads
- To make the pony bead heart keychain we’ll be working with the ends of the cords.For Row 1, start by adding 1 bead to the left cord.
- Then bring the right cord through the right side of the same bead.
- Pull the ends of the cords, bringing the bead right up under the knot.
- Row 2: Add 3 beads in the same way. Pull the cords so the beads are tight under the first row.
- Row 3: Add 5 beads to the left cord.
- Bring the right cord through the 5th bead in the same direction (coming in from the left).
Step 4: Make the right part of the heart
- Add 4 beads to the longer cord. These beads will be separated to form the first 2 rows on the right side of the heart.
- To form these rows, bring the same long cord back through the first 3 beads (coming in from the left).
- Add 4 beads to the same cord.
- Bring this cord back through the first beads in Row 3. (The center bead and the 4 on the left.)
- Now the shorter cord should be coming out near the middle of the heart. Put it through the 4 beads on the right (coming in from the left), so there will be 1 cord on either side of Row 3.
Step 5: Form the bottom of the heart
- Now we’re going to be working normally again, attaching the beads to both cord ends, coming in from opposite directions. For Row 4, add 8 beads.
- Follow the same steps for the remaining rows:Row 5: 6 beads.Row 6: 4 beads.Row 7: 2 beads.Row 8: 1 bead.
- Tie knots on each cord end, as close to the last bead as possible. Then cut off the cord close to the knots.
- Hold a BBQ lighter close to the ends of the cords to melt the ends. This will stop them from fraying.
- Your pony bead heart is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- Make a heart keychain in your favourite colour! Use a traditional Valentine’s colour, make a blue or green heart, or even use glitter or glow in the dark pony beads!
- Only burn the ends of the cord if you’re using rattail, paracord, or another synthetic fiber. DO NOT burn the ends of cotton string, as it will catch fire instead of melting.
What cord is best for making a pony bead heart keychain?
We used 1mm rattail cord to make our heart keychains. We used red cord to match our red beads, and white rattail cord for the rest of the keychains. Rattail is great for pony beads, as it’s strong and will hold up over time, yet it also slides easily through the beads.
You can also use micro paracord or waxed jewelry cord to make these pony bead hearts. You can even use embroidery floss or macrame cord if that’s all you have, though they won’t hold up as well long-term.
What can I do with a pony bead heart?
These pony bead hearts are perfect for turning into keychains, backpack charms, or zipper pulls. They also make great handmade gifts for friends, party favors, or Valentine’s Day treats. You can even hang them as decorations or ornaments.
How do I secure the knots on my pony bead heart?
To finish your pony bead heart, tie each end of the cord in a tight knot. Rattail cord holds knots really well, so this is usually enough to keep everything secure.
To prevent the ends from fraying, carefully melt the tips of the cord (with adult supervision) to seal them. Then for extra security, you can also add a small drop of super glue to the knot.
This pony bead heart is such a fun and easy craft that’s perfect for all ages. With its bright colours and simple pattern, it’s a great project for beginners and a relaxing activity for anyone who loves beading. It’s amazing how a few beads and some cord can come together to create something so cute and satisfying.
Whether you turn your heart into a keychain, share it as a handmade gift, or make a whole collection in different colours, this is a craft you’ll want to make again and again.
Here’s even more heart craft ideas:
Now available
Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
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