Use a chopstick or skewer stick to hold the plastic in place so it doesn’t go flying. You are coloring the plastic part (the template is below the plastic to help guide your drawing). You can also grab our FREE printable Earth Day coloring sheet to make perfect cute earth!

This will flatten them completely. Super skinny or small details may not work well because they can curl and stick when melting. To add color, you can use permanent markers, acrylic paint or colored pencils on the rougher side of the shrink dink film. – Make sure to space out the designs on the baking sheet and use parchment paper to prevent sticking. Once the designs have shrunk and flattened, remove the baking sheet from the oven using oven mitts and let the Shrinky Dinks cool completely before handling.

Shrinky Dinks Materials

Then, I’ll show you how to finish the projects using a heavy items to flatten the plastic and help them stay bright using an acrylic spray sealant. Unfortunately, they don’t hold inkjet ink, but you can color on them using permanent markers or colored pencils. If it sticks to itself, carefully separate it and place it back in the oven until it lays flat. Watch your project as it shrinks, twists, and then flattens back out. If you want more art ideas and how to throw the perfect art celebration for kids, check this out. Once you have selected your shrinky dink plastic and medium, follow these shrinky dink instructions.

Watch the video in this post

• Shrink plastic can be decorated with alcohol inks and stamps, permanent markers or acrylics.
• The kits we used to use as kids came with rough sided plastic that you could easily decorate with the included colored pencils.
• Use these designs to create earrings, keychains, zipper pulls, charms, necklaces, magnets, and more.

On a flat cookie sheet lined with foil or parchment paper, lay your cut out plastic pieces with the colored side facing up. If they have a slight curl after baking, you can press them flat while they are still hot with a heavy object like a book. If you have pieces that are still slightly curled after baking, you can press them flat (while they are still hot) with a book or other heavy object.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the materials needed, steps to follow, and tips on how to make shrinky dink keychains. Perfect for all ages, this project combines artistry with some science as you watch your drawings shrink and harden in the oven. If you ever want to make your own, four to six images per page works out to be about the right size for necklaces or keychains. If you don’t see the email, check your spam folder. Remove the images from the background, and make sure you didn’t miss any important spots. You can make this as a bracelet or ring if you manage to size it right – and curl it around something while still hot (wear heat-proof gloves to do this.)

Materials

If your design does not entirely flatten, make sure it is is good and hot, and then place an acrylic block or another ceramic tile on top of it, to flatten it while it cools. With larger designs like our heart, the shrink plastic can curl up on itself and look like it will never be flat. If using a heat gun, you’ll start to see your shrinky dink move and curl, as the first parts of the shrink plastic in the design shrink down.

Plastic Shrinky Dinks can be used to create a variety of craft projects. Shrinky dink plastic, also known as shrink film or shrinkies, is a special type of plastic that shrinks when heated. If you need another quick idea, try a Mother’s Day directed drawing HERE. These might be my favorite Mother’s Day Classroom Gifts ever! I think the tassel adds just enough detail to make them look perfect!

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Don’t be afraid to mix and match colors, experiment with shading, and let your creativity shine through in your Shrinky Dink creations.” – Mixed Media Artist To prevent the colors from smudging, allow the markers to dry completely before handling the plastic. These markers are fade-resistant and will maintain their vibrant colors even after shrinking. “I always recommend using permanent markers on Shrinky Dinks for lasting results. Experiment with different color combinations and techniques to create stunning artwork that will stand out once shrunk down.” – Craft Designer When working with alcohol-based markers, be sure to apply the colors in thin layers to avoid streaking or bleeding.

Watch the Video

It’s so much fun to watch recycled plastics shrink to a fraction of the original size and show the bright colors of what you created. For best results fold a piece of parchment in half and stick it inside, right by the fold of the parchment paper while you bake. As mentioned above, clear #6 plastic, often used in restaurant takeout lids, are a perfect substitute for store bough shrink film.

There is also a small window of time to flatten your Shrinky Dink with a spatula right after it comes out of the oven. Clear and frosted sheets are ideal for tracing designs and using permanent markers or colored pencils. I sometimes place something heavy on top of the Shrinky Dink while it cools, so it becomes perfectly flat. Once it has completely flattened out, it’s then ready!

As more areas of the shrink plastic shrink down, it should start to straighten out. We are using the template created by Anne Oliver for her free heart embroidery design that we have for you on Gathered. Start by choosing the template of the design you want to create. If it still is not flat, hear it up again and place a ceramic tile or other flat heat-proof object on top of shrinky dink art it while it cools. Once your shrinky dink has fully shrunk, and is flat, leave it to cool before you handle it. Use a wooden skewer (or any heat-proof tool) to gently hold the image down while you apply heat from a heat gun.