You can also add reflective tape on the back to boost visibility at night. Use inkjet‑compatible shrink film and always print on the matte side so the ink bonds correctly. Hand‑drawn Shrinky Dinks are the simplest way to start, and the key is sizing and surface. Shrinky Dinks let you turn simple drawings or printed designs into hard, mini keepsakes at home.
If you love our Shrinky Sheets, who not check out our huge range of other Arts and Crafts, as well as Sand Art and Plaster Painting Packs. Remember – you can’t add a hole after you’ve shrunk it! The hole will also shrink to a perfect size. Use of shading and patterns will add dimension and class to your art. First place on a flat surface with rough side up.
Precision Cutting
To make your crafting experience even better, I’m offering five sets of free templates. I have also made some Boho denim earrings that you might want to check out. In the oven, with a heat gun or over a naked flame. If I had to choose a favourite, it would be the white Marimekko style flowers; I have the perfect floral dress to go with them. Place the plastic shapes face up with parchment paper on a baking tray.
- They will still be a tad pliable for a few seconds so, if they’re not quite flat, you can press them with something hard and flat to flatten them.
- We have entertained HUNDREDS of children with our Shrink Art, ‘shrinkies’ or Shrinky Dinks as they are also known.
- For clear or white sheets using permanent markers or paint pens, either side usually works, though some prefer the shiny side.
- Keep in mind that the colors will intensify and shrink during the baking process, so it’s important to use bright and bold colors for the best results.
Cutting the Sheets
If you don’t want that look, add acrylic paint to the back of your earrings to give them more color. Mix the resin and add a smidge of glitter. The Resin Obsession crystal doming resin is perfect for this because it mixes thick. The heat gun will blow the plastic over your table, so use tweezers to help it stay in place. Go over the surface of the plastic with the heat gun and let it shrink. Your table needs to handle the heat of a heat gun.
Step 11: Add earring findings
The shrinkable art was an instant success with children she knew. While Shrinky Dinks never completely disappeared, they’re also remembered as one of the ultimate toys of the past. Their versatility made them a favorite for kids, who could turn the shrunken plastic creations into keychains, jewelry, or decorations. These sheets of magical plastic started out as simple drawings and transformed into hardened charms, figurines, and ornaments when baked in the oven. Also, don’t worry if you see a lot of movement and the Shrinky Dink plastic curls up during baking. You can place a sheet of parchment paper over the designs as well to help keep them flat.
If it is not, the image will be too dark to see when the plastic shrinks to its final size. The offset layer of the initial and the circle are now combined as one piece and will move to the top. Click “Combine” then “Unite” to join the circle to the offset layer. Select both the circle and the offset layer of the initial. Make sure the circle overlaps the edge of the initial enough to be sturdy when the final project is cut. Change the color of the circle to match the outer layer of the initial, then move the circle to a point on the initial where you’d like to attach the letter to the keyring.
– Watercolors are not recommended for use on Shrinky Dinks, as they may not adhere well to the plastic surface. – No, the colors will actually intensify and become more vibrant after shrinking in the oven. Use colored pencils to draw a design on the plastic sheet.
Obviously, these DIY pieces are not actually Shrinkydinks, and are more properly referred to as “shrink film.” It’s also important to note that the colors become darker/more intense when the pieces shrink (purple looks almost black), so you will need to color them lighter than your desired end result. Supposedly you can color these, from the backs (so use clear plastic, obviously), with chalk or colored pencils, if you lightly sand them with fine-grit sandpaper first to give the chalk/pencil something to grip. (I’m told you can also make them into shapes (like rings), but I’ve not tried this.) They’re hot, though, so don’t just pick them up with your fingers. First, I cut the sides off of the cups/boxes, so I was working with just flat pieces.
Recommended Shrinky Dink Paper
If any Shrinky Dinks remained curled take a flat object (we used a craft rolling pin or you could use a spatula) to flatten them out. You’ll notice they will start to curl and then flatten back out. The handprint will curl up and then flatten as it shrinky dink plastic sheets shrinks.
Leave a comment, and I’ll try my best to add it to this list! Which templates are your favorite? It’s a wonderful and inexpensive craft material that’s perfect for beginners and kids.