Share your keys with a special visitor. What a cute and unique animal! Easy to make platypus key chains are great to give as gifts or bazaar projects but don't forget to keep one for yourself!
Dive into a craft so whimsical, so delightfully unusual, it’s practically platypus-approved! Meet a little perky platypus, your new favorite tiny, toothless, tail-wagging (well, figuratively) pal made entirely of pony beads and cord. This isn’t just any craft — it’s a splash of joy, a snap of creativity, and a waddle-worthy work of art that fits in the palm of your hand. Some folks make this cute little guy using "Perry"'s colors.(IYKYK)
Perfect for classrooms, birthday party goody bags, or as a quirky keychain jingling on your backpack, this beaded platypus is as versatile as he is adorable. And yes, we’re talking to you, fellow platypus lovers — the ones who know that monotremes are nature’s greatest plot twist. This little beaded buddy is your spirit animal made crafty.
This pattern uses pony beads to create this platypus but you can use faceted beads and even seed beads too if you adjust the size of the cording that is being used.
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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 beaded ghost.
There are lots of different types of cords you can use. We prefer a cord that is about 1 1/2mm to 2mm thick because it helps your keychain keep it's shape better. Alternatively, you could use a thinner cord and weave a little wire or a pipe cleaner into your keychain 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 great choices would be:
1mm Pink Hemp cord,
OR
1.5mm Pink Leather necklace cord,
OR
1.5mm Pink Satin Rattail Cord,
OR
1/8" Pink Satin Ribbon
For ours, we used a 2mm pink cotton jute cord.
Helpful Hint: If your cord end frays easily try dipping it into a little melted wax and smoothing it out with your fingers. This will help prevent fraying and also create a stiffer end for threading into your beads.
Beads needed:
64 - Orange Pony Beads
2 - Black Pony Beads for the eyes
Note: these are the colors we used. You can use these colors or you can make your beaded platypus in whatever colors are perfect for you.
Other Things Needed:
Optional: For a stiffer beaded platypus you can include a little wire or a pipe cleaner with your cord to help keep it's shape
Beading Wire
OR
Pipe Cleaners
2. Begin threading the beads onto the cord following the pattern below. You can click on the image at the top of the page for a larger, better resolution photo.
3. After finishing the pattern you will notice that your cords do not end at the same place. You can either bring them around and tie them together at the bottom with a double knot or surgeon's knot but we found it looked better to tie each one off at the ends of the last row. Add a little glue to each knot to prevent them from unraveling.
(Optional) Weave your wire or pipe cleaner through one of the widest rows near the top of your beaded bat keychain to make it stiffer and hold it's shape.
Follow the same pattern using seed beads or E beads in place of pony beads to create smaller characters and create a great pair of earrings or a necklace pendant.
80 - Pink Pony Beads
Glue
