In this video, I walk you through the absolute basics of making a fuse bead (Perler bead) portrait—especially if you’re coming from my other multimedia portrait styles and want a clean, beginner-friendly start. I cover the exact materials I use, why I prefer 3mm fuse beads for portrait detail, and how a 50x50 pegboard helps you build a neat, grid-based image without losing proportions. If you’re aiming for faces and expressions, the setup matters, and I show you what makes the process smoother from the beginning. I also share my go-to handling and finishing steps: using curved tweezers/forceps for precise placement, covering the design with ironing paper (butter paper works too), and ironing with a temperature-controlled iron so the beads fuse evenly. Finally, I talk about presenting the finished portrait in a shadowbox frame so it looks polished and display-ready. If you have questions while trying your first bead portrait, you can always comment or email me—happy crafting!