*** Hama Beads ***

Hama Beads are a brilliant creative outlet for kids of all ages. The beads range in size according to the age they are recommended for; for example - the maxi beads are for three and up, the midi ones are for ages five and up, for when little fingers are more dextrous and capable of holding smaller beads (and being more aware about not placing them into different orifices of the body) and the ordinary run of the mill Hama bead, for ages six plus.

The Hama range consists of beads, peg boards, and sets containing all the things required to make something both fun and creative, and these sets also range in age ability. If you wish to make something a little out of the ordinary, or feel that the kits are too young or babyish, inspiration books are available to purchase, to give both you and your child hundreds of creative ideas.

The 'Giant' Disney Princess set is the purpose of my review today, and is at the more experienced end of the Hama spectrum. My daughter had received this set off Santa last Christmas (2010), at which time we had lots of fun making some of the Princess's and additional characters, but almost a year later she is still using the remainder of the beads, in both her own designs and from the Hama Bead inspiration books.

*** Contents ***

What you receive in the box is two packets, each containing 3,000 beads, two sheets of ironing paper, and three large charts with the design of the Princess's on, plus their matching Disney characters - a squirrel with Sleeping Beauty, a mouse with Cinderella, and Mrs Pots (the teapot) and Chip (the cup) along with Belle from Beauty and the Beast. You also get four square peg boards which interlock together to make a larger square.

These are reusable and can be used in various ways. Use them singly, or interlock two side by side, and you have a large rectangle for making name plates for doors, or book marks, or any design requiring that size. I do think that this is a great benefit of a kit, because once you have completed the designs, as long as you have more beads, you can always make more designs.

*** Easy to Follow Charts ***

The chart is a large A3 size and very clear to read. I think that a great benefit of this kit it that the peg boards are manufactured from clear plastic rather than the traditional white, and younger kids not able to fully follow a chart, may lay the peg boards over the design and follow by placing a coloured bead over the corresponding colour on the chart beneath. My daughter, just eight at the time, had no trouble in following the chart but I would say six year olds might, and can follow my tip above.

*** Beads ***

The actual beads in this set are little tubes of plastic, about two mm by three mm. They are simply placed on a peg on the board, and continue until your design is finished. The pegs hold the tubes in position until the time comes for the next step in the process. I would like to point out though, that the tubes may be placed next to the pegs and not over them, so it looks like four little fingers are holding each peg in position. This way is not recommended, as when you get to the final step of fusing the tubes together, the pegs create a barrier and the design falls apart - we made that mistake once on a fairly intricate design. My daughter was so upset that all her hard work had gone to waste; we make sure never to repeat it again.

*** To Finish ***

When your design is finished, you need to place the ironing paper over the top, and making sure the iron is on a warm setting, with no steam, gently iron on top, this job, of course, is one for the adults. My tip would be to glide the iron over the design rather than hold it in one place. This means that all the beads are melted equally, and preventing a few missed beads from ruining your finished article. This process generally only takes a minute or two. If you should tear or lose your ironing paper, greaseproof paper works just as well, and is cheaper than buying Hama branded replacements.

The princess's when completed are on the rather large size at 12 inches high, and each one takes approximately three hours. My daughter and I made hers over the course of three evenings. Towards completion, she couldn't wait for each to end, and you could see her enthusiasm grow as the picture began to take shape.

Once they have been fused together to become one solid design, they are still rather flimsy, so we have used blue tack to stick them to her wall, as something a bit different to ordinary well decoration. You could also omit to place one bead in her crown, and use this to thread string through, and make a mobile from the three princesses and their corresponding characters; a great addition to a Disney Princess themed bedroom.

*** My Thoughts ***

My daughter loved this kit, and it was well worth the £19.99 I paid. I also purchased another two sets of these, for both my daughter's friend and my niece. They were greatly received by all three girls, and have been a big hit, both for keeping the girls amused on rainy days, and just general playtime. It can now be found for the bargain price of £10.99, so if you can find one at that price, snap it up, it's sure to be a resounding success, and a gift that will be played with for a very long time.

Five out of five stars from both my daughter and I.

Thank you for reading my review, which may also be posted on other sites