Information

[scrapy1967]

I have a little tutorial for you all. I saw this on FB last week and had to try it. I love using enamel dots but they are so expensive. This did work but I could only find two sizes of the PONY beads. Pony beads is what I used. I laid them out on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Make sure they are far enough apart to melt separately. Here is the result. I do suggest you open the windows and turn the fans on. The smell is not bad but it does have a melting plastic smell to it. I just made these and the smell is gone already. The dots can be stored on the wax paper and of course you will have to add your own adhesive. bake them on 400 for around ten minutes but be sure and keep an eye on them.
.Before Photo


After pic!

[pawprints]

That's awesome! Thanks for sharing!!

[CarrieG]

I know Mickey has done this...and I TRIED it once but took them out because that is one smell I CANNOT stand...(next to burnt popcorn..lol)
TFS

[need2scrap]

Thanks for sharing Janet!  Too bad I just gave 4 boxes (a little bigger than the old check blank boxes) of the beads to my nieces!!  I will have to pick some more up and give this a try! 

[average_kim]

Wow!  That's awesome!

[Deanna13]

That's cool! I think we may have some of those Pony beads too.

[stateless]

How nifty!  I never would have thought to do that. I'll have to try it - TFS!

[blbabe1234]

AWESOME! Now I want to go buy some and try this!

[MacSarah]

You will need to ventilate well.  They smell horrible while melting.

[cajenkins81]

Thanks for sharing! I was talking with Denise (redsonic) about this the other day actually, but had never heard of it before then! She said that there's another type of beads that works better than the Pony beads tho, and doesn't smell nearly as bad and maybe look a little more like what you would buy. Definitely a neat idea, since I love them so but don't usually want to spend that much money on them! lol 
 

[ernstem]

I've heard Perler beads work better and no strong odor. Haven't tried myself though

[Flasher]

This is so awesome!!!  I have pics of me and the kids at our local amusement park chowing down on Dippin' Dots (little balls of flash frozen ice cream).  I could literally cover a layout in coordinating colors!!!  So excited that I saw this post!

[joannie]

I'm definitely going to try this!thanks!

[emmapaige]

Yes, I heard Perler beads work well.

[sweetsour]

That's awesome, worth a try on a day when you can open all the doors and windows, especially if you already have the beads lying around.
Thanks for the share!

[christinec68]

I recently heard about using Perler beads also. I'm in the 50 layout challenge but once I'm done with that, I'm giving this a whirl. 

[scrapy1967]

I had these lying around but I think I will get some of the perler beads cause I saw some gold ones and give those a try.

[redsonic20]

Perler beads are safer, IMO.  Many people doing the Pony beads are using a toaster oven outside because they have NASTY fumes.  Perler Beads (the ones you melt with an iron) are better because they are intended to be melted AND have a lower melting point.  Those ones cook for way longer to get the perfect dome shape but cook at a lower temp (285 or so) and cook for around 30 minutes (depending on your oven).  I don't think I'd be willing to try the pony beads due to the potential for harmful fumes.  ALSO, you can stack the perler beads to get bigger dots if you don't like the smaller size.

[Sara Scraps]

I think these look really cute! But I KNOW my family would not be okay with burning plastic fumes..I've never seen Pearler (sp?) beads before but I'd be more inclined to  try those if they truly aren't aromatic 

[CherryTat]

I am SO buying some tomorrow. A friend of mine tried it yesterday and posted it on our private FB group - hers turned out well too. Thanks for sharing! I will let you know if mine turned out ok