Some Nintendo Perler Bead Art Finds

I didn't make these, some unknown artist did. I found and bought them at a local thrift store Friday afternoon (fifty cents for the whole lot in a gallon Ziploc bag) and just thought I'd share. I got NES Link, GBA Link & Princess Zelda, Kirby, a Pirana Plant, Wario, Luigi, and Princesses Peach (Toadstool) & Daisy. I don't know why, but the cat thought Kirby's star rod was a serious threat or something, because, when I was sitting on the living room couch, unpacking the contents of the bag onto my thigh, she slowly crept up on it and VERY cautiously reached out and slapped the rod with her paw (maybe she was one of King Dedede's minions in a past life). Luigi is missing an entire leg, and there's a few beads gone from some of the others here-and-there as well, but, overall, they're in fairly good shape. I've considered trying to make some Perler bead sprite art many times over the years, but, never did, so, buying some, for a pittance, is the next best thing. If I get ambitious, maybe I'll get some Perler beads and a peg frame and try giving Luigi a new leg (spoiler: I have no ambition, so expect nothing).

I make these a lot for fun and give to friends. Here are a few of mine.

You've been holding out on us! Awesome. Shredder is my favorite (Tournament Fighters or the original NES game?), but they're all great!

I been using the pearler bead patterns and using the wood blocks to make a few with the kids.

Pretty swank, and blocks are a more accurate take on pixels that cylindrical beads to boot! Do you have to paint those wooden blocks, or is it possible to buy them already colored? Perler beads are ironed to make them melt/adhere to one another, so, what do use for these, wood glue? Do you just glue them together, or is there a thin frame/silhouette behind them that you glue them down onto?

M said:

You've been holding out on us! Awesome. Shredder is my favorite (Tournament Fighters or the original NES game?), but they're all great!

Click to expand...

Yeah that's NES TTF Shredder. Good eye! I dont mind making some for members but how do I ship them without them getting wrecked? Thanks for the compliment I really appreciate it!

I've never shipped one, but the projecting bits do seem to be relatively prone to snapping off, so, I would agree that some care should be taken (I've read that ironing both sides, instead of one, makes them sturdier too, but that also hurts the aesthetics a bit in my opinion). If you're using an envelope, maybe sandwich one between two sheets of cardboard (or something else fairly rigid) and then mummify that in bubble wrap and tape, and write "do not bend/fold/spindle/mutilate" on the envelope? A box would probably be safest.

I always heat both sides. It makes them way sturdier.

Love this thread and agree with M that the Shredder is my favorite thus far. However, that Wood Man is pretty amazing in a more sophisticated way.

Yoshi said:

Love this thread and agree with M that the Shredder is my favorite thus far. However, that Wood Man is pretty amazing in a more sophisticated way.

Click to expand...

Thanks bro! Yeah the wood blocks are rad. I might have to try it.