Someone told me that they let the kids shrink it down with the heat gun or they use the heat gun. And also, I’ve seen some teachers try and shrink them with a heat gun, and that just seems like a terrible idea to me. It’s going to look shrinky dink crafts like it’s folding in on itself and you’re going to want to take it out, but you have to trust the process and let it lay back flat and let it do what it was meant to do. And then you lay it out on a flat cookie sheet and it goes into the toaster oven, and within three minutes, it’s done. So there’s a lot of different things that you can tie to add into that interdisciplinary practice. It’s just good teaching, bringing in things from other subject matter, this interdisciplinary teaching, something we learn back when we’re learning how to be teachers, bringing things in from other subjects.

  • Resize the image to approximately 5” in height to get a nice size keychain with most shrink materials.
  • Make your shrinky dink, then hot glue it to a shoe charm back add them to your favorite footwear to give them one-of-a-kind bling, made by you!
  • In the oven, with a heat gun or over a naked flame.
  • That makes them entirely safe to use near childrens, in offices or schools.

Craft heat gun

Not only do they make perfect keychains or accessories, but their versatility allows you to bring your favorite themes to life. Feel free to get creative with different colors and try incorporating upcycled plastic for an added touch. The process involves crafting not only adorable unicorns themselves, but also complementary accessories that fit perfectly with this whimsical theme. Many people enjoy creating these sweet treats with their favorite shrinky dink ideas. But with just a few additional supplies, you can elevate your projects by creating stylish bracelets and hand accessories. These tiny masterpieces can be personalized with his favorite colors or interests, making them a unique and thoughtful gift.

Step 3: Add color

Here is a great example of a shrinky dinks guide rule, where she also bakes them with the colors she uses so she knows how much they darken after baking. People often ask how much they can expect their shrink film to shrink. I have seen colored shrink film paper but the reviews are so bad on them that I have not tried them and do not wish to link to them! White, Frosted or Ruff N Ready Shrinky Dinks are best suited for colored pencils.

Flat Alicorn Charms

You can mix colors to create different shades and effects. Start by cutting out your desired shapes from the Shrinky Dinks plastic sheets. Many people wonder if they can use paint on Shrinky Dinks to add even more creativity to their projects. Turn your heat gun on and in even rotations, go around your shrink dink art – use the stick to keep it in place.

The Best Shrinky Dink Craft Ideas

These plastic sheets shrink down and harden when heated in an oven, making them perfect for creating keychains, jewelry, and more. If you want to experiment with this one, I’d suggest sticking to very light colors and cutting out any shapes after the inks have dried. The images I had picked out in the past were mostly white (or were just prints) with a touch of color that I added with Copic markers. Crayons and colored pencils stay more true to their unshrunken colors. Watch your project as it shrinks, twists, and then flattens back out.

The shrinking process also intensifies the colors, giving your finished piece a vibrant, polished appearance. Whether you’re crafting with kids or using them for a professional-looking DIY project, Shrinky Dinks offer endless creativity and satisfaction. They become thicker, smaller, and more vibrant in color, making them perfect for keychains, charms, ornaments, pins, and other custom creations. From materials and tips to advanced ideas and troubleshooting, you can make the most out of every sheet. Learn simple steps, tips, and tricks to create fun, colorful, and durable shrinky dink projects with ease. Ultimate Shrinky Dink instructions for perfect results every time!

Our 2″ circle became about 3/4″ when shrunk. Next cut out the shapes and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for about 1-3 minutes. Shrinky Dinks are children’s activity that was hugely popular in the 80’s. Make these shrink film keepsake keychains with your students using Shrinky-Dink paper!

If the mom in your life wears fun earrings, she will love a handmade custom set from her favorite kiddo. My kids don’t need a holiday as an excuse to whip up some fun handmade items using shrink film but it is a great material for homemade gifts . These Shrinky Dink Ideas for Mother’s Day will make the perfect keepsake gift for momma, grandma, aunts and anyone on your gift giving list. If you ever want to make your own, six images per page works out to be about the right size for necklaces or keychains. Most of the time, the crafts on the site don’t require much in the way of store bought materials.