Introduction: Pac Man Beverage Coasters (Perler Beads)

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Hey everyone!

This instructable will show you how to make a set of beverage coasters featuring your favorite retro video games using Perler Beads.

In this guide, I have included the pattern for a set of 6 Pac Man themed coasters, and you can view my other instructables for patterns featuring Super Mario Bros and The Legend of Zelda…

…BUT...

…the pixel-like nature of Perler Beads makes it incredibly easy to turn just about any classic video game character or item into a pattern! 

…SOOOO…if you love the coasters, but goombas, ghosts, or triforces just aren’t your thing, skip to step 6 for instructions on how to create your own patterns from YOUR favorite games!

Step 1: Supplies Needed:

- Perler Beads*

- Base plate

- Cork backing

- Parchment paper

- Iron

*Perler Beads are available just about anywhere, from your local craft supply store to your local Walmart, but they come in a plethora of sets, so be sure to choose a one with a variety of colors that best suits your theme.

Step 2: Bead Placement:

Place the beads onto the base place as indicated in the pattern.

Step 3: Ironing:

Place a piece of parchment paper over the top of the completed pattern.  Make sure the paper is big enough to generously cover the whole pattern surface; if it slips off during the ironing process, the beads may adhere to the iron.

With the iron on medium heat, iron over the beads and parchment paper in a circular motion for 5 – 10 seconds.  Allow to cool, and peel off the paper.

WARNING: Be sure you are using parchment paper and NOT wax paper!
The wax will melt off of the wax paper and stain your coasters.

Step 4: Ironing, Part 2:

Gently flip the coaster over and off of the base plate.

Repeat the previous ironing step on the back side of the coaster.

Step 5: Attaching Cork Backing:

Unroll the cork and trace the outline of the coaster.  Use scissors to cut out the cork square.

If the cork your purchased has an adhesive backing, just peel and stick, and you’re done!

(If your cork does not have a self adhesive backing, you can attach it using hot glue or rubber cement)

Step 6: Making Your Own Patterns!:

Making your own patterns from retro video games is quick and easy!

1. Decide what game you want to use and do a quick image search for that games “sprite sheet”.

For example:  If I wanted to make a pattern for Tetris coasters, I would go to Google or Yahoo images and search “Tetris sprite sheet”.

The websites below collect sprite sheets from all different games, so you might want to start by going there and seeing if they already have the game you are looking for:

http://www.spriters-resource.com/
http://tsgk.captainn.net/?p=subhierarchal&t=sy&t2=ga
http://www.nes-snes-sprites.com/

2. Once you have a sprite or a sprite sheet image, right click on it and save it to your computer.

3. Next, go to the saved image on your computer, right click on it again, and open it up in Microsoft Paint.

4. Once you have the image open in Paint, go to view and make sure the “Gridlines” are turned on. 

5. Then, just zoom all the way in on the photo, and you should see the image broken down into perfectly counted pixels.  And that’s it!  That’s your pattern!

From there, use your Perler Beads to build the image on your base plate, 1 bead per pixel.  Then, use extra beads to fill in the back ground and make it into whatever size or shape coaster you'd like!

I hope that explanation was easy to understand.
If you have any other question, feel free to contact me! :)