My kids made these sweet Hanukkah ornaments from our beloved hama beads, and when we have a few more we're going to string them some how and make a festive Hanukkah garland! In fact my seven year old is hard at work on another version of a driedel as I write this!
So get out the hama beads, or perler beads as they are also called and get to work, or rather help your kids get to work! I've never met a kid who doesn't love them. It's true not everyone has the patience to sit for hours, so for a first attempt do start small. And perler beads are available in a larger size than the standard ones we've used here (from Ikea, years ago....) which means that even toddlers can join in the fun!
Note: The bases of our Hanukkah menorahs made with two rows are not very stable, so if you're planning to make something like this for hanging, as opposed to affixing to a backing of some sort, do design your menorahs with at least three rows for the base.
