Serena Neel tells PEOPLE how TikTok comments inspired her to turn a nostalgic ’90s craft into a giant pool noodle lizard
Credit: Serena Neel
NEED TO KNOW
- Las Vegas content creator Serena Neel went viral after making a 40-foot beaded lizard out of about 120 pool noodles, inspired by a classic ’90s craft.
- The project was sparked by TikTok comments after she first posted a 6-foot version made with 8,500 traditional beads.
- The giant lizard was so large she rented a U-Haul to transport it to a pool, where it surprisingly floated perfectly.
With the ’90s making a comeback, Serena Neel felt there was one iconic trend she needed to revive. So the 28-year-old Las Vegas-based content creator decided to recreate a classic childhood craft: the beaded lizard.
At first, she settled on crafting a 6-foot version using 8,500 traditional beads. But after posting the finished result on TikTok to her more than 8 million followers, viewers quickly chimed in with a new idea.
"So many people in my comments asked for a bigger one made with pool noodles cut into beads, so I decided to spend a few days making a 40-foot one," Neel tells PEOPLE exclusively.
The design, she says, is her own — inspired by the proportions of the original beaded lizards but dramatically scaled up.
To bring the massive project to life, Neel tracked down $1 pool noodles at Five Below, buying about 120 of them from several locations around Las Vegas, where she lives. Along with rope and the cost of renting a U-Haul to transport the giant creation, the total project came to just under $200.
“I knew I needed a U-Haul halfway through the project when just the body nearly filled my living room,” she says. “I also didn’t want a massive wet lizard in my car after it took a swim in the pool, so a U-Haul was the best option.”
Credit: Serena Neel
When it came time to bring the creation to the pool, Neel says it wasn’t especially heavy and she was able to transport it herself. Once she arrived, she says workers preparing the public pool for the season couldn’t help but stop and stare.
“I’m sure they’ve seen lots of things in Vegas, but nothing like that!” Neel says.
Even so, when it was finally time to place the giant lizard in the water, she admits she had her doubts.
“I didn’t think it was going to work,” she says with a laugh. “But it floated perfectly — even with the wind advisory.”
@serenaneel I think it wants to go swimming 🦎☀️ #diy #craft making a giant 40 ft beaded lizard out of pool noodles
♬ original sound – Serena Neel
For Neel, the response online has been just as rewarding as seeing the project come to life. Since posting the creation on TikTok, the video has racked up more than 24 million views and over 12,000 comments.
"I feel like this could be a world record 😂," one user commented.
"When she said Giant I didn’t expect THAT giant," another added.
Someone else chimed in, "Where u gonna put that thing."
“I love that it’s something unique and that it brought joy to so many people,” she says. “I received tens of thousands of comments and thousands of messages from people sharing how happy it made them.”
@serenaneel It loves swimming 🙂↕️🦎 #craft #diy taking my giant 40 ft pool noodle lizard swimming at @Red Rock Casino Las Vegas
♬ original sound – Serena Neel
Speaking to PEOPLE, Neel explains that she’s no stranger to crafting.
She says she’s created plenty of other oversized projects, joking that her house is “basically a craft museum at this point.” For now, the giant lizard is rolled up on her back patio, where it will remain until its next adventure — which she hopes might include a trip to the Bellagio fountains.
"It always surprises me when these large projects actually work! I wing it almost all of the time and hope for the best!" she says.
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