How to Make the Perfect Father’s Day Notebook Cover Using Perler Beads

Who doesn’t like perler beads? In addition to being fun to create with, they help to build a child’s eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills as well as color recognition. Design options are unlimited—follow a pattern or create a random, free form  design. The young artist can use perler beads to make a notebook cover for the perfect Father’s Day gift.

Gather these supplies:

• Perler beads
• 5½” x 5½” perler bead grid
• Perler bead tweezers—these aren’t absolutely necessary, but make it easier to place the beads on the grid
• 3″ x 5″ notebook
• Household iron
• Parchment paper
• E6000 adhesive
• Notebook Cover Templates

Let’s make a Father’s Day Notebook Cover:

1. Select a perler bead pattern from the Notebook Cover Templates, or design a pattern of your own. I used the Mirrored Dad Template because I’m the worst perler bead ironer. So by using a mirrored template I can iron on the top side which never looks crisp, and turn the design over.
2. Begin placing beads on the grid according to your selected pattern. If you’re designing your own it should be 15 beads wide and 23 beads high.
3. Continue placing beads until the design is complete.
4. Cover the perler beads and grid with a piece of parchment paper.
5. Set a household iron on a dry, medium heat setting. Continually move the iron in a circular motion over the design until the beads begin to melt and fuse together.
6. Carefully remove the parchment paper, then take the fused design off the grid. If the design is warped, lay it on a flat surface under a heavy book while it cools.
7. Use E6000 or similar strong adhesive to glue the perler bead cover to the notebook.
8. Present your gift to dad on Father’s Day.