I have been intrigued with Perler Beads for years, but have never taken the time to play around with them. Well, my friends that all changed this week! I finally caved and bought myself a huge container full of all kinds of cheerful color. I figured even if I wasn’t a fan of the beads, they would be perfect for my kiddos to play with. Well guess what, we all ended up loving them! Today I am sharing how I made these simple and Colorful Perler Bead Coasters.
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Perler Beads | Pegboard | Bead Tweezers
Perler beads are incredibly easy and fun to use and create with.
Note: I really had no plan before starting. I quickly realized you can do fairly then lines with the beads, but if you do vertical lines, you need to do a double thick line. This is so that when you are melting the beads, they can properly melt together.
Step one is creating your colorful patterns. Those beads are so dang tiny, I would HIGHLY recommend using bead tweezers. I didn’t have any while doing this project and about lost my mind 100 times.
Next, carefully cover your design with the paper included with your pegboards.
I gently ironed over the beads in slow circular patterns until the tops of the beads were all melted together.
You can use whichever side of the beads for the coaster that you prefer, but I like having the more melted beads facing down and the crisp circular beads facing up.
Traditionally, I’ve seen people making coasters with perler beads but they are completely filled in. However, I found leaving large negative spaces still worked just as well with condensation from my glasses.
I love seeing the bright color popping out from my glass.
Have you used Perler beads before? What did you make?
I used to LOVE playign with perler beads! But no not as a kid, as an adult when I worked at an after school care/summer camp. You’re never too old! I totally want to go get some and make coasters now
AH! Yay, so glad to hear you love them as an adult, too!!!! I’ve made like 10 coasters with my kids now… we might need to think up a new craft to make with them. 😉
Amy!! These are so fun! I love how the negative space makes them really modern! Love them!
Thank you, Marlene! I was definitely trying to “push the boundaries” with these beads… HA if that’s even possible! I appreciate your kind words. xo