If you grew up with a knack for arts and crafts, chances are you’ve made — or at least had a friend who made — keychains, jewelry, or something of the like out of Perler beads. For those who aren’t familiar with them, Perler beads are heat-activated beads that fuse together when ironed, and are used to create accessories in colorful designs and patterns. But it turns out these beads aren’t only good for making small objects, and with a little bit of inspiration, they’re equally ideal for creating epic toys for children.

@akiba_jin, mother of a 1-year-10-month-old son, proved this when she decided to surprise her toddler with the Master Sword and Hyliad Shield of Link from The Legend of Zelda. Adding straps to the weapon and armor, this special battle equipment made of beads fit perfectly onto the back of her son.

The making of Link’s sword and shield required a large mat to place the beads on, as well as hand-drawn patterns to ensure the designs would be as accurately reproduced as possible. With the right visual guidance it’s a project easy enough for anyone to try out, and one that will probably require less spending money compared to buying similar toys at the toy store.

This isn’t the only Perler bead project @akiba_jin has taken on, and her other creations include a box made solely for the purpose of stashing Pocky snacks inside (which, quite honestly, we could all use).

For those who haven't gotten their hands on Perler beads in a long while, projects like these might just get you back in the game.