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. They can also make your design uncomfortable to wear as jewelry or a keychain as it may be sharp. Use sharp scissors for simple shapes, or a craft knife for more detailed edges. Just remember to color boldly, as the colors will intensify but darken during baking.

So they started signing licensing agreements with other companies. The setup started when their distributor M.W Kasch had some difficulties and K&B Innovations needed to figure out a new way to get their product to market. If you are browsing older Shrinky Dinks online or in your toy closet, you might notice different names on the box. In 1974, while the toy was still catching on, the demonstrations continued at malls and stores across the country. I read some interviews with toy store owners at the time who claimed they couldn’t keep anything Evel in stock, he was so popular. Not all of these toys were brand new, but they were being discussed in the media and were certainly on a lot of kids’ Christmas lists.

How to Make Shrinky Dinks

I did remember to punch holes into everything ahead of time so that it could be used as pendants or keychains. I got https://shrinky-dink.com/ to work drawing and quickly learned that the fine tip Sharpies didn’t draw very well on the plastic. I cut out all of the flat surfaces of the container and a couple of the ridged edges just to see what would happen. I finally got one with some flat surfaces that was labeled #6!

Homemade Shrinky Dinks

As it shrinks your colors also become more condensed, so they appear darker! I’ll also be drawing my own design but as this shrink film is transparent you can also trace a page from a coloring book, magazine or book! 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! You can cut shapes out of the shrink film before you shrink it, as well as punch holes in it for key chains, etc. I typically use colored pencils or markers on the shrink film.

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Shrinky Dinks is a tradename for sheets of polystyrene used in crafting; other names include Shrinkles and shrink plastic. The other pair of earrings were in the shape of angel wings, another favourite crafting theme of mine. This retro craft uses the basic skills your first learn as a child of colouring and cutting. And the colors are vivid, distinct, and so metallic they’re all liquid gold touched by the rainbow gods. And I had to try a page right away using every single pen to swatch them all.

Even home shopping channels like QVC started selling them. New companies and brands stepped up to fill the void, and these branded products began showing up in stores. Milton Bradly bought Parker Bros. in the nineties and shifted away from toys to focus on games. Then feel free to make an army of shrunken Smurfs, content with the knowledge that your original set will remain unused. They would follow up with a second kit the next year, and this one built on the play aspect by including a cardboard mushroom house which you could fill with your shrunken Smurfs. This kit, by Colorforms, included 10 smurfs, 3 colored pencils (blue, red, and white), an instruction booklet, and 10 snap-on-bases.

• These sheets of magical plastic started out as simple drawings and transformed into hardened charms, figurines, and ornaments when baked in the oven.
• Some of the small shapes we placed on id wire rings along with some beads to make beverage markers.
• From Barbie to the Smurfs, licensed character kits captured the imagination of children everywhere.

But there is good learning in project art, too, such as how to follow instructions. I stink at freehand cutting, but if you are creative with that or have some large punches, you can cut out your own shapes as I did here. For our DIY shrinky dinks, we used three options to show you. You can use number 5 plastic for shrinky dinks or number 6 plastic. These DIY shrinky dinks work just the same way.

I remember standing by the toaster oven with my sister watching the little plastic sheets curl up and melt. DIY shrinky dinks are so easy to make for free with supplies you already have around the house! If you’re here in St. Louis, head over to Michaels and look for real Shrinky Dink plastic.

What are Shrinky Dinks?

You will see the plastic curl up and then it will flatten back out. Each oven is different so watch closely. Bake plastic at 350 degrees for 2- 3 minutes. Our 2″ circle became about 3/4″ when shrunk. Once they flatten back out, bake for 30 more seconds.

Batch #3 was the best shrinky dink, in that they shrunk well, thickened well, and stayed flat. They barely shrunk, barely thickened, and several never uncurled. I cooked them in a corrugated pie tin (I don’t know if cooking surface affected my results,) They shrunk a little and thickened a little. Cut into desired shapes, decorate with sharpies as desired.

When they shrink, the colors on your artwork become more condensed, making them darker. However, you can re-create this with recycled plastics too – just use some sandpaper to scratch up your plastic! They’re my favorite, with one side that has a sanded surface, which, takes mediums really well!

I feel like I could make the charms, but I’m not creative enough for the beading! I also found some actual Shrinky Dinks at Dollar Tree back in the toy department by the crafts for kids. I’m new to this shrinky dink fun, ordered some sheets but can’t wait to get started! Are you sure you’re using #6? I’m a Gen X too and loved doing Shrinky Dinks as a kid and would’ve loved to have been able to do them with my son… Now I’m going to make my own with the kiddos I watch. Had I seen them in the 90, I would have had my children making them.