Fairy Wishes...DIY Enamel Dots..

This is Tilly from Saturated Canary coloured with my Spectrum Noirs.  I used :

Skin  FS2, 3, 9 TN3 CR6
Hair  HB2 TB1, 2, 3
Clothes  BP1, 2, 4 LV2 HB1, 2, 3
Pencils : 72, 79

Homemade Enamel Dots

The enamel dots are homemade using melted beads. I finally managed to make my own after several failed attempts. There are lots of youtube videos showing the technique, but I found I needed a lot of experimentation to get it right.  Here's how I did it :

I'm in the UK and Hama beads did not work.  The only beads that work are Perler beads,  you need to get the actual branded version.  They are not widely avaiable in the UK but the good news is you can get them on Amazon.  I bought a mixed bag of 1000 beads for £2.69 (free P&P).  They took about 2 weeks to arrive from the USA, but I've ordered some more to play with!  The Hobbycraft own brand (which didn't work) cost £2.

Perler beads for £2.69 on Amazon

You will need to use a baking tray or your grill tray lined with a silicone mat.  I tried baking paper (greaseproof) and tin foil which both stuck to the beads.  I also had a lots of beads with dimples in until I tried the craft mat.

Line your beads with the holes face up.

Put in a preheated oven at 190C for 20 minutes, turn your tray around after 10 minutes. The process takes 20 minutes, turning up your oven to high causes your beads to blacken. Don't leave your beads in much longer after twenty minutes, they won't melt anymore than they have already.  If your beads still have dimples after twenty minutes, try another batch at a slightly higher temperature.

Finished beads

Please be aware that Perler do not recommend that you melt their beads in the oven.  Please use common sense and also make sure your kitchen is well ventilated.  There may be an unpleasant smell.