Perler Bead Coasters

Does anybody remember Perler Beads? You know- those fusible beads you would place on pegboards and iron? They were all the rage (or something) back in my after school program in elementary school. They were never very complex, but it was something cheap and fun for kids to do as long as they're old enough not to eat the beads.

Well it turns out they're cool again (maybe?), at least for crafty people who like old video games. Google image search "8 bit perler" or "video game perler" and you'll see a ton of great characters people have recreated. My first creation thus far has been borrowed from this wonderful person. Specifically the chicken. I love that chicken.

Materials & Tools:
- Perler beads
- Peg Board
- Ironing paper (usually you get a few with the purchase of the above, though I'm sure parchment paper would do in a pinch)
- Iron

I purchased my beads in a giant 22,000 bead bucket from a chain craft store. The only downside (for some) is that it's all disorganized and comes with tons of colors you'll probably never use. But I enjoy letting my OCD out once in a while, and can spend a few hours at a time sorting while watching TV.

The peg boards I got at the same craft store. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, though I'm a big fan of the 29x29 boards you can interlock to make something giant. For that chicken, though, I only needed one.

Since someone was awesome enough to post a decent picture of this design I used it as my template. If you can't find one, another good place to look is cross stitch websites, though their designs tend to be more intricate. There are also programs out there you can download or purchase to create your own designs, or you could take a tiny picture of a character you like and zoom in until it gets all pixelated. It's up to you.

The actual construction is very simple as long as you're patient. Go row by row, or color by color, until the design in complete. A pair of tweezers can help speed the process along. Cover with the paper and iron until the beads fuse. If you'd like, glue coarkboard on the back, though it works fine without it.

I find that occasionally the coaster wants to bend- maybe I'm not doing it right- so I let mine cool between two phone books.

Ta-Da:

Bottle Cap Earrings

I borrowed (i.e. stole) the idea for this from a friend of mine, who gave me a pair of Corona caps her little sister had made. Everyone loves bottle cap earrings- except, perhaps, the school where that sister went. Apparently they didn't approve of mixing tweens and alcoholic paraphernalia, and the earrings were banned. That shouldn't stop you from promoting your favorite beer, though.

Required:
-Bottle caps*
-Earring hooks
-Hammer
-Thick Nail
-Pliers
-Scrap Wood

Any bottle cap will do, though obviously twistoffs are easier to prepare. If your beer requires an opener, be careful. Don't use ones that are pointy (I've found this style works best), and don't try and open it in one go. Lift slightly, turn the cap, lift slightly again, etc.

Once you've removed your cap, decide what direction should be up and place the tip of your nail on the inside of the cap. I've found the closer it is to the edge, the easier it will be to attach the loop. Hammer 'til a hole of your liking appears. **NOTE** DO NOT do this on a nice table. To get a decent sized hole you will leave a dent in the surface upon which you are nailing. Hence the scrap wood.

Use the pliers to open the bottom of your earring loop. Slip on the cap and check that it's facing the right direction before closing the gap.


*While the point is to promote what you like, I've found some good graphic caps can be found with: Hitachino's Nest (pictured), Newcastle, New Belgium Brewery, and Rogue.