40 DIY Shrinky Dink Plastic Craft Ideas

This type of plastic is the only kind that consistently shrinks correctly and behaves similarly to store-bought Shrinky Dinks. When choosing a plastic container to make shrinky dinks, it’s important to select one that is safe and will produce the desired results. Overall, making Shrinky Dinks from plastic containers can be a creative and sustainable way to upcycle plastic waste. While several types of plastic containers can be used, only plastic stamped with a #6 recycle code will shrink correctly. Shrinky Dinks are a fun craft that can be made from both store-bought plastic sheets and recycled plastic containers. Use any photo you like to make these cute mini photo magnets for the fridge.

  • Google some free digital stamps, choose your image and open it in a new tab.
  • Trust us, there’s sure to be several projects below that you’ll want to sink your teeth into!
  • My “J” has now changed to the proper font, so I will resize it to fit the center of the sunflower.
  • I’m going to share how to make them from recycled plastic as well as my favorite kits and papers to use.
  • As long as you are using clean number 1 plastic containers and baking them in a well-ventilated area, there should not be any harmful fumes emitted during the shrinking process.

Discover Shrinky Dinks Favorites

Whether you’re making jewelry, keychains, or unique art pieces, Shrinky Dinks offer endless possibilities. Shrinky Dinks are a versatile craft that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from young children to adults. Shrinky Dinks have gained popularity beyond the United States and are enjoyed by people of all ages around the world.

As long as you are using clean number 1 plastic containers and baking them in a well-ventilated area, there should not be any harmful fumes emitted during the shrinking process. It is best to start with fresh plastic for each project. Unfortunately, once the plastic has been heated and shrunk, it cannot be reheated or reshaped. Yes, you can easily punch a hole in the plastic shapes before baking to create hanging ornaments or jewelry pieces. Can I hang the shrinky dinks as ornaments or jewelry? The colors may intensify slightly when the plastic shrinks, so keep that in mind when decorating your shapes.

Alternative Coloring Methods

Once they flatten out again, remove them from the oven and let them cool completely. Remember that the design will shrink to about half its size, so make it slightly larger than you want the final product to be. This type of plastic can be found in many everyday items such as disposable cups, lids, and takeout containers.

Related posts:

They will curl up during the baking but will eventually flatten https://shrinky-dink.com/ out once removed from the oven and allowed to cool. Once your design is complete, cut it out and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. It’s essential to keep in mind that colors will become more intense when the plastic shrinks, so opt for slightly lighter shades than desired. To make Shrinky Dinks, start with your chosen plastic sheet, which can be found at craft stores or online.

Cutting and Shaping

In most cases, the plastic will shrink evenly, but it may curl up initially before flattening out again. “Using recycled plastic for Shrinky Dinks is not only environmentally friendly, but it also adds a unique element to the crafting experience. Shrinky Dinks first gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, and they have made a comeback in recent years.

Tracing and colouring your design

Part one of Katie’s tutorial explains the printing process and tips for perfecting your finished project. Applying heat shrinks the polystyrene to about one-third of its original size and makes it thicker. So satisfying this never gets old #shrinkydink #diycraft #keychain #photostrip After reaching the peak of its popularity in the 1980s, Shrinky Dinks® faded into near obscurity.

With this DIY shrinky dink necklace, you’ll feel as though your loved ones are with you wherever you go! Both adults and children alike will love these colorful creations! Want to wear your favorite Polaroid photos around your neck? Handmade Charlotte posted this clever and crafty tutorial which is perfect for decorating the home with in the winter months. Fabulessly Frugal will show you how to turn your fur baby’s photo into a shrinky dink pendant.

Learn how to make a bunch of different cool jewelry. Make buttons that are custom and perfect to jazz up your outfit. This is perfect for Mother’s Day, Grandparents Day and more. Make a cool ring bowl to store all of your rings or jewelry in. You can make custom charms that will be so pretty and custom for the perfect bracelet. Shrinky dinks start with shrinky dink sheets.

Fire Flame Shrinky Dinks Keychain Craft Ideas for Kids

They make for the perfect gift for the holidays, birthdays, or special occasions. I love seeing the kids art work or handprints on my keys everyday. The kids LOVED watching the heat gun warp & shrink their sculptures! That project takes at least 2 classes and we https://shrinky-dink.com/ needed a one day art project so this one was perfect.

Have your kids dream up whatever kind of design they want to sport on their ears (just keep the final size in mind unless they want some ginormous and heavy studs). Once they’re out of the oven and cooled, thread some ribbon through the hole or a wire ornament hook and it’s ready to hang. Have the kids draw out their ornament on the paper (you can also outline an ornament shape, like one from Woo Jr., and have them color it in) and use a hole punch to make a hole. Have your kids turn their art into a suncatcher that looks like stained glass. Craftulate has some great tips on figuring out the right sizing and how to add jewelry links to the Shrinky Dink so you can attach it to the zipper.

Mother’s day Shrinky Dink Traceable

If the edges are still curved, you can press a flat bottom cup or bowl on the shrink projects right when you pull it out of the oven. Take them out when they are pretty much flat. You can leave a space in the unpainted part to put a hole in case you don’t want to put a hole in your image. But if you are kiddos are little, you might just want to do colored pencils for mess sake! You can color in your design with colored pencils, permanent markers, or acrylic paint.

Have your kids jazz up their coat or backpack with a Shrinky Dink zipper pull. Shrinky Dink pieces are perfect to put on a necklace or bracelet as a charm. That "paper," which is actually plastic, curls and crinkles as it heats up and ultimately ends up being a smaller, thicker, hard plastic replica of the original drawing.

Shrinky Dink Father’s Day Gifts

The plastic shrinks to about a third of its original size in a standard oven, giving you crisp charms, tags, ornaments, and jewelry. Shrinky Dinks let you turn simple drawings or printed designs into hard, mini keepsakes at home. She’s a coach and cartoonist passionate about helping people overcome perfectionism and shame to build authentic, joyful lives. The strength of this book is that by using rubber stamps the author comes up with some very sophisticated shrink plastic jewelry. We cut out squares and heart shapes from the plastic container to decorate. They seem kind of magical and when I discovered there are ways to make shrinky dinks at home using #6 plastic, I started keeping my eye out for possible containers.

Download the Shrinky Dink flower templates

Cut the plastic into flat sheets, then into smaller shapes for your earrings. Turn off the TV on the next snow day and have the kids create their own Shrinky Dink jewelry. Twist jump ring open, using needle nose pliers, thread jewelry chain through one hole, hook the chain then pinch to close. If the kids are making jewelry using our fully-colored template, you’ll need a Shrinky Dinks Inkjet pack and inkjet printer to print our Everyday Dishes & DIY Artwork printable. Once fully shrunk, press it lightly with an offset spatula to flatten. Seeing the plastic curl, warm, and settle into its final shape is fascinating for kids, though an adult should always be the one handling the heat gun.

  • For more information, check out the Ultimate Shrinky Dink Instructions here.
  • Get the kids and have fun making these cool Shrinky Dink Name Tags.
  • The next day, the students in my small groups made necklaces from their cell cycle art with plastic jewelry making string that I picked up at the craft store.
  • With the help of these bookmarks, you can also encourage your kids to read books.
  • Craft and Creativity turned hers into these DIY earrings, but you’ll have to check out the full tutorial to find out more.

Store finished pieces in labeled containers, especially if you’re using them for jewelry-making or mixed media projects. We just immediately pulled them out and pulled them apart carefully with spatulas (they are hot), flattened them and then put them back in the oven. There is also a small window of time to flatten your Shrinky Dink with a spatula right after it comes out of the oven. If your piece is curling too much during baking, placing another piece of parchment paper on top can help keep it flatter. For printed designs, use graphic software or a photo editing app to resize your images.

With minimal effort, you can transform these versatile materials into tiny pins that rival those found in craft stores. Not only do they make perfect keychains or accessories, but their versatility allows you to bring your favorite themes to life. These custom keychains are perfect for securing car keys, house keys, locker keys, or any other item that requires a secure fastening. These adorable accessories are sure to put a smile on their faces, and the best part is that you can customize them with all sorts of rainbow-inspired designs.

Ultimate Shrinky Dink instructions for perfect results every time! Kids adore watching their designs change shape and size, and adults love how easy and tidy the whole project is. Shrinky Dink crafts have stuck around for decades because they hit that perfect mix of creativity, surprise, and accomplishment. Children learn best when they’re having fun, and Shrinky Dinks give you endless opportunities to build learning into the excitement. You can also place a book on them right after they come out (while still warm) to ensure they stay flat.

So grab some Shrinky Dink paper and get ready to shrink your way to colorful creations! – When working with Shrinky Dinks, it is important to follow the baking instructions carefully, use oven mitts to handle hot designs, and ensure proper ventilation in the kitchen while baking. Can I use Shrinky Dinks for other craft projects besides jewelry? – There are different types of Shrinky Dink paper available, including clear, frosted, and colored options, each offering different effects for your designs. Can I create custom shapes with Shrinky Dinks?

Tutorial on how to make this upcycled map magnetic board and some travel themed magnetic pins. Make them custom and colorful with markers and cute designs. This is such a nice keepsake and gift and a perfect DIY for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day! There is something magical about how quickly and perfectly these cute unicorn shrinky dink charms miniaturize in the oven. The curling will resolve itself as the plastic continues to shrink. Almost immediately, the plastic will begin to shrink and curl while baking.

They’re affordable, easy to make, and bring joy to kids of all ages. Crafts like these don’t just keep kids entertained; they build fine motor skills, encourage creativity, and give them something they’ll treasure long after the holiday. Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday to celebrate to bring families and kids together for crafts, food, and fun. They’re simple, budget-friendly, and kids absolutely love watching their colorful creations shrink down in the oven.