Perler Biggie Beads "Candy" bracelet

[SunflowerSmiles]

So I was cruising Pinterest the other day and found a great little tutorial to melt perler beads and make a little bracelet.(http://craftandcreativity.com/blog/2012/05/25/meltedbeads/ I want to give credit where credit is due.. )
I wanted to share with my Craftster friends what I did to make these using the perler Biggie Beads.

  I used the larger Biggie Beads,instead of the little ones in the tutorial on the nets, which are easier for my hands to get a hold of. Heat your oven to 250 degree F. for these larger beads. The smaller ones you heat to 200F. Line a pan with aluminum foil or parchment..line your perler beads like this

 and place them in the oven and keep an eye out..mine took about 15 minutes to look like this.

 There was no odor but put a fan on just in case. Pull them out...let them cool. When mine were hot I smushed them a bit with a magazine but you don't have to do that. I strung mine with the Stretch Magic cord and easy peasy, a little "candy" bracelet.

 This would be a great project for girls (or boys!) with supervision with the oven, of course. Easy little beads to make, inexpensive and they or you! can string to their/your hearts content.
 

[Antidigger]

I love the way you've changed the shape of these beads and they do look like candy.

[fiddlegirl8]

SunflowerSmiles!  I love these beads and absolutely love love love your candy bracelet!  I'm definitely going to try this myself - I just think the end result is the cutest bracelet EVER!  I hit This Rocks, because it does!   

[ChelseaLou]

Wow I never thought of melting those for a bracelet! Great job! The colors really make it look awesome!

[SunflowerSmiles]

Thanks!!!   the tutorial I found on Pinterest used the little ones that you normally see in projects..I couldn't believe I found these Biggie Beads <---that's the name I wanted to try those little ones but my hands have such a time with those little things. The little ones have a lot more colors but these are so easy to do!

fiddlegirl...awww thanks!

If you guys try this, let me know how the little ones work...I'm really interested to see. Remember though to turn down the heat and not leave them in as long. Those bigger beads are pretty thick and need more time.

[puamelia]

Oh so cute! I think my 3yr old would try to eat them tho!

[SunflowerSmiles]

Oh so cute! I think my 3yr old would try to eat them tho!

eep!  yes...they do look like little lifesavers!  the tub says over 4 years...

[charlesgerhart]

This candy bracelets is looking really cool and funky yet trendy..It is colorful so matches on every dress..They look cool on everyone..

[EvolveDragonfly]

I really want to make these. I bought some regular brand name Perler beads, and I also found a little 'starter pack' at the dollar store I thought I'd try out. The beads in each look exactly alike but they do melt differently! I read one tutorial that said the beads would melt just fine laying on their sides. (This didn't work for me, the beads just squished down and closed themselves from the heat.) I also did mine on 400 for 5 mins because I thought that's what the tutorial said, I'll try 200 next time.

Anyways my question is, in the tutorial I saw the holes in the beads got big - when I did it this time they just seemed to get kinda fat with small holes, kinda like yours. Any reasons behind this? I really liked the thinner looking beads. Not sure what to do to get those kind instead. Maybe someone knows?

Edit with my findings:
I tried a few at 200 F for 15 mins and it did nothing to them at all. Without taking them out I bumped the heat to 350 for 10 more mins and they melted into little donuts, the holes are probably too small for anything but a needle. I just want the ones with bigger holes like these: http://craftandcreativity.com/blog/2012/05/25/meltedbeads - I will keep trying =/

[SunflowerSmiles]

Anyways my question is, in the tutorial I saw the holes in the beads got big - when I did it this time they just seemed to get kinda fat with small holes, kinda like yours. Any reasons behind this? I really liked the thinner looking beads. Not sure what to do to get those kind instead. Maybe someone knows?

The beads I used were the larger beads called "biggie" beads by perler. The thickness of the plastic is more so when melted it makes a smaller hole. I also squished them down with a book after they came out to make them a bit flatter.  The larger thicker perler beads need higher heat to melt. They did nothing for me at the lower heat.



maybe not leaving them in as long? My guess, is the thickness of the plastic on the smaller beads is much less so when melted you would get a bigger hole. My guess would be they were left in a bit too long? and melted too much?

I've not tried the smaller perler beads so I'm really clueless but let me know what you find out!  

[EvolveDragonfly]

I tried again tonight, still not getting the results I want. Maybe I'm using the wrong beads? Maybe I have to try the mini hama beads. They're just hard to get a hold of because they're basically only sold in the UK it seems. Here's what I did tonight:

1. Stood up beads on the tray, already in the oven.
2. Set the oven to 400 F.
3. Sat, watched them melt.

I can't remember how long it took, maybe 8 mins? But they started melting around 330 F. I let them keep going for a few more mins and they just kinda melted down into thick donuts, not rings. I'm asking around in some craft groups on Facebook that I'm in if anyone has had any experience, but I'm not sure I'll get replies. I might have to suck it up and deal with the donut-y beads


Edit:
I also didn't use any papers - just straight on my baking tray. And also, I tried it once on tin foil and they melted right to it!

[SunflowerSmiles]

 I was looking really close to the picture and it looks to me (on the tutorial) that maybe a some kind of skewer was used to open the hole. I don't know. Looks like it to me but it doesn't look like the beads were moved off the tray. Maybe contact the gal who did the tutorial?

Maybe try a wood skewer and see if it works? I can't imagine why it wouldn't but you have to make sure you don't burn the crud out of your fingers.  

try a lower heat and make sure your oven is heated to the correct temp first before you put them in. If your putting them in, then heating your oven the temperature can be too unpredictable and not melt the beads correctly. Too much cooling and heating.

I don't know...totally stumped on this.  I would go for the wood skewer. 

[pinkfrizz]

Oooo I never thought of changing the shape of the perler beads like that! It's cute, I like it!

[mammacandoit]

how fun! They look JUST like candy to me!

[white_lilyblossom]

That is really cute! Both adorable looking and clever. And it really does look like candy!

[sweets4ever]

Congrats!!

You're a Craftster Best of 2012 Winner!



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