Shrinky Dinks are probably one of the classics craft projects and probably one you’ve heard of. I remember making Shrink Dink charms in high school to make keys and jewelry, and it’s a craft I still enjoy today as an adult.
It’s fun for crafters of all ages as long as you can use an oven OR if you’re making Shrinky Dinks with younger kids, you can bake the pieces for them.
Shrinky Dinks can be used jewelry, keyboards, pins and many more projects. I’m going to share how to make them from recycled plastic as well as some of my favorite packaging and papers to use. Anyone can have success with this project.
I created this Shrinky Dink charm necklace with my favorite book covers. If you are curious, the books are: Alice Hart’s Lost Flowers, never let me go, The Stepford Wives, Pride and Prejudice, Murder on the Orient Express, Night circusand: The Poisonwood Bible.
The green necklace has a cover Kitchens of the Great Midwest on it. Next, I want to make a necklace or maybe a bracelet with all the Harry Potter book covers. Lol.
What are the Dinks upset about?
Shrinky Dinks, sometimes called shrink art, first became popular in the 1980s and 90s. The basic idea is that you decorate a piece of styrofoam (plastic) and then bake it to shrink it. The final piece will be smaller, thicker and more heavily pigmented.
Shrinky Dinks were invented by Betty Morris and Kate Blumberg, two moms who created the craft as a project with their sons for Cub Scouts. Later, major toy companies, including Milton Bradley, created sets and other products for commercial sale.
While most people think of it as “Shrinked Dinks”. children’s craftit has also been used for many other applications.
Adults can also enjoy using this technique to create crafts and art projects. And, Shrinky Dinks have also been used by university students and faculty for STEM projects.
Best Shrinky Dink Packages and Documentation
- Printable narrow plastic sheets – These are the papers I used for the charm necklaces in my book. They work with inkjet printers and are translucent.
- Printable shrink plastic kit – Same type of inkjet compatible paper, but with jewelry and keyboard making supplies also in the set.
- Shrinky Dinks set for kids – Princess, Barbie and Mickey Mouse versions. Easy to use and great for young crafters.
- Shrink Art Jewelry Kit: – from Kids Made Modern, great for older kids.
There are many options if you want a kit or papers that have pre-made designs that you can color before baking.
If you want papers you can draw for free, I recommend the first option above. You don’t need to use an inkjet printer. you can just draw on it with markers or colored pencils.
Tips for success
Whether you’re working with paper, kit, or recycled plastic Shrinky Dinks (more on this below), the most important tip for success is to use an oven or other heating tool (heat gun) that allows you to see; pieces of plastic as they bake. So easy-bake ovens without windows or vents don’t work either.
You want to be able to watch the pieces bake as they are crimped and then unwrap when they are done baking. This process will probably take 1-2 minutes, but it’s best if you can watch them bake so you know when they’re done.
If you have pieces that are still slightly curled after baking, you can press them flat with a book or other heavy object (while still warm). But be careful not to burn your finger because they will be hot right after being in the oven.
DIY Shrinky Dinks.
To make your own Shrinky Dinks from recycled plastic, you’ll need: #6 plastic and a felt-tip pen.
While you can try and use other plastics, none will perform as well as #6. I have tried! You can identify the type of plastic you have by looking for the recycling symbol, which is three arrows forming a triangle. Inside will be a number.
#6 plastic is often found on single-use food packaging, such as take-out containers. At least it’s not that common in our house.
I see a lot more #5 and #1 plastic. I tried them for Shrinky Dink projects and they work well, but not great.
Color the number 6 plastic markers. You can use other things like acrylic paint or markers, but remember you want to avoid things that are super thick or can’t handle the heat of the oven.
Once you’ve colored your designs, cut them out.
Bake at 325°F for 1-2 minutes, watching slices on parchment paper. You want to see them curled and then fully curled, that’s when they’re done.
FAQ:
Frequently asked questions
What is Shrinky Dink made of?
They are made of polystyrene, which is a type of plastic. If you want to use #6 plastic if you want to make your own Srinky Dinks.
Can you use a Sharpie on shrink discs?
Yes, permanent markers are best for Shrinky Dinks. You can also use acrylic paint pens or colored pencils.
How do you stop Shrinky Dinks from curling?
They are supposed to be curled and then completely rolled up during baking. So if yours are curly, they may need to be baked longer. If they are slightly curled after baking, you can press them flat with a heavy object like a book while they are still warm.
I prefer to use the inkjet compatible paper listed above for my Shrinky Dink projects; but if you have #6 plastic or don’t mind looking a little more homemade, you can make your own DIY Shrinky Dinks with the tutorial shared above.
