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Time: 30 mins

Mod 70s Style Hexagon Fuse Bead Coasters Tutorial
Make these great coasters in a variety of colors to spice up your living space. Fun project that is quick and easy.

Posted by Megan LaCore from San Jose, California, United States • Published 23rd April 2008 • See Megan LaCore's 25 projects »

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Jen S. added Fuse Bead Coasters to stuff for me 13 Jul 16:22
Jen S. favorited Fuse Bead Coasters 13 Jul 16:22
Rachel F. favorited Fuse Bead Coasters 28 Sep 22:26
Romana S. favorited Fuse Bead Coasters 22 Jun 05:40

Step 1
Here's our materials.
Step 2
Pour some beads into the smaller container to more easily sort for colors.
Decide on a color scheme, choosing 5 colors.
Starting at the center, place rows of color in the following order:
Row 1: Color A
Row 2: Color B
Row 3: Color C
Row 4: Color A
Row 5: Color D
Row 6: Color E
Row 7: Color B
Row 8: Color A
Step 3
Here's a tip that I found works well for me when I am sorting colors.

When you exhaust the supply of the colors you are using, pour the remaining beads from the smaller container into the bigger container.

This allows you to pour more from the source container without diluting down your color selection further, and makes it so you can work with less to dig around in.
Step 4
Carefully move the pegboard onto parchment paper. Usually a package of fuse beads will come with a square, but you can also use parchment paper from a roll. I have some around for polymer clay and crafting, so this is just another excuse for me to keep it on hand.
Step 5
Heat iron to medium temperature, and apply medium pressure while moving iron constantly. Heat for 15 to 20 seconds until all beads are evenly melted.
Step 6
Carefully peel up one side of parchment paper, allowing coaster to stick to ironed side. Remove pegboard.

Place opposite side up and iron next side.
Step 7
Here's what a properly ironed coaster will look like: slightly melted and flattened on both sides, but not distorted. You should see the definition of the individual beads on the sides and have still-round circles.
Step 8
Lay a coaster on a scrap piece of paper and trace around it with a pencil. Cut straight, just inside the lines.

Place pattern on top of a piece of felt and cut around the edges. Cut one for each coaster.
Step 9
Apply hot glue between rows of beads, trying to keep glue out of the holes.
Step 10
Quickly place felt hexagon on top of glue, center, and press down lightly but evenly. Let cool facing up.
Step 11
When I decided to make coasters, Mark decided to make drinks :)

Recipe:
1 part pomegranate schnapps
2 parts Kettle One vodka
3 parts cranberry juice
Shake with ice and pour into a martini glass.