Santa ArtkalBeads (Free Christmas Patterns!)
Where are you currently at in your Christmas traditions? Have you made ornaments with your kids – done Elf on the Shelf? What about drive and look at Christmas lights (which was one of my favorite things to do)?
I’d love to hear.
Then I’d also love to suggestion another fun kids’ Christmas craft for you to try. Santa perler beads! Kids are going to love making these for Christmas.
If you’ve never tried perler beads before, they are recommended for ages six and up. I haven’t met a kid that doesn’t love perler beads (also known as hama beads, fuse beads, or melty beads). But don’t be shy about jumping in – adults love them too!
Tips for Using Perler Beads
Before we get into the patterns, I want to review a few basics of using fuse beads to make sure you get the best results. If you don’t want the tips, scroll down to the bottom to get the Santa perler bead patterns.
Remember that the overall goal is to melt the beads together on both sides while still leaving the holes open. Here’s how you get the best results (with a rainbow as an example).
Use Ironing or Parchment Paper
Place ironing paper or parchment paper over the beads on the pegboard. Be gentle so you don’t disturb the beads underneath.
Heat your iron to the medium setting (no steam). In a circular motion, begin to iron the project. Don’t press down too hard with the iron. When ironed properly, the beads will still have an open center. Check and make sure your edges are melted. Let the design cool on the pegboard.
Note: BE CAREFUL about lifting up the paper while you’re ironing! If you want to check, carefully peel back paper around the edge of your design and see if all the beads are melted.
If you lift the paper up quickly and there are a lot of unmelted beads, they will easily fall off or go flying and you may be forced to start over. Sometimes the edges need more time so when you check, just check the edges and peel paper back slowly.
Another Note: some beads melt faster than others (clear melts faster than white, for example). So some holes might be larger than others. It’s okay! That’s part of the look of the project.
Iron the Other Side
Remove the bead design from the pegboard. Flip it over to the non-melted side and repeat the fusing process.
Remove the Paper
Let cool completely and remove the paper again (which is reusable). Some people pull the paper off after they iron the first side, but I just wait until the end and peel off both pieces. It’s up to you!
Now if you’re ready for the Santa Claus hama beads, here are the patterns.
Santa Artkal Beads
Note: A few of these patterns are larger than a 29 x 29 pegboard, so you’ll either need a extra large pegboard (49 x 69 tall) or to put four square pegboards together (or two depending on how wide the pattern is).
Santa Head and Two Minis
These cuties take 111 red, 151 white, 44 flesh, 20 green, 2 blue, 30 black, and 2 pink beads.
Standing Clauses
These patterns use 121 red, 157 black, 143 white, 21 flesh, 8 yellow, and 16 green beads.
Standing and Window Santas
These Clauses use 162 red, 81 white, 27 flesh, 24 black, 1 pink, 103 blue, and 7 yellow beads.
Santa Claus Star
Perfect for hanging as an ornament! Uses 120 white, 182 red, 34 flesh, 10 black, 8 salmon, and 6 brown beads.
Two Kris Kringles with Stands
Just insert the Santas into the open slots on their corresponding stands. Uses 186 white, 85 red, 26 flesh, 30 black, 3 yellow, 10 green, and 2 blue beads.
Santa Coming Out the Chimney
This pattern uses 189 red, 254 white, 20 flesh, 2 black, 20 green, and 72 dark brown beads.
Cute Christmas Santas
These patterns use 110 black, 72 white, 110 red, 27 flesh, 6 yellow, and 4 pink beads.
Santa with a Sack of Gifts
This cute Santa uses a 29 bead square tile, and you can make the stand separately. The pattern uses 171 red, 2 green, 142 white, 36 flesh, 52 black, and 30 blue. The stand uses 116 black beads (or whatever color you like).
Waving Kris Kringle
This pattern uses 265 red, 246 white, 90 black, 31 flesh, and 14 yellow beads.
Santa Head
This pattern uses 59 red, 244 white, 85 gray, 36 flesh, and 2 black beads.
Waving Santa with His Sack
This pattern uses 292 red, 215 dark gray, 306 white, 77 green, 113 yellow, 54 flesh, and 67 black beads.
Scandinavian Inspired
This pattern uses 106 white, 182 red, 25 flesh, and 2 black beads.
Cute Kawaii Santa
This pattern uses 364 black, 92 red, 512 white, 53 flesh, and 60 dark brown beads.
Jolly St. Nick
This pattern uses 200 red, 50 gray, 102 white, 24 flesh, and 40 black beads.
Santa, Reindeer, and a Sleigh
You’re going to love these cute Santa hama bead patterns, with a reindeer and sled to go along with.
Santa on a Round Board
Do this on a round board with the straight line oriented horizontally. Uses 69 white, 46 red, 12 black, 9 flesh, 2 blue, and 8 green beads.
Children’s Christmas Drawing
This pattern uses 255 red, 161 white, 63 flesh, and 5 black beads.
