Hama Mini Beads

Ok so I've been playing around Hama Mini beads... While very fiddly they actually look really cool.. I started with a Hama Mini Mario Mushroom and it actually looks really good... Took about an hour to complete (yes I know that's AGES) but I think it turned out well!!

Oil Drum & Fire Donkey Kong Photo Frame

Finally it has arrived! My first attempt at a bead sprite photo frame... I'm honestly starting to think that mini beads would be more productive for this, however... I will post up the picture of the photo frame and hopefully another one will be soon on the way

Additional Spritey Fun!

Ok so I've been playing around with different sprites and came up with the following...

Donkey Kong!! He is by far my favourite bead sprite so far... I used brown, black, rust and cream from the Perler Bead range and I think it worked out well... In hindsight I think that I should have used rust where brown was and brown where rust is... but no love lost... Perler Pal was saying to use Rust and orange as the main colour but that was just too bright for me...

Everyone loves Hello Kitty.... everyone... you know you do!! I think she turned out really well and I really like the bow... I chose to ignore the colours perler pal was throwing out and opted to stick with just Raspberry, White and Black...

This is the cow from Harvest Moon.... you know... when you brush her? So cute!! Though I'm not sure about the colouring.... PerlerPal seems to have come up with some bizarre colour combinations... so if I redo it, I think I might do her all cream and brown instead of white and cream and brown and dark brown... and I want to make a mini one for photo frames... I will definately post it up if I get a chance to complete one... I think it will be a big hit!!

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Bead Sprites

Howdy!

The intention of this blog is to share my personal bead sprites, as well as providing handy tips and tricks in making your own Bead Sprites.

So, I hear you ask, What are bead sprites? Ok we shall start at the beginning... as its usually a good place to start!!

Once upon a time a company came up with a new invention, now I'm not sure which company came up with the idea first but there are a few big name companies that manufacture them now... Hama Beads and Perler Beads. Now Hama beads are sold predominantly in Europe, more specifically Denmark. They have around 50 colours and come in 3 sizes, Mini beads (for ages 10+), Midi Beads (these are the most popular beads and are recommended for ages 4+) and Maxi beads (which are for 2-3 year olds). Perler Beads only come in one size (Midi Bead equivalent of Hama Beads) and come in around 50 or so colours. There is also a smaller company called Photopearls (or sometimes called Nabbi Beads) and they come in abour 30-40 colours.

Since these big companies sell their products for up to $12 per 1000, smaller companies have started to sell them as well... Ikea brought out a range of Pssyla Beads which come in a 10 000 plastic jar and have 10 colours. And a few chinese manufactures sell Fuse beads.. however these are of much lower quality to the Hama or Perler beads and if you mix bead brands to get a rainbow of colours you might find they melt at different rates and therefore give you a lopsided bead sprite.

The Beads you could iron and they would fuse together to create a cool design. Usually they would be found in daycare centres, after school programs and homes with children over the age of 6. I, however, use them to create all sorts of geeky things.

As I will show you, Bead Sprites are not only easy to make, but can bring back all those cool 8-bit memories from your childhood!!

I started making bead sprites as I couldn't find anyone who sells them.... Plenty of people sell the beads, but no one sold completed products. So I thought, Hey I can do this! And here I am. Since I started making bead sprites I've come across a few forums and a handful of Etsy sellers who sell their products but with high postage costs to Australia I figured it would easier to just make my own you know?

I have attached a couple of the sprites I have done. They range from Space Invaders to Mario enemies to Lemmings!

Now this one is my favourite!! Blackmage in 8 bit! It took me about an hour to make, and while I didn't get the colour just right.. I still think it looks cool :o) I used the Blue, Black, Yellow and Orange from the Pyssla beads (Ikea Brand) to make this.

Here are my Big and Little Blocker Lemmings... Again I was using the Pssyla Beads from Ikea. In Blue, White, Green and Black.

Arghhhh a ghost!!! Run PacMan, Wakka Wakka Wakka Wakka... LOL I loved PAC MAN as a kid and I still love it today... I used Red, Yellow, White and Black from the Pssyla Ikea Range.

And a koopa shell :D I actually think this one turned out really well... I have since made a green shell as well to complete the set!!!

Ha Ha Time for Revenge!!! Go Get Em PacMan!!