Stranger Things gave us the Demogorgon, Eleven, the Mind Flayer, Hawkins, Scoops Ahoy, and a whole lot of 80s nostalgia. It's a show built on Dungeons & Dragons, Christmas lights, waffles, and the mysterious town where nothing is what it seems.
And here's the thing: the show's retro, synthwave, neon-soaked aesthetic is perfect for Perler beads.
With a free pattern and a handful of beads, you can bring the Upside Down into your world—as a magnet, keychain, pin, or mini display piece.
Why Stranger Things Works as Pixel Art
Stranger Things is already half-pixel art in spirit. Think about the D&D manuals, the arcade games, the old-school title sequence with its glowing red letters. The show is drenched in 80s video game energy.
That blocky, neon, high-contrast look translates directly to fuse beads. Demogorgon faces are all sharp teeth and no nose. The Mind Flayer is a dark spider-like silhouette. The alphabet wall is literally a grid of letters.
You don't need smooth curves or realistic shading. You just need bold colors, clear shapes, and that nostalgic glow.
Plus, Stranger Things fans are obsessive. A tiny "Friends Don't Lie" keychain or a lights flickering magnet is the kind of subtle merch that superfans love.
5 Stranger Things Perler Bead Ideas to Try
Here are five designs that work beautifully on a standard pegboard.
1. Eleven's Waffle (Eggo)
The most iconic food in TV history. A simple golden-brown square with darker grid lines and a tiny bite mark if you're feeling fancy.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best for: Keychain or magnet
- Colors needed: Light brown, dark brown, yellow/gold
Add a small bottle of syrup next to it for a two-piece set.
2. Demogorgon Face
That flower-petal face opening up to reveal rows of teeth. In pixel art, it becomes a circular shape with a dark center, surrounded by lighter "petals" and a jagged mouth.
- Difficulty: Medium
- Best for: Pin or ornament
- Colors needed: Dark gray, light gray/white for teeth, reddish-pink for the fleshy parts
Keep the design small (about 15x15 beads) so the face reads clearly.
3. Christmas Lights Alphabet
Remember when Joyce communicated with Will through a wall of lights? You can make a mini version. A dark wall background with individual colored lights spelling out a word.
- Difficulty: Medium (many small parts)
- Best for: Magnet set or mini display
- Colors needed: Black/dark blue for background, plus red, yellow, green, blue for lights
Spell out "RUN", "HIDE", or "FRIENDS" across 3–4 separate magnets.
4. Mind Flayer (Shadow Monster)
The giant shadow spider that possesses Will. In pixel form, it's a dark, spiky silhouette with long legs and a creepy faceless head.
- Difficulty: Easy to medium
- Best for: Keychain or magnet
- Colors needed: Black, dark gray, and a tiny bit of dark purple for depth
This one looks great on a white or light gray background so the silhouette pops.
5. Hawkins High School / Starcourt Mall Logo
Simple text-based designs. "HAWKINS" in blocky 80s font, or the Starcourt Mall neon sign with its pink, purple, and blue stripes.
- Difficulty: Medium (requires careful letter spacing)
- Best for: Pin or ornament
- Colors needed: For Hawkins: green and white. For Starcourt: pink, purple, blue, black
Use a larger pegboard if you want all 7 letters of HAWKINS.
Honorable Mention: The Upside Down Portal
A cracked, glowing red-orange gash in a gray wall. Very simple: a dark gray rectangle with an irregular red/orange shape in the middle, plus a few black "floating" particles.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best for: Magnet
- Colors needed: Dark gray, bright orange, red, yellow, black
How to Get a Custom Stranger Things Perler Pattern (For Free)
Want a different scene? Maybe the skate rink, the Surfer Boy Pizza van, Eddie Munson's guitar solo, or Vecna's clock?
You can generate a free pattern from any Stranger Things image – a screenshot, a poster, a fan art drawing, or even a photo of your Funko Pop.
Here's how it works:
- Go to our free pattern generator (link below)
- Upload your Stranger Things image (close-ups of faces, logos, or simple objects work best)
- Adjust the size and number of colors
- Download your printable PDF pattern instantly
The tool converts your image into a pixel grid with exact bead colors mapped out. No guesswork.
What Can You Make With a Stranger Things Perler Pattern?
- Keychain – Backpack, keys, or bag charm
- Magnet – Fridge, locker, or cubicle
- Pin / Brooch – Denim jacket, hat, or Stranger Things bag
- Ornament – Year-round display or gift
- Mini stand – Desk or shelf next to your Funko collection
Most designs are small enough to fit on a standard 29x29 pegboard.
Get Everything You Need – Two Ways
Once your free pattern is ready, you have two choices:
Option 1: DIY Material Kit (You Make It)
Order a Stranger Things Perler Bead Kit that includes:
- All the Perler beads you need – pre-sorted by color to match your pattern
- A small pegboard (fits keychain or magnet-sized designs)
- Ironing paper for fusing
- Your choice of base – keychain ring, magnet strip, or pin back
- Glue for attaching
You supply the free pattern and your own iron. Follow the pattern, place the beads, iron, glue. About 20–30 minutes.
Perfect for: Fans who want to make it themselves.
Option 2: Finished Piece (Ready to Display or Wear)
Don't want to DIY? Order a finished Stranger Things Perler creation made from your custom pattern.
You send your pattern (generated free from our tool), and we:
- Fuse the beads smoothly on both sides
- Attach it to your choice of base (keychain, magnet, pin, or stand)
- Ship it ready to use
Open the package and your Hawkins art is ready.
Perfect for: Anyone who wants the Stranger Things look without any crafting time.
Tips for Making Great Stranger Things Perler Art
Use High-Contrast Images
A dark Demogorgon against a bright background? Perfect. A dark Demogorgon against a dark background? Invisible. Pick images where the subject stands out clearly.
Keep Text Short
"HAWKINS" (7 letters) is doable on a larger pegboard. "SURFER BOY" (10 letters) will be very wide. Stick to 3–6 letters for keychain-sized pieces.
Neon Colors Are Your Friend
Stranger Things loves pink, purple, cyan, and red. Use bright neon Perler bead colors to capture that 80s synthwave glow.
Black Backgrounds Work Great
The Upside Down is dark and scary. A black or dark gray background makes your Demogorgon or Mind Flayer look 10x cooler.
How to Fuse and Finish Your Stranger Things Perler Piece
If you're using the DIY kit:
- Place beads on the pegboard following your pattern
- Cover with ironing paper
- Iron on medium heat using small circular motions (about 10–15 seconds per side)
- Let cool completely
- Glue onto your keychain ring, magnet strip, or pin back
- Let dry for 12–24 hours
Pro tip: For the Christmas lights alphabet, glue each letter's light onto a separate small magnet so you can rearrange them on your fridge like a real message board.
Display Ideas for Your Stranger Things Perler Art
- Create a set – Waffle, Demogorgon, and Christmas lights together
- Gift an Eggo keychain to a fellow fan
- Add to your desk next to a D&D manual or a can of Surfer Boy Pizza (okay, maybe just a sticker)
- Make a mini Hawkins High pin for your jean jacket
- Spell out "RUN" with three separate Christmas light magnets on your fridge
- Hide a tiny Demogorgon on your bookshelf behind a Funko Pop
The Deeper Meaning (For True Fans)
Stranger Things is about friendship, growing up, and facing your fears—even when the fear is a monster from another dimension.
A small Perler bead waffle or Demogorgon isn't just a craft project. It's a reminder that "the pain doesn't go away. You just make room for it."
And that's worth keeping on your fridge, your keys, or your backpack.
Ready to Create Your Own Stranger Things Pixel Art?
Step 1: Generate your free pattern
Step 2: Choose how you want to create it:
- DIY Material Kit – all beads + supplies (you make it)
- Finished Piece – we make it for you
No design skills needed. No expensive software. Just your favorite show from the Upside Down and a few minutes.
Have a specific scene in mind? Vecna's clock? Eddie's guitar solo on the roof? The skate rink? Generate a free pattern first and see how it translates. Even a simple silhouette can become a cool little piece of art.