Your perfect pearls are better than peral ex because there is binder in them. So you can stamp with the versamark or some other sticky ink (perfect pearls makes one called perfect medium) and then brush it over and get it to stick
I do this for most of the things I'd want stamped in gold. I've not found a gold ink I'm in love with but the PP gold is soooo shiny and glittery and pretty.
Also you can add water to them and paint with them, no sealant necessary.
So they are not trash.
those metalic rub ons are what you were looking for though I think. Sorry you got the wrong thing. :(