I am currently completely obsessed with perler beads. Their little plastic beads that come in a million colors, that you design into shapes and iron together to make your “art”.
I say “art” because this form of craft has been relegated to the summer camp activity list and the “suitable for children under 10” section of basically every craft store. But it’s soooooooo “fun”. Okay, I say “fun” because it’s actually pretty time consuming, but in a zen kind of way. You have to place the beads one at a time (and they are small) to get your design created.
But once you do, YAY!
Every time I tell someone I love perler beads, they reply, “oh, I remember playing with those as a kid with my mom. How cute.” I usually give them the side eye for several reasons.
Mainly, because I never had any such thing as a child and I totally feel my calling could have been met at age 8. But let’s face it, my parents would have been finding those little plastic beads all over our house for years to come, so I can’t blame them.
But then they see what I made and want me to make them something. More side eye ensues.
Right now since I’m going to Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, all of my focus has been on nerdy style bead designs (surprise, surprise!), as the craftform lends itself very well for 8-bit designs.
But I feel it would be remiss, to not show off some of the cool things other people of the internet are creating.
NECKLACES!
https://www.instagram.com/p/uuCyLSKCZu/
DREAMCATCHERS!
https://www.instagram.com/p/00fXTKkdal/
POP ART!
https://www.instagram.com/p/-A5zNmCTUy/
CUTE AF CARDS!
RINGS AND FIGURINES!
DRINK COVERS!
BOWLS!
https://www.instagram.com/p/z5iJUMkdf_/?taken-by=phaellan
INTRICATE COASTERS!
INTRICATE WALL ART!
https://www.instagram.com/p/0Kr9rFBBX_/
INTRICATE ELEPHANTS! (there are actually a lot versions of this out there)
https://www.instagram.com/p/vULXqtDDOA/
ADORABLE KEY CHAINS!
https://www.instagram.com/p/2q-c0MKaiW/
PHOTOS OF LOVED ONES!
EARRINGS!
URBAN FAIRY HOUSES!
Pretty awesome stuff, right? Now that you’ve joined #TeamPerler, send me pics of all the great stuff you make. Even if it is with your mom.
Allons-y!