3D Perler Bead Pokeball

This post is long overdue but here are the instructions on how to make a 3D perler bead pokeball as promised.
(Find our 3D Perler Bead Pikachu instructions HERE.)

The colors can be arranged to make other designs too. My 10 year old informed me that pictured bellow is a greatball, pokeball, and ultraball.

Here are all the pieces ironed and ready to start building. The key to making your pokeball come together easily is to iron the pieces just enough to have them melt together. If you use too much heat and pressure so that the pieces get too flat it will be hard for the pieces to fit together easily.

Putting your pokeball together is kind of like building a 3D puzzle. The pieces fit and lock together. Follow the visual instructions below to build your pokeball.

These come together pretty easily. You can really get carried away and create all kinds of designs with these (I know my kids did!). Let your creativity soar and have fun!

Find our 3D Perler Bead Pikachu instructions HERE.

(Not Your Everyday) Princess Birthday Party

I've been wanting to share with you the princess party my older kids and I threw for this sweet and spunky four year old. Turning four at our house is a pretty big deal since it is traditionally the first year I throw my kids a birthday party with friends.  

My daughter wanted a princess party so a princess party it was. I love designing my kids party invitations and my favorite way to send them is through Paperless Post. I love this online invitation sight over others because it allows me to upload and send the 5x7 invitations I create. They also have a lot of pre-made invitations and unique options that other sites don't offer like envelopes.

My daughter has a lot of friends that are boys so my 12 year old and I brainstormed how we could make this princess party really fun for them too without things being too frilly or girly. We decided that we would take the kids on a royal quest to get to the ball. It ended up being so much fun! This party idea would also work great for a prince or knight party--or even a combined princess/knight party!

When the party goers arrived they were invited to decorate a party bag. We provided lots of stickers and markers for them to make their bag unique and we made sure everyone put their name on it so they wouldn't get mixed up with someone elses.

As the kids were finishing up my 12 year old arrived dressed up like a royal messenger a read to them a proclamation from the king and queen. It said the king and queen were throwing a ball for the birthday girl but they must complete a quest to get to the ball. They would have to cross a treacherous bridge to acquire a enchanted potion, help rescue some baby unicorns, and unlock a secret door to retrieve a magical weapon in case they encountered a dragon. When they arrive at the ball they will be crowed for their brave accomplishments. They were then invited to take their party bag and follow her into the next room to begin their quest and play the first game.

 

Before the kids were sent on their quest they were to receive a farewell token from a prince or princess. We played pin-the-kiss on the prince (or princess). After completing the game each child got a few Hershey kisses to add to their party bag.

We then headed upstairs where the kids were faced with a treacherous bridge to cross. They walked across the balance beam (the balloons represented water) and when they got to the other side they received a enchanted potion (bubbles) to add to their party bag.

Then we headed downstairs to the basement. This is where we had to rescue the baby unicorns. I had an obstacle course set up down there for the kids to complete. When they got to one end of the course they got to pick a baby unicorn from the nest to add to their party bag. They then would finish the course and tag the next friend for their turn.

Our last game required the kids to unlock a secret door to retrieve a magical weapon. To play this game they had to throw a bean bag into the keyhole cutout of a box. After throwing their beanbag in they received their magical weapon. The girls got wands and the boys got small daggers (that my older kids so generously made out of perler beads.)

These weapons sure came in handy too because as they came back upstairs there was a dragon waiting around the corner. To get by they simply had to aim their weapon at the dragon (who was my very helpful nine year old) and he would cower allowing them to pass. 

Getting past the dragon completed the quest! At the top of the stairs the king (who was my very sweet six year old all dressed up) congratulated everyone and crowned each party goer for completing the quest and making it to the ball.

Everyone was then granted entrance into the ball and we had a fun and fabulous freeze dance party.

When we were all tired out from freeze dancing the birthday girl got to open presents and then we all enjoyed some fairy princess wand rice crispy treats.

It was a super fun morning and I think everyone had a blast! I especially have to thank my 12, 9, and 6 year old children who helped me brainstorm ideas for this party (the best ideas were theirs!) and for helping me to pull it off. They are the best!

And happy happy birthday to my sweet four year old! We sure love you! 

I hope this post inspires you if you are creating your own princess (or knight) birthday party.



Check out our other party ideas:

Star Wars Jedi Training Academy

Lets Get Crafty

Pirate Party Treasure Hunt

Baking Birthday Party

Super Hero Party

Spy Party

Pink Dinosaur Party

3D Perler Bead Pikachu

My kids went back to school this week. I feel like we start so much later than most of the country since we don't go back until after Labor Day. We had such a great summer that it was hard to send them off. My goal is always to give my kids somewhat of a good ol' fashioned summer. I want summertime to be a chance to slow down and explore life. To keep their eyes away from screens and give them a chance to get plenty of fresh air, go on bike rides, catch fireflies, carve soap, chew gum and learn to blow bubbles, swim, play at the park, read a lot of books, do arts and crafts, and hopefully have enough free time that they actually have a chance to be bored once or twice.

One thing my kids had fun with over the summer was creating things out of perler beads. My kids love these things! My nine year old got really creative and figured out how to make a 3D Pikachu. He then went on to make some other Pokemon characters and then my other kids started making them too and before you know it we had a house full of Pokemon!

My son thought other kids might like to learn how to make a 3D Pikachu too so he suggested we could put the instructions up on my blog. So here it is:

How to make a 3D Pikachu out of Perler Beads

Follow the pattern below to create the pieces to build your Pikachu. As you can see the feet on the green plate need to be on a plate that has pegs at an angle.

Here are all the pieces ironed and ready to start building. The key to making your Pikachu come together easily is to iron the pieces just enough to have them melt together. If you use too much heat and pressure so that the pieces get too flat it will be hard for the pieces to fit together easily.

Putting your Pikachu together is kind of like building a 3D puzzle. The pieces fit and lock together. Follow the visual instructions below to build your Pikachu.

All done! Isn't he cute?

Using the basic design of the Pikachu it's easy to create other Pokemon. Here are a few favorites: Wartortle, Charmander, Pikachu, Minccino, and Charizard.

Learn how to make a 3D Perler Bead Pokeball HERE!

Now go create 'em all!