Cute and Creative Cat

Hey y'all -

Ok, all you Cat Fanatics out there unite (myself included) because we have a CUTE, CUTE, CUTE kitty to make today. But, first you need supplies.

I usually use about a 4-6mm round tube or rice bead for the body, but you can use rounds and ovals as well. The important thing is that your bead fits your 2 bead caps for attaching the legs. You don't want the bead caps to stick out very far on either side of the bead, but at the same time, you don't want the bead to be so fat, that it swallows the bead caps and the cats head. NOTE: Your 2 bead caps MUST have holes in them, or you will not be able to attach the legs.

The cat's head used here is a pewter one that measures 7x9mm. Also, you will need 4 silver tube beads and 4 headpins for the legs, and a strand 3-4mm Czech glass (or 20 Swarovki crystals if you would like more bling!). Here's a picture checklist for you:

NOTE: You can also come into the store and ask for a premade kit, or I will be happy to help you pick out your supplies.

Alright, now that we have our parts, lets put him together!

Step 1: LEGS - Cut your strand of glass and pull out 8 beads, and your 4 silver tube beads. The assembly for each leg is one Czech glass (or Swarovki) bead, one silver tube bead, then one more Czech glass bead all on one headpin. Then you want to make a wrapped loop to attach it to bead caps. Refer to my last post for a video to help with your wrapped loop making. Repeat with all four legs. See pix.

Step 2: TAIL - For this part, you will need approx. 10 inches of 20 gauge wire. With this, you want to make a small loop at the end using your chain nose pliers. This creates a very long headpin to assemble all of your kitty's body parts, starting with the tail and working up. Put on 10-12 Czech glass beads, then the bottom legs with the bead cap opening upward or towards the body bead. After your body bead you will then want to put on the top legs with the bead cap opening downward, and finally, the cat head.

Step 3: FINISHING - After putting him together you will want to make another wrapped loop at the very top, above his head, and you can either make the loop big enough to put on a chain or cord, or what I like to do is attach a lobster clasp, so that you can hook him on a purse or keychain. The very last thing you want to make sure you do is bend his tail up and curl it around so that he looks like any other cat...UP TO NO GOOD! LOL! Here's the final pic.

Well, that's all for today, but I want to leave you with a quote from a neighbor's bumper sticker,

"Dogs have Owners, Cats have Staff."

Thanks again, and pet your cats for me - Shelby