How to Make Hama Beads
Hama beads are colored plastic beads that allow kids to make colorful designs. Kids place the beads on a pegboard, cover them with a special paper and, with an adult’s help, they iron the beads, which fuses them into a solid picture. Hama beads come in small, medium and large. Small children can manipulate the larger beads and older children can create complex designs with the smaller beads.
Instructions
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Preheat the iron to hot and without steam. Place the beads on the pegboard in the desired pattern. Pattern books are available for purchase with the beads, but any graphed pattern for crafts will work to create a design.
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Lay the ironing paper over the beads. Iron over the paper in a smooth motion using firm, even pressure. The beads will be visible through the paper.
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Lift a corner of the paper. If the beads stick to the paper, iron for a few more seconds to fuse them together.
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Remove the paper when the beads have cooled. Turn the design over on a hard surface, replace the paper and iron the back of the design for added stability.
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Place the finished design under a book or other heavy object to help keep it flat while cooling.
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Tips & Warnings
The pegboard and ironing paper are reusable.
To avoid choking hazards, supervise small children when using the beads. Have an adult do the ironing. Be careful removing the completed project from the pegboard while the project is still hot.
References
- Photo Credit multi-coloured beads, background from beads image by 26kot from Fotolia.com
