Shrinky Dinks: 50+ Ideas, how to & FAQ’S

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.

• Use your permanent markers to color in your designs, making sure to leave a small border around the edges.
• My website features plenty of other DIY crafts that you can enjoy with your kids or at school.
• Artisans produce jewelry as well as other trinkets using the method; many of them grew up with Shrinky Dinks.
• If you’re on a budget, this pack from Ohuhu is a strong choice.

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.

How to make a Shrinky Dinks keyring using your child's drawings

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.

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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.

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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.

Ultimate Toy GiftGuides 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 needed a one day art project so this one was perfect.

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.

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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 https://shrinky-dink.com/ 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.

Download the Shrinky Dink Earrings Templates

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.

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.