How to Make Melty Beads
Known also as Hama beads or Perler beads, these small plastic beads can keep kids busy for hours when arranged on peg boards to make a pattern.melty beads When heated with a iron, they "melt" together and fix into a solid shape. This craft provides a fun way to practice fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness. It also helps children develop cognitive skills through the color-coding and patterning of the beads.
A popular craft for both adults and children, fuse beads have been around since the late 50s.melty beads The fusing process is fairly easy and requires very little skill. There are various brands of beads including Sweden's 'Nabbi', IKEA's 'Pyssla', China's 'Artkal', the UK's 'Hama', Walmart's (crappy) 'Melty Beads', and the most popular American brand 'Perler'.
There are also many different sizes of fuse beads, from the most common 5 mm size to a variety of smaller options.melty beads Some have a translucent appearance and others come in glitter, glow-in-the-dark and more. They are all made from food grade LDPE (low-density polyethylene), and they have a low melting point to allow for quick and easy fusing.
While there are many benefits to using fuse beads, they are not without their drawbacks.melty beads For example, the heat from the iron is required to melt the beads, but if too much is applied it will ruin the project and can cause burns. It is also important to check the design periodically to see if it has been melted enough, especially at the edges. It may take a while for the entire design to be fully fused, so patience is key!
To avoid these issues, it is best to use a specialized sheet of ironing paper when making a Perler bead project. This protects the iron from moisture and allows for a more even heat distribution. Also, it is a good idea to remove the iron at intervals and check the design every five seconds or so until all of the beads have been melted. Also, if you have an iron that has steam function, it is recommended to turn this feature off, as this can affect the outcome of the fuse bead project.
Another benefit of using fuse beads is that they are very easy to clean up. They do not stain clothes or damage surfaces and are easy to hoover up if there is a spillage. This makes them an ideal activity for children to do on their own or in a group with friends.
One of the most popular uses for fuse beads is to create a picture. The picture can be taken from a book or computer, or children can create their own. Once the picture has been completed, it is a great way to display it in the home or classroom. It is also a great craft to send as a gift. Another fun option is to create a 3D picture, like a heart or star. These can be placed in a frame or mounted on a piece of paper to be displayed.