Since Shrinky Dink sheets shrink by about 50%, be sure to size your designs accordingly – something that starts around 4.5” long will end up around 2” once shrunk. By following these straightforward steps, you’ll be able to elevate your jewelry collection and add a touch of personality to your outfits. On my test pieces, the image shrunk about 65% of the original size. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just starting out, Shrinky Dinks are a great option for adding a touch of creativity to your projects. And if you’re bored out of one design, you can even create more and add it to your jewelry collection.

• And for more think kids can make, check out these other Christmas gifts that kids can make themselves.
• For this project I’m making a key chain but check out some other ideas of things you can create at the bottom of the post!
• Applying heat shrinks the polystyrene to about one-third of its original size and makes it thicker.
• This technique not only adds depth to your artwork but also creates a unique blend of colors when the shrink film shrinks.
• This handmade company makes jewelry sweet enough to give you a cavity!

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Whatever medium you decide to use, be aware that the color will become more intense once it is shrunk. The white plastic sheets are great for printable design or when you want a solid background, like a keychain. The clear and frosted sheets are perfect for anything where you might want to trace a pattern or design. There are three main types of shrink plastic sheets – clear, frosted, and white.

Craft Stores: Check local craft stores like Michaels, Joann, or Hobby Lobby for Shrinky Dink plastic

If you wait to long the plastic starts to melt a little. It kind of curls up and flattens out once it done. They also sell this shrinky paper as a printable photo paper option. ( photo below – an example of a clear plastic container ) If you have plastic containers you can totally give it a go with that. If you want to add it to your key chain use a hole punch to make a hole before you shrink it.

DIY Shrinky Dinks and Alcohol Ink

Teach children to stand back until the plastic cools to room temperature. Parents see improved recall because children link the miniature icons with classroom discussions. After baking, each token shrinks to a sturdy size that fits in a pocket or pencil case. Bake the charm until it flattens, then apply a UV resin dome for glass-like depth and scratch resistance. Once the sheet dries, cut around the subject, leaving a smooth border that frames the photo.

Your email address will not be published. The colors darken as the plastic shrinks. Once it is warm it can be trimmed with scissors, it will also flatten back out and you can give it another go. It took some trial and error to find the right size. We added a jump ring to some of our shapes and strung on cording along with beads to make necklaces. You will see the plastic curl up and then it will flatten back out.

Options For DIY Shrinky dink Plastic

They become thicker, smaller, and more vibrant in color, making them perfect for keychains, charms, ornaments, pins, and other custom creations. Ultimate Shrinky Dink instructions for perfect results every time! Check out The Homestead Kids Blog, where the kids share the things they’ve been creating! We’ll be making these again as soon as we have more #6 plastic, so I’ll share more pictures in the future! Wait until the shrinky dinks flatten out, and then pull them out of the oven. After about 2 minutes, they will flatten back out again.

You can check out her detailed tutorial full of awesome pictures over on the SEWphisticate blog! For her first attempts, she cut the plastic into shapes and punched holes to make shrunken pendants. Arrange your plastic pieces on a sheet pan with a piece of parchment paper underneath them to prevent sticking. Number 1 plastic shrinks a little, but not much and also sometimes just turns white and curls – it’s not a good material for DIY shrinky dinks.

Discover Shrinky Dinks Favorites

Originally I’ve seen these made from recycled plastic containers. Before starting this project I actually didn’t know they make shrinky dinks. They were the perfect rainy day activity when you were looking for something a little more interactive than your coloring book. A link to set a new password will be sent to your email address. Take a look at Moonstrukk’s dreamcatcher earrings and patterned jewelry and art. Take a look at https://shrinky-dink.com/ her other animal creations, huggable stuffed beasts, and jewelry in her Etsy Shop.

Fun and Easy DIY Shrinky Dink Craft Ideas

Being neat is not important, as you will cut out the image and shrinking concentrates the colour. It’s best to use fairly light shades of pencils, as any colour you use will darken when you shrink the image. This works fine if you are a paper crafter who can stamp with archival inks, or you have a great selection of permanent coloured pens, but your average crafter does not. There are lots of ways to shape and add designs to shrink plastic, including die-cutting, hand-drawing and stamping. You can still buy Shrinky Dinks the brand, but the name now commonly refers to the miniature shrunken shapes you get after heating and shrinking plastic rather than these specific printed sheets themselves.