The colors become darker and more vivid, and the final piece is thick and sturdy. Easy step-by-step ideas, tips, and creative shrinky dink projects perfect for home, daycare, or classrooms. And don’t forget to check out these printable activities. For more ideas on making your own homemade art supplies and saving money, check this out.

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! When they shrink, the colors on your artwork become more condensed, making them darker. Shrinky dinks shrink about 1/3 their original size when heated – I use a small craft oven; a toaster oven, kitchen oven, or heat gun, can also be used! It’s like a magic art project – you draw on the shrink film, heat it up, and watch it shrink! These have always been a student favorite!

What is Shrinky Dink Paper?

Unfortunately, they don’t hold inkjet ink, but you can color on them using permanent markers or colored pencils. – While Shrinky Dinks are primarily used for flat designs, it is possible to create 3D shapes by heating the designs over a mold or form to give them a more dimensional look. Place your design on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake it in the oven for 1-3 minutes, or until the design has shrunken and flattened out. Here you’ll find ways to make different shapes like a circle, flower, and a bone-shaped name tag. 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!

You want the images you print to be quite large because they really shrink down once baked. This Mickey and Minnie were so perfect, and my kids are Star Wars luvvahs so we had to throw in some Baby Yoda and a Storm Trooper. Save the images to your computer and then combine them all on one sheet using Photoshop, PicMonkey, or another image software. I drew the rainbow in PicMonkey and then just added some graphics from their library like the hand weights and “Quarantine Queen” crowns above. Most people draw their images on Shrinky Dink paper, but my friends, the secret is to use Shrinky Dink Ink Jet paper.

Other Preferred Coloring Media

I typically use colored pencils or markers on the shrink film. They’re my favorite, with one side that has a sanded surface, which, takes mediums really well! Once your designs have uncurled and are flat again, they won’t shrink anymore, so you can take it out of the oven. Kits came with pre-printed coloring sheets of your favorite characters (I was partial to the Care Bears or Rainbow Bright) and a set of colored pencils.

Acrylic Paint Pens Markers, 24 Colors (TANMIT)

Some colors came out vibrant, while others faded when baked; it was both exciting and nerve-wracking! Shrinky Dinks are plastic sheets that shrink into hard, colorful shapes when baked in an oven. By clicking GO, you’re consenting to be added to our newsletter list. Our weekly newsletter grants exclusive access to our favorite projects, recipes, free printables, and more!

DIY Shrinky Dink Keychains

They will curl up dramatically, move around, and then gradually flatten out again. Bake for 1–3 minutes, watching closely as the plastic curls and then flattens out—this is the signal that shrinkage is complete. You’ll notice your shrink film crinkles up and then will flatten back out as a much smaller and thicker piece of plastic. The colored pencils will look very light on the shrink film – this is okay, when we “shrink” your film the colors will become more vivid and bright!

They saw great popularity with children in the 1980s. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. Amy specializes in macrame, DIY crafting, and teaching fiber arts. Amy Guerrero is an Arts and Crafts Specialist and the Owner of Sunshine Craft Co., a crafting studio based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Make sure to click on the image to see all 50 craft ideas! The sheets can be colored and cut into shapes before baking, and the result can be used to make charms, keychains, ornaments, jewelry, and more. This unique and whimsical accessory has taken the crafting world by storm, and in this article, we’ll dive https://shrinky-dink.com/ into the details of how to make your very own shrinky dink charm bracelet. For more free templates for every occasion, check out these Free Shrinky Dink Templates.

Discovering the perfect markers for shrinky dinks can significantly enhance your crafting experience and elevate the quality of your creations. If you’re itching for alternatives, why not try using colored pencils or permanent markers instead? Inspect for flaws after cooling; check for rough edges or fading in vibrant colors. I use a metal spatula to flatten them immediately after removing them from the oven.

Once you have selected the right type of shrink plastic, you can start creating your design using various art supplies, such as markers, colored pencils, or acrylic paints. The process of creating designs on shrink plastic is simple but requires some creativity and skill. As the plastic shrinks, the colors intensify and the plastic becomes thicker and harder, creating a unique and durable keychain. Cards will not be sent to unstaffed transitional or temporary housing facilities, and must be sent to an office address for the agency applying where staff receive the mail. You were then supposed to play with whatever it was you made, but frankly, the entertainment value was all in coloring pictures of your favorite cartoon characters and then watching them crinkle up in the oven and then mysteriously lie down flat again.

• Shrinky Dinks are a fantastic craft for children, but a few safety tips go a long way.
• You can add a festive flair to these party desserts with the help of shrinky dink cupcake toppers.
• A bright yellow school bus with windows, wheels, and stop sign details is a fun and iconic back to school image.
• The Resin Obsession crystal doming resin is perfect for this because it mixes thick.
• Guiding children through the creative process makes cherished memories.
• With both circles still selected, choose “Combine” on the lower right, then click “Subtract”.

Bookmarks might be one of the easiest Shrinky Dink projects, but it might be one of the most fun, especially for children! With photos printed on shrink-plastic sheets, you can make keychains of favorite family vacation photos, or a whole charm bracelet full of family portraits. This will make it look a little washed out when you print it, but as your project shrinks while it’s baking the colors will intensify.