You can iron Perler beads with foil! This is a great technique to use when you want to create a freeform design or shape with your Perler beads. The foil acts as a mold, helping to hold the beads in place while you iron them.
To start, tear off a large piece of aluminum foil. You want it to be big enough to form into a dish shape that will fit your desired design. If you’re worried about the foil losing its shape, you can place it inside an oven-safe bowl or dish to help it hold its form.
Next, give the inside of the aluminum foil dish a light coating of vegetable oil. This will help prevent the Perler beads from sticking to the foil while you iron them. You can use a cooking spray to easily and evenly apply the oil.
Now comes the fun part – arranging the Perler beads in the foil dish! You can get creative and place the beads in any configuration you like. You can make a simple design or create a more intricate pattern. The choice is yours!
Once you’re happy with the arrangement of the beads, it’s time to iron them. Preheat your iron to a medium heat setting. Place a piece of parchment paper or ironing paper over the beads to protect both the beads and the iron.
Carefully iron over the parchment paper, applying even pressure. Start with short bursts of heat, slowly increasing the time as the beads start to fuse together. Be sure to iron all areas of the beads to ensure they are fully melted and fused together.
Once you’re satisfied with the melting and fusing of the beads, let them cool for a few minutes. Once they have cooled, carefully remove the foil dish from the beads. The foil should easily peel away from the fused beads, leaving you with your finished design.
And that’s it! You’ve successfully ironed Perler beads with foil. This technique allows you to create unique and custom shapes that may be difficult to achieve with traditional Perler bead pegboards. Have fun experimenting with different designs and enjoy the process of creating with Perler beads!