Instructions:

1. Condition clay until it is soft and pliable.
2.  Body: Shape two ¼” size balls of Sahara into tapered logs. Add flattened caramel balls for spots. Roll a small Black ball and press flat between your finger and thumb. Add to the bottom of the leg for a hoof. Press the legs to the body.
3.  Head: Shape a 3/8” ball of Sahara into a rounded triangle. Roll a small ball and add to the front of the triangle for the snout. Add spots as desired. With the toothpick poke two holes for eyes and drop in beads. Press the head to the top of the neck. Flatten tiny balls and add to the side of the head for ears. Shape tow small caramel balls into tapered logs for horns add to the top of the head. Roll thin black logs and add to the top of the head for hair.
4.  Press the eye pin down thru the top center of the head into the body.
5.  Beads: Roll a log of Sahara ¼” diameter by 4” long. Flatten small balls of caramel between your fingers and apply to the log. Roll the log back and forth on the work surface to set the spots and smooth. Cut six ½” sections. Shape the remaining clay into a rectangle. Press holes into the beads with the toothpick. Press a hole in top of the rectangle bead.
6.  Bake the beads and giraffe according to the manufacturer’s recommended baking instructions. Allow to cool completely.
7.  Necklace assembly: cut three strands of cording 40” long. Tie a knot in the center. We will be using simple half knot and square knots. Notice that you have three strands to work with. One on each side of the center. Place the right cord over the center and under the left cord. Now place the left cord under the center and up thru the loop on the right. This is a half knot. A square knot is just the reverse of the half knot starting on the left instead of on the right. (One “right” half knot and one “left” half knot equal a square knot.
8.  Make a square knot about ½” from the center knot. String a bead onto the center cord and then make another square knot. Repeat this step two more times. Finish with two square knots at the end of the third bead.
9.  Tie a standard knot about ½” above the last square knot.
10. Because of the knotting you will notice that you have three lengths of cording at the end. With all three strands tie a knot approximately ½” down from the shortest cord. Tie a loop with the longest cord. Pull all knots very tight. Clip the remaining end.
11. To finish the other side, tie a knot using all three strands approximately ½” down from the shortest cord. Thread the longest end up thru the rectangle bead and tie a knot at the top. Pull the knots to secure and trim off excess.
12. For extra security, place craft glue over the knot and allow it to dry overnight. Clip any extra ends with scissors.
13. Attach giraffe pendant to center knot. Note: if adding additional beads, increase the length of the cord.

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