Fuse beads are small plastic tubes that you arrange on a pegboard to form a design. You heat them with an iron through baking paper: the edges melt and fuse together. Once cooled, you have a solid piece, flat or 3D.

Beads mainly come in 2.6mm (mini) and 5mm (standard). 5mm is big, easy and fast, ideal for large pieces. 2.6mm offers much more detail, perfect for faces, gradients and jewelry. For the same design, 2.6mm gives a finer result but takes more time.

Mixed tubs are inexpensive, but sorting takes forever and common colors run out quickly. It is better to buy refills color by color depending on your project (plan for extra black and white).

An online converter transforms your photo into a grid, matching each pixel to the closest bead color, with a list of quantities.

Our tips: sharp, high-contrast images yield the best results; gradients and shadows are simplified into solid blocks of color; the accuracy of color matching makes all the difference.

Test our free tool: https://tools.yayascreativestudio.com/

Needle felting involves repeatedly poking wool with a barbed needle that tangles the fibers: the more you poke, the firmer the material becomes and the more it retains its shape, whether in 3D or flat. No water, no soap, no heat, just a needle, some wool, and a mat.

Wool, a felting needle, a mat. Optional but recommended: a finger guard, a multi-needle holder for large surfaces, small scissors. Most sources emphasize one point: there's no need to buy all the gauges at the beginning.