DIY: a hot air balloon made from ironing beads

Today we bring you a little DIY that will keep your children busy from the age of 6. But, beyond its purely decorative appeal, this little hot air balloon also has a practical use. It can serve as an earring holder. To make this earring stand, we will be using ironing beads.

Ironing beads are small plastic tubes that melt under heat. You arrange these coloured beads on a plastic pegboard before fusing them together with an iron and a sheet of baking paper. You can use them to make small decorations, keyrings, or even 3D figurines and objects. The best-known brand of ironing beads is Hama.

What materials do you need to make a hot air balloon from ironing beads?

Ironing beads

A pegboard for ironing beads

An iron

Baking paper

A pair of tweezers (optional)

How to make a hot air balloon from Hama beads?

We chose to make a small hot air balloon, but you could also create a different design such as a cactus. To do so, you will need 3 pieces: a base, and two pieces forming the balloon. The three pieces are assembled so that the balloon stands upright.

You will first need to reproduce the 3 following templates, using a pair of tweezers if that feels more comfortable:

Once you have reproduced the templates, cover your designs with a sheet of baking paper. Then iron them on the cotton setting, and importantly without steam.

Once your designs have cooled, you can carefully detach them from the pegboard. You will then need to assemble them.

Slide piece 1 into piece 2. Your hot air balloon is now complete.

To make it stand upright, clip the balloon into the base.

And there you have it — your earring holder is ready!

All that remains is to thread your earrings through the holes and fasten them, then find it a spot where it will look its best.

A few tips for ironing your beads properly

Once your design is covered with baking paper, gently press the beads with the iron using a circular motion for approximately 30 seconds. We recommend starting with the beads around the edges and finishing with the centre. When you have finished, we suggest covering your design with some heavy books to flatten the surface and prevent it from warping.