Information

[jrrah4903]

Awesome!! TFS

[Ayla]

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.

Thanks for explaining what Perler beads are....I was trying to find them! lol

[ScrappyDistractions]

A friend showed me this las week.  Very cool!  Thanks for sharing since we all love our dots

[scrappininAK]

so cool - TFS - I'll have to try this

[suewho372]

How cute are those! Thanks for sharing!

[JillinIN]

That's so cool!! I can't wait to try this.
Thanks for sharing.

[1grandma]

THS!  I am going to try this.  Love the looks of dots, but really can't afford them. 

[Steakgoddess]

I did this as well a few days ago. Perler beads work great!

[cajenkins81]

I did this as well a few days ago. Perler beads work great!

OOh these are pretty! I think I like the look better from the perler beads. I'll have to check into getting some. would LOVE to have some White dots, and pinks. Oh and of course blues and greens. heck, I want them all! haha. Thanks for sharing! 

[cajenkins81]

I did this as well a few days ago. Perler beads work great!

What temp did you bake these for? And how long? can you double stack to get larger sized oneS? 

[Justie S.]

Very interesting never thought you could make homemade enamel dots. Pretty cool but I don't use any enamel dots on my layouts. I don't have the need for them. But it does look cool.

[DN in MN]

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. 
 

I was thinking the Perler would work awesome.  I have a ton of them.  May have to try it out this weekend.

[MacSarah]

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.

Thanks for explaining what Perler beads are....I was trying to find them! lol

For some reason I thought they were called Hamma beads...  Cool.

[redsonic20]

Another tip...Many people who are using wax or parchment paper are having issues with scorching.  Some have suggested using the Ranger craft mat instead.

[scrapy1967]

I think it was the parchment paper smelling not the beads. Mine turned brown.

[Steakgoddess]

[quote="cajenkins81"][/quote]

It will probably vary depending on your oven. I did a few test batches. I found that 325 for 25-30 minutes worked best for me. Too high of a temp and the beads melt and keep a little hole in the top.

I haven't tried double stacking yet. I also want to try cutting them in half and see if that will make the tiny ones.

[lesmitch]

would parchment paper work, cause wax paper in oven always makes a smell along with smoke normally.

[butterfly843]

I've been saving this idea to try once it warms up a little more here so I can open the windows while doing it.

[suewho372]

I'm trying this out as we speak it is taking longer than I thought it would but I have a gas oven so I bumped the heat a bit

well mine didn't work. I tried some metallic pony beads as that is what Walmart had maybe the regular ones would work

[scrapy1967]

Can not wait to see how yours turn out. I am very happy with mine. I used them on a layout and it can not tell the difference between those and the store bought.