Melting Beads

This is a tutorial for using Perler aka Hama aka Pyssla beads in making a cute little versatile plastic bow (key chain - the plastic bow can be super glue gunned to a piece of magnet to create a magnet, or used as a wrapping bow, glue gunned to a barrette ... infinite possibilities.)

Strange that IKEA would sell such a thing but they do! It is also one of the cheapest places too. The bucket of beads from IKEA is a great starter kit for those wanting to give this form of arts and crafts a try.

The possibilities of these plastic bead creations are basically ... infinite. Key chains, coasters, barrettes, jewelry, cake toppers, ornaments, containers, magnets, checker board set ... like I said ... infinite.  

What you will need: 
1. Plastic Beads
- purchased from IKEA or any arts and crafts store for similar brands/ types of beads

2. Peg board
- comes in different shapes and sizes. I like to purchase the giant plain square to freestyle with. The large white one I use comes with a large circle in a package from De Serres. Michaels also carries the large peg boards and is great when they have the 40% off coupon, however, their stock is pretty low on something this specific sometimes

3. Parchment paper
-  just a little bit and can be reused again and again forever

4. Iron (the one for clothes)

5.Giant safety pin or needle or pin
- to poke out the beads from the individual peg if you make a mistake

6. Heavy textbook or phone book
- to place on top of the beaded creation while it cools down to prevent it from "curling"

7. A jump ring and pebble chain (purchased from Michaels separately in packages) or a piece of magnet,  barrette etc.

Time to Rock and Roll!

Step one: choose a color and do the outline of the bow as below. 

Step two: fill in the bow with a secondary color.

Step three:  READ BEFORE PROCEEDING 

Place a large piece of parchment paper over your creation. It is time to iron! Please ensure your iron is on MEDIUM heat so you wont melt your creation away. No need to press too hard, its not a shirt you're angry at. Iron until the beads are slightly darker through the parchment paper.

Once it is slightly darker time to flip the creation off the board and iron the other side. I like to fold over the parchment paper and sandwich the creation to avoid touching it.

CAREFUL HOTNESS!!!! 

Step four: place the text book or phone book over the creation that is still in/ under the parchment paper. Once its cooled both sides should look like below:

Step five: do what ever you please with the bow!!! Attach the jump ring and pebble chain or glue gun the bow to anything you want it to be!

Now you are on the road to a new arts and crafts addiction! If you do not want to free style your creations you can always Google image search "Perler ___________" like Perler cupcake, Perler bow, Perler bacon ... and trust me images after images will come up and it is up to your little heart's desire to make what ever it pleases!