Emily's friend Caroline came over for a play-date, and after playing with their American girl dolls (they love to play that together) they did this melty bead craft for ages. I had to warn them to stop when there was only 30 minutes left - so they could still go outside & run in the sprinklers, like they had planned!
Emily first got a small set in her Christmas stocking, but then we found this giant tub of the beads at IKEA - so now they do them all the time. Jane even likes to play too - she just stacks hers in a pile and gets them on the floor, but she thinks she's being included, so she's happy.
Step One - Place the beads on the plastic shapes. Make whatever pattern you'd like.
Emily first got a small set in her Christmas stocking, but then we found this giant tub of the beads at IKEA - so now they do them all the time. Jane even likes to play too - she just stacks hers in a pile and gets them on the floor, but she thinks she's being included, so she's happy.
Step One - Place the beads on the plastic shapes. Make whatever pattern you'd like.
They were so focused. They each made several little things. Em made a person, a J in a circle for Jacob, a circle "baby jewel" for Jane & a bee.
Step Two - Cover the design.It comes with paper to cover it with - but I prefer to use parchment paper (the regular baking one). I found the other stuff left a residue on my iron.
Step Three - Iron for a few seconds until the beads melt together.
Step Four - Let cool on the tray for a minute. Gently peel up when cool.
Ta-Da! Emy's little bee.
Although Jane was awake this day - but it's another "quiet time" activity we recommend.
5 comments:
Ben used to love those Hama beads and would spend hours filling the whole template with a picture, only for him to move and knock them all off...every.single.time. We hardly ever got as far as ironing them!
We had a summer when McKinlay and Adam made dozens of those. THey still do it occasionally....I agree, a great activity!
M loves these too. My problem is what to do with the dozens of flowers and bees and butterflies and other shapes she has made! We've just got a stash of them in one of her toy drawers...
Caroline loves her creations. Thanks for a great playdate!
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