There is a great tutorial on Instructables (courtesy of Dabbled) with all the instructions for making your own shrinky projects from #6 plastic containers, so I won't go into too much detail here. Most of this post is actually about turning these awesome little pieces of plastic into a sweet bracelet (and bonus pendant) to give to mom for Mother's Day. (Attention Dads: This project involves permanent markers, melting plastic, and tools...and your kids will think it's totally cool.)
1. Find a #6 plastic container (the one I used was from our grocery store bakery) and wash it in warm soapy water. Make sure to remove any stickers or sticky residue and dry thoroughly.
2. Cut out a flat piece of plastic and draw your design on it using permanent markers. I had Abe scribble on the plastic before cutting it into smaller shapes, but you could cut out the shapes first if your little artist is able to work on such a tiny canvas. Note: Dark colors will appear black after shrinking so use those sparingly!
3. Cut plastic into smaller pieces (mine were 1½ by 1¾ inches before shrinking), and use a standard hole punch to make a hole in each corner.
4. Using scissors or a nail clipper, trim the corners to make rounded edges. You may be able to sand down the edges after baking, but you won't be able to cut them with scissors anymore and they will be sharp!
5. Preheat your oven to 350⁰ F and bake the plastic pieces on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper for a few minutes. They should begin to curl after about 30 seconds. Just watch them. They'll curl up a couple times and eventually flatten out. Once they're flat they're done shrinking.
6. Remove from oven and let cool. Once the pieces are cool you can coat them with a protective finish if you want. (See Dot's instructions for more information about that.)
7. Attach the beads to each other using 6 mm jump rings (available at most craft stores).
Use a pair of pliers to open the rings. Insert open end into hole on bead, attach to ring on next bead, and clamp shut. I used two links between each bead.
8. Add additional rings if necessary to fit your wrist and attach a lobster clasp for closure.
Surprise mom with a priceless piece of jewelry made by her little artists!
Cute, right? I may start wearing it every day!
I love the pendant necklace. I'd love to do this with the kids, but that sure was brave of you to use permanent markers with Abe. I might just let Claire do this project!
ReplyDeleteHaha! Yeah, I didn't take any pictures of Abe coloring because I wanted to make sure he didn't put them in his mouth. Even with me sitting there supervising, he managed to completely cover his hands and highchair tray with permanent marker! The marker came off his hands in the bath...but after cleaning his tray with rubbing alcohol and sending it through the dishwasher a couple times, it still shows signs of a good time. :-)
DeleteI'll let you know what happens when I try it with Claire (and maybe Simon). Good to know about the nail polish remover ahead of time!
Deletetried magic eraser yet?
DeleteMagic eraser seems to work, but it definitely dulls the finish.
DeleteThese are so cute, can't wait to let my twin grandsons make one for their mommy(my daughter)! As for the high chair tray - maybe wrap it in plastic wrap next time, to keep it clean! Sorry this is anonymous, don't see any way I can sign in, as I don't have any of the IDs listed! -JudyL
Deletebaking soda usually works at getting Perment marker off a smooth surface - wipe the surface w/wet sponge, and spinkle baking soda over & rub so it makes a dry paste
DeleteThis might sound weird, but I've gotten rid of permanent marker by going over it with dry-erase marker. I have no idea why it works, but it does.
DeleteNot sure if this would work on the surface you're dealing with, but I find sunscreen is a pretty good permanent marker remover (I think it's the nanoparticles)!!
DeleteBuy the 91% rubbing alcohol at the drug store if you can find it. It works way better at removing marker than the regular 70% stuff that is more common.
DeleteDenatured alcohol also works very well!! I used to work in a photo lab and we used it to clean the film. I have used it to get pen out of fabric too, just be careful and throw it in the wash directly if you try it.
DeleteLove this! Was wondering if there is a way of making a ring for my daughter out of this?
DeleteToynia
Toynia, yes there is! I haven't tried it but follow the instructions found here: http://dabbled.org/2008/07/part-3-more-experimentation-in-shrinky.html.
DeleteHow do you know if your plastic is #6? Can't find it anywhere and the plastic I tried would not shrink back down, when I left them in longer they got milkey in colre. I played with many heats and times and no luck.
DeleteIt would have a 6 inside the recycling symbol. If there's no number on the container, it's not recyclable and definitely not #6. This won't work with any other type of plastic.
Deletedry erase marker works awesome at removing permanent marker...my kids and i use it all the time. These are an awesome idea....Think i will have to try this with my kiddos!!
DeleteI try this and mine only curl one time and turn out milk white.
DeleteSame for me. They curled and turned out milk white. The size reduced just a bit but they did not look like those of your nice bracelet at all... Any other advice?
DeleteWas the plastic you were using smooth and clear to begin with?
DeleteFabulous idea! Try acetone nail polish remover to get the sharpie off...:)
ReplyDeleteomg i had no idea you could just use no 6 plastic my mind has been blown lol!!
ReplyDeletetruly, use a magic eraser, it will take it RIGHT off
ReplyDeleteI LOVE magic erasers! I use them ALL the time!
DeleteAmazing!! I can't wait to try this! I am wondering if used a Sharpie to write Abe's name and if you wrote his name and the date before or after the shrinking process?
ReplyDeleteYes, I used a fine point Sharpie and added his name before baking. My nieces kept asking me how I wrote it so tiny!
DeleteAww, I miss shrinky dinks! I was just wondering the other day if there was a way to make shrinky dinks look a bit classier for adults. You found a way! Love it!
ReplyDelete- Angela Marie @ htto://sunkissedivory.blogspot.com
Thank you! I will try my best to write small too! I was scouring the bakery section for a similar container last night!
ReplyDeletewell I find it really interesting, but I don't have a oven at home, so I'm wondering if I can use microwave instead? (to bake the plastic pieces). If yes, please tell me how long is enough?
ReplyDeleteEverything I've read said they will not shrink in a microwave. Sorry!
DeleteIf you have a heat gun that will work.
DeleteCould you ask a friend/neighbour to borrow their oven?
Deletea toaster oven will work too!
DeleteA toaster oven works.
DeleteToo Cool! Thanks for sharing the great photos and tutorial.
ReplyDeletei did this in school and the way we did it was once the flat piece is cut out of the plastic container then take sand paper and sand it to make the smooth surface just a little ruff then we just used crayons to color on whatever you wanted then put in the oven this way you don't have to use permanent markers with your little ones and is just effective
ReplyDeleteAnything waxy like crayons or inexpensive colored pencils may burn and smoke in the oven if the heat is too high. They also some off easier through wear and tear. I've had good success with prismacolor pencils though. Acrylic paint applied lightly works nicely. Too much paint and it's a real mess. Think stained glass when applying.
DeleteYeah, I tested this with crayons. The wax melted and ran together and easily rubbed off once it had cooled. I think as a kid we used colored pencils with real Shrinky Dinks. Make sure to give the surface a light sanding first. Some colored pencils are a bit waxy though, so you'd really have to test them to see how it works out.
DeleteWhere are you finding #6? I can't seem
ReplyDeleteTo find any!
The box I used came filledwith pastries from our local grocery store's bakery. Some restaurants still use #6 to go containers, but I've noticed a lot of them have started using cardboard and other eco-friendly options. Keep looking, you'll find some!
DeleteWalmart's containers for their fried and roasted chicken are number 6 containers most of the time! Good luck!
DeleteAt our grocery store,They provide "clamshell" #6 containers for the salad bar. A bonus for sticking to my diet!!!
DeleteWaffle House to go containers are #6
DeleteThe chinese chicken salad kit at costco is #6. And solo (and other beverage cups) are #6 too. You can melt a whole cup down into a big oval. It's kind of fun!
DeleteWonderful idea!
ReplyDeleteOh, the memories of shrinky bracelets! What a cute project. :-)
ReplyDeleteErin @ The Great Indoors
so i just tried this project and well yea, i did NOT have the same results as you did!!! the plastic barely curled up and it really didnt shrink at all!!! :( i am super sad!!! and it tried white in color instead of staying clear!!!! please help!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAre you using #6 plastic? I'm not sure why it would turn white unless there was some sort of residue that didn't completely wash off. As far as shrinking and curling, it may just be an issue with your oven. Try turning up the heat to 275⁰ and leave them in longer. I think it depends on the plastic since all those containers are manufactured differently. I had one batch that I left in for 10 minutes before it started to curl! Start by re-baking your bad batch (if you still have it) and see if that works. Let me know if it doesn't!
Deleteit should be #6 i work in a bakery so i just grabbed a container that was just like the one you used! and even though it had never been used i did clean it. i still have the old pieces and i will try and re-bake them. i will let know the outcome!!!
Deleteno go!!! :( i put them in at 275 for almost 20 minutes and they did not change one bit!!! i have a new batch i am going to try!!! but i have a feeling the plastic might be different!!!!
DeleteYeah, those containers are made from all different types of plastic. Most of the #6 plastic I've found is very thin and feels almost brittle - like it might crack if you tried to bend it. Look for a 6 inside the recycling symbol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Recycle001.svg).
DeleteI checked my bakery container and was disappointed. It is a #1. What kills me is how many of these have I just tossed into the recycling over the years!
DeleteI've yet to find anything #6 most plastic is #1 or #2 in UK does anyone know if we have different recycle codes to you guys.
Deleteuk uses the same code,i've only found egg boxes & yogurt pots are #6.
Deletei managed to find out some asda smart price egg boxes from green bag just now and used nailpolish remover to move the covers off from the boxes.but the out come color is a bit milky.
#1 is polyethylene terephthalate, known as PET. It's used primarily in 2L soft-drink bottles. #6 is polystyrene, known as PS. It comes in a brittle clear form used for everything from pastry trays to CD cases; it also comes in an opaque spongy form used in grocery meat trays, packing foam, take-out food containers, etc. Because the two forms of PS have very different properties, they break down differently and many places don't have the facilities to recycle PS - that's why in some places, manufacturers must use easier-to-recycle plastics like PET or #5, polypropylene (PP). AFAIK, you can only use the clear brittle form of PS for this kind of crafting. The foamy kind will shrivel and quite possibly catch fire and give off acrid smoke.
DeleteJust a Tip: If you can't find and rings in a near-by craft store I recommend you use colorful string to add dazzle.
ReplyDeleteJust a Question: Instead of using #6 plastic containers can I use any other plastic containers, because I buy cookies in plastic containers so I'm not flooded with cookie tins
No, it will only work with #6 plastics.
DeleteI could kick myself for buying all the stuff to do this using shrink plastic...next time I'm in the grocery look out! {grin} Thanks soooo much for this, amazing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the inspiration! I made a shrinky-dink bracelet following your instructions for my daughter's teacher that says: #1 Teacher!
ReplyDeleteFun!
DeleteI have worked a lot with shrink plastic - that is so neat that you figured out you can use a #6 plastic container! thought I'd add (since it came up that kids and sharpies sometimes don't mix too well) that if you lightly sand the plastic, you can also use colored chalk as well (blending colors looks super cool) and rubber stamps/ink pad work too on the sanded or smooth plastic!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think we used colored pencils when I was a kid. Never thought to try chalk!
DeleteSuch a fabulous bracelet. Love the way that children's drawings can become modern wearable art. I'd want to wear it every day too!
ReplyDeleteAdorable project!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I love how you did it with your sons art:) Such a great idea! ~Angi
ReplyDeleteI had him draw on the plastic before shrinking it. Got a little on his hands but it came off just fine in the bath!
DeleteLike everyone above, I LOVE this idea, but I'm wondering whether baking plastic in the oven might be toxic. Do you know anything about the safety of the fumes created by heating the plastic? I'd like to do this at home and in the retirement home where I work.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure about the safety of the fumes, although we didn't smell anything while it was baking. I'd make sure to open a window and turn on the fan above the stove just in case. See this article for more information: http://gelfand.web.cmu.edu/scimodules/1._Shrinky_Dinks.html
DeleteWhen you bake polymers or plastics in an oven, the heat brings chemicals out of the plastic to coat the inside of the oven. When you use the oven to cook food later the chemicals can be absorbed into your food.As an artist, my solution has been to have a toaster oven that I use exclusively for baking polymers.
DeleteJust FYI- I like to do shrinky dink projects and various other stuff that requires an oven. I bought a used toaster oven at a garage sale for $3 and it works great! It was a super cheap way to keep me from being paranoid about fumes. I plug it in outside for extra ventilation.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!
DeleteAmazing idea! Can't wait to give it a try. Could you tell me if the temperature is in Celsius or Fahrenheit? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThe temperatures listed are definitely fahrenheit. Celsius temperature would be approximately 120 or 125
DeleteMine curled up and never uncurled! It melted! I did it in my toaster oven. What went wrong? Help!!!!
ReplyDeleteWere you using #6 plastic? It won't work with other types of plastic.
DeleteHow do you tell if it is #6? I see no numbers on any of the plastic containers....
DeleteLook for a 6 inside the recycling symbol (it looks like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Recycle001.svg). If it doesn't have that symbol, it means the plastic can't be recycled, so it's probably not #6.
DeleteWow! I feel so dumb, but I don't find any number on the container at all. I tried to go to this websit and it was not valid. I want to make some of this jewelry with the grandkids so bad. any suggestions now. Thanks
DeleteAre you in the US? Other countries may not require the same markings that they do here.
DeleteYou could also just buy a Shrinky Dink kit. (http://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Own-Shrinky-Dinks/dp/B00140VZ90/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339093395&sr=8-1) They're not free, but still pretty cheap!
Just a thought, maybe the actual temperature inside the oven differs from what is indicated on the dial. Could be that it's either too warm (or not heating enough?). My own oven is out by 25 degrees, so I have an oven thermometer which helps out.
DeleteUse sunscreen to remove Sharpie off the high chair plastic (it might be too late if it's really set in and washed)but I discovered sunscreen removes sharpie when I worked with kids and their parents wrote their name on their sunscreen bottles in Sharpie...after a couple messy uses the names completely wiped off. :)
ReplyDeleteOooh, thanks for the tip! I'll have to give it a try.
DeleteI think you just solved my problem for beads I've been looking for but couldn't find. Thank you for the great photos too!! Those always help so much.
ReplyDeleteKay Johnson
andtheniateit.com
Oh shucks, I'm going to have to buy some pastries....
ReplyDeletehey, about what percentage of shrinkage do you get? I mean, if I want a pendant 2 inches in size, ferinstance, how big a piece of plastic should I start with?
ReplyDeleteAlso I'm thinking you could lay that clear plastic over a drawing and trace it onto the plastic with your markers, color it and cut it out and shrink it. :)
It shrinks to about 1/3 of it's original size, so I'd start with a 6 inch piece if you you want it to be about 2 inches in the end. But there are some variations in how the plastic for these containers is rolled out. I've noticed that some shrink more than others. If you have enough to experiment with, you may want to do a test run first!
DeleteI just made my first trial, and that's exactly what happened...started out about 3 1/2 x 3 inchews, ended up about 1 1/4 x1. Tried Mod Podge to seal it as that was all I had in the house--sadly smudged the sharpie a bit :( but now that I know what to do I'm good. It was amazing! 90 seconds in the oven and blam, went from flimsy to SOLID. Thanks for the how-to! :)
DeleteHi Michelle. Thanks for posting this project, I had a lot of fun making it. Here is my post on my blog http://craftybliggityblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/shinky-dink-bracelet-from-rust-sunshine.html
ReplyDeleteCute! Thanks for sharing. :-)
DeleteWow I love upcycling! I'm wondering how toxic it is to bake plastic though.
ReplyDeleteHey there! Just wanted to let you know we featured you in our Favorite Find Fridays post over at Whimsically Homemade. We used one of your pictures. If that's a problem let us know and we'll remove it immediately. Thanks for your great inspiration!
ReplyDeleteNo problem. Thanks for letting me know! :-)
DeleteHi, these look great! I just have 1 question, the temperature, is it in fahrenheit or celcius?
ReplyDeletementioned above...farenheit.
DeleteGorgeous!!! I love it!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing :)
oh my gosh, i love this idea! thanks so much! :) lisa
ReplyDeleteWow! What a fantastic idea! I love recycled crafts.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant idea!
ReplyDeleteAs kids, we used the lid from containers that usually had liver or chinked up produce in them. They were clear with red triangle looking print around the edge. When baked, the red became a nice trim for your project (ornaments, name tags, jewelry etc.) If you try these don't cut the red off, just put your picture on the clear part of the lid.
ReplyDeleteI love this so much! I also happen to have the same wedding band as you. :-)
ReplyDeleteI always LOVED shrinky dinks! This is such a great idea and I am so glad to know! Thank you!
ReplyDeletenice! The only thing I worry about is the fumes from the plastic cooking in the oven (especially an oven that you cook your food in), especially with kids around...
ReplyDeleteIt's such a low setting, I didn't really smell much.
DeleteThese are really really cool. I'm a big crafty, art person (I have my own Children's Mural Painting business) and I'm always looking for new things to try! I think I'm going to do this myself, because my son who is 7 is not all that into crafting ): But thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletemolto carino mi piace tantissimo ci provo a farlo grazie lili
ReplyDeleteDid this and LOVED the results! Only word of caution: my #6 plastic was only #6 on the top. The sides and bottom were another number, so those pieces shrunk even smaller. Luckily, I had enough to complete the bracelet with just the top. The itty-bitty pieces are pretty cool, so I think I'll make a pendent where the itty-bitty pieces hang by really thin filament wire. Thanks for such a great post ; D
ReplyDeletei love how this plastic is clear, unlike shrinky dinks!
ReplyDeleteDidn't read all of the replies, but one thing I didn't see mentioned is how to open jump rings. You never simply pull the ends apart, because they will never go back to the right shape. Open them side-to-side with two pairs of craft pliers, so that the open jump ring resembles part of a spring.
ReplyDeleteTo remove permanent marker off of anything no matter how old the marker stains are: spray surface with any brand of AEROSOL hairspray and wipe off immediately. Permanent ink comes right off and no damage to the surface!
ReplyDeleteWe made some this morning using sushi packaging #6 plastic in Australia. I accidentally set the oven to 250oC. Whoops!! However they only took a total of 40 seconds to shrink :)
ReplyDeleteI found that while they are still hot, you have about 10-15 seconds to use a rolling pin to flatten if they aren't too your liking. Fabulous result. Thanks so much for sharing.Hmmmm must eat more sushi.....Kimberly
Is it safe? From what I understand #6 plastic is a polystyrene that turns into some dangerous styrene when you heat it up. That's why it's not used in plastic cups anymore.
ReplyDeleteThey seem more concerned with chemicals leeching into foods from prolonged exposure, although they still make disposable cups, take out containers, and even yogurt containers from #6 plastic. I'd like to find some information that says whether or not it's harmful, but haven't found anything to make me think it's unsafe. The best I can offer is my own experience with the stuff. I made TONS of shrinky dinks as a kid, and so far, no toxic fume related health problems to speak of...
DeleteThanks for responding! I think I may have to try it if I can find #6 in Sweden.
DeleteFrom a Website called the Green Guide Network:
Delete"Plastic #6: Polystyrene, or Styrofoam, from which disposable containers and packaging are made. Also found in disposable plates and cups. Overwhelming evidence suggests that this type of plastic leaches potentially toxic chemicals, especially when heated. Try to avoid the use of #6 plastic as much as possible. It is difficult to recycle and most recycling programs won't accept it."
http://www.greenguidenetwork.com/article-detail/May-17-2010---The-7-Types-of-Plastic--What-They-Mean-to-Your-Health.-202/
PS comes in two forms. The clear brittle form has different properties from the opaque spongy form we know as styrofoam. Styrofoam has a lot of nasty properties but the clear brittle form is a much stabler form of the polymer. I'd still be leery of putting it in an oven I also cook food in though.
DeleteI was wondering if I could just skip the searching for containers and buy sheets. I found some on amazon. The thickness is 0.01". Is this thin enough?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/Plastruct-SSM-101-Clear-Styrene-PLS91201/dp/B0000WS9X8
Here's the link if you want to take a look.
Thanks!
I have no idea if those will work, but you can buy Shrinky Dink sheets online: http://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Own-Shrinky-Dinks/dp/B00140VZ90/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342472928&sr=8-1&keywords=shrinky+dinks
DeleteThe picture of the item used to craft with appears to be a #1 inside the recycle symbol in Canada. Number 6 Plastics is PS (polystyrene) Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc cases Read more:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/recycling-symbols-plastics-460321#ixzz20k9vSkvU
The #6's here are egg cartons too... "Food service items-cups, plates, bowls, cutlery, hinged takeout containers (clamshells), meat and poultry trays. Protective foam packaging for furniture, electronics and other delicate items. Packing peanuts, known as “loose fill.” Compact disc cases and aspirin bottles."
DeleteI have a bunch of #1's laying around so I am going to try that... (endlsdremr)
I'm super duper excited to do this for Christmas presents!!! (I'm even leary of posting on Pinterest worried they will see it before lol)
ReplyDeleteAnother question before I start searching the plastic bins - I bought a package of shrinky-dinks on sale one day as I'd always loved them as a child but my parents always said NO. When I got home I realized they say on the package to only use an electric oven, and we have gas, so I gave them away. What are you guys all using? I'd hate to get excited about this again just to find that I can't do them in our oven. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI've done it both ways. For this project I used my gas oven. It's faster and more predictable in an electric oven, I think because they tend to heat more evenly. You might have to leave it a little longer with a gas oven, or turn the temp up about 10 degrees.
DeleteThe most original DIY ever, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
ReplyDeleteBrilliant!!!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
This is soooooo cool. Thank you for sharing this idea.
ReplyDeleteLee Ann
I just tried this since I had a salad container in the fridge and it worked great! One of my pieces didn't want to stay flat, so as soon as I took it out of the oven, I put a piece of parchment on top and used a can lid to flatten it all the way. Now I'm going to be asking coworkers to save their #6 plastic boxes for me after lunch!
ReplyDeleteMy 7-year-old daughter made this for one of her best friends who is moving. We used a butterfly punch (scrapbooking) to make the beads butterfly shaped instead of the squarish ones and it turned out great! I only had to help her with punching the shapes and adding the jump rings.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! It's pretty cool how the plastic keeps the same shape even after shrinking. :-)
DeleteThanks for the tutorial! My husband came home from the grocery store with TWO plastic containers and I was all "Oh! Shrinky Dinks!" and he was like, "Whatever, just don't eat all my cookies."
ReplyDeleteHere's what my 3 year old and I did; I linked it back to you: http://childsprose.blogspot.com/2012/07/faux-shrink-dink-bracelet.html?spref=fb
Cute ;-)
DeleteI love your bracelet!--spotted it on pinterest, by the way.
ReplyDeleteIn answer to some of the questions you've been getting, I did a similar project to this a few years ago, and as part of the process I did a bunch of experiments around what works and what doesn't with homemade shrinky dinks (including colored pencils) and also some methods for sealing them, since as i'm sure you've discovered, the sharpie will wear off of the charms. So if you're interested, check it out: http://dabbled.org/2008/07/part-3-more-experimentation-in-shrinky.html (can you use html on blogger? I forget. If so Shrinky Tests )
Thanks Dot! Your tutorial is what inspired this project in the first place. :-)
DeleteI found your post through Pinterest and just tried it. Thanks for the tutorial! It worked like a charm.
ReplyDeleteOk, so I discovered there are 2 different types of # 6 plastic. The first type I used came from a salad bar at my local grocery store. The sturdy kind of plastic. It shrank, opened then curled itself into a tube and stayed that way :-( the other kind was a container that held fresh herbs, sort of flimsy, very easy to cut. Worked like a charm. But they do REALLY SHRINK, so pay attention to dimensions!
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a great idea, and I tried it out! It worked great, but I wanted to put it out there that if you want uniform or cool designs feel free to use scrap booking paper punches to cut the plastic. I even made a Mickey Mouse in a circle with my Disney punch!
ReplyDeleteThat is such a great idea!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI really want to try this right now > <
I was about to do this when I thought "250° Fahrenheit or 250° Celsius? Could you tell me? :) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteFahrenheit.
Deletered solo cups (any color actually) also work for shrinky dinks
ReplyDeleteHi, probably toxic..but figured I would ask anyway. Anybody try fingernail polish on the plastic? Thanks..
ReplyDeleteI tried nail polish on a couple but it smeared the Sharpie marks. :-( I think a spray sealer might be the way to go, although I haven't had any trouble yet with the marker scratching off.
DeleteWhat about just painting with clear nail polish as your sealer?
DeleteThese would be great for gift tags or name tags of any sort! Also, if you used Solo cups you could punch green Christmas trees and red bells, etc. and make ornaments for a tabletop Christmas tree or pendants for a necklace!
ReplyDeleteHi, just found this on Pinterest. I love this idea! I'm going to have to try this with my son. Love ur blog, too - just joined. Thanks. Claire
ReplyDeleteWelcome! :-)
DeleteHi! Thanks so much for the inspiration! I just wanted to share with you what i've done.
ReplyDeletehttp://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/384127_10151160592744875_1648223156_n.jpg
I couldn't find the containers.. so I just got some shrink plastic stuff from Daiso. I stamped it with my stazon. Couldn't have done it without your idea!!!
Very cool, Dianne! Thanks for sharing. :-)
Deletegreat way to repurpose plastic containers! thanks for sharing and have a wonderful week! *hugs* and much aloha, steph :)
ReplyDeleteLove This...Going to Try it...took me a hour to figure out how to get directions...lol...silly Pinterest blocking the link. Anyhow so glad I kept searching.
ReplyDeleteThanks For Sharing!
Glad you finally found it. Have fun! :-)
DeleteAnyone that is scared to let their little ones use permanant markers fear no more!! Skin So Soft from AVON takes it off easily and doesn't dry out their skin!! (Learned the hard way after my daughter at the age of 2 decided to be a hitler look-a-like, ha)
ReplyDeleteI played with shrinks dinks in the 70's. We baked them in the easy bake oven we bought at a yard sale.sing the old incandescent light bulbs.
ReplyDeleteLove it! I think we'll be doing this for operation christmas child!! I like to pack my shoe boxes with as many gifts as possible for these little children who never receive anything. Can't wait!! Also a sidenote about the fumes, unless you were planning to turn this little project into a factory,I see no real concern ;-)
ReplyDeleteThis is soooo awesome! Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to try it.
ReplyDeleteDo you have to use parchment paper or can you use tin foil?
ReplyDeleteI think you could use tin foil. It's more to protect your pan than anything else.
DeleteTruly an awesome idea. Do you think there is any way, one can put pictures inside these? I am blown away by the incredible ideas people have. I think I am going to end up becoming a hoarder as I gather things to ‘potentially use’ or become afraid of throwing things out because of their amazing recyclable potential.
ReplyDeleteYou could decoupage a picture onto the back after the plastic has been shrunk, but I don't think there's a way to get one inside. Let me know if you figure out how to do it though! :-)
Deletebaby oil removes permanent marker from skin
ReplyDeleteOlá Michelle
ReplyDeleteAdorei sua ideia e vou fazer... amei...
beijos
Obrigada, Carmen!
DeleteTried it, worked out great! Thank you for the idea. Messed up once with the initial drawing but nothing the rubbing alcohol and q-tip couldn't fix!!
ReplyDeleteCheers!
I love this! Thanks for sharing! :]
ReplyDeleteI found #6 plastic containers at a party supply house. They sell things like takeout boxes, party platters, popcorn boxes. I just finished trying this and it works very well. It's a lot of fun too. I traced some designs from scrap book paper. I can see many projects coming from this!
ReplyDeleteI saw this post months ago and have been searching for #6 ever since. I finally found some at a bakery in Del Mar, CA. It was a great moment. Chocolate expresso moose in #6 plastic. lol. I just finished shrinking it and it was super fun! I put the pieces out using my shaped punches. In the oven they went really fast...like less then 1 minute. I also used the heat gun and that also worked. The only problem: when I had a really big piece it didn't heat evenly and folded up on itself. I would suggest doing big pieces in the oven. All in all a fun project. Back to the hunt for more #6.
ReplyDeleteThis would make a great mother's day gift! Thanks for the ideas!
ReplyDeleteWhat about the gasses that come off the plastic while heated. very bad idea to do with children.
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool! I tried it twice, the first time did not go so well, but the second did ( I left it in a little longer 1:20 sec)! Here's a picture! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200362333733746&l=0660367745 for the doctor who fans :) (not a bracelet, but I was inspired)
ReplyDeleteVery cool. My sister is a big Dr. Who fan. ;-)
Deleteexcellent tutorial...great photos!! thanks!!
ReplyDeleteMy kids and I had so much fun with this idea this afternoon! We made a lot of things and next (after we find more #6 plastic) we want to try making buttons.
ReplyDeleteHi, i would really love to do this but i must be doing something wrong as it won't work for me. I've tried all different kind s of plastic containers & preheated oven to 180°c which is spose to be 350°f according to google, but nothing. Please can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong, its a gas oven. I'm using a metal cookie tray lined with baking paper on the middle shelf of oven.
ReplyDeleteIt only works with #6 plastic, so make sure you're using the right stuff. The only other thing I can think of is to check that your oven is getting hot enough. Maybe use an oven thermometer?
DeleteDo you happen to know how to tell if it's #6 plastic? If you buy something does it say on the label somewhere?
DeleteLook for the recycling symbol with the three arrows. usually there is a number in the middle. If it doesn't have the recycling symbol or it has any number besides a 6, it's not the right type of plastic and will not work.
DeleteHi! I will be trying this out with my daughters this weekend! Thanks for the idea! Just wondering (and sorry if you answered this already) have you tried doing a "sandwich" with a precious item between....e.i. A piece of fabric, or paper, a string or even a tiny flower? In my country we can find a lot of jewels made with glass and small flowers inside and are very expensive! It will be so great if we can make our own! Keep up the great craftings!
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried it but let me know if you do!
DeleteHi there! Today I tried to shrink plastic for the first time, and I don't think it happened... please tell me what I'm doing wrong... here are two pictures of the fail :)
ReplyDeletehttp://dox.bg/files/dw?a=a3b900b70f
http://dox.bg/files/dw?a=efc6784cd2
Can some one give me an idea of where to look for number six containers? I looked all over our store today, they were all ones.
ReplyDeleteA bunch of people left comments about where they found #6 plastic. Scroll through the comments for ideas. You can also buy the original Shrinky Dink plastic from Amazon.com or look for it in craft stores.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI tried this idea and I failed :(
I was so disappointing as it was going to be a mothers day gift. I did do one thing different thought, I used one of those small ovens you plug in instead of the stove oven. I don't know if that affected the outcome (didn't think it would). Mine did curl almost right away and I began to see them uncurl which was exciting, I was thinking, "This is working!" but them some didn't become uncurled they didn't shrink at all, they stayed the exact same size, even after the ones that did uncurl, uncurl. I left them in for a few more minutes to see if anything would happen but nothing did. Also they didn't remain clear like yours, the turned white almost instantly as soon as I set them in the oven.
I will try again using the stove oven, hoping for a better result because I love this idea.
-Fail in WA
If they didn't shrink at all I'm guessing you weren't using the right kind of plastic. This only works with #6 plastic. Otherwise maybe the toaster oven didn't get hot enough or was heating unevenly. Hope it works better next time!
DeleteIf you have a store called "Smart & Final" near you, they sell #6 plastic containers like the square one pictured in the original post. I bought a bunch there. Smart & Final has a lot of catering supplies, so if you don't have a Smart & Final near you but have another catering supply type store near you check them out. :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome post I am sure to try this on the coming weekend....thanks for posting
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I found this blog and this information. Our local co-op is no longer able to recycle this type of plastic and I HATE tossing it in the landfill. Now I know what I can do with all the #6 plastic. [Yes, I do remember shrinky dinks. I'm older than I look.]
ReplyDeleteThe styrofoam cups and plates that I have have the number 6 in the recycle symbol. Have you tried using styrofoam to make "Shrinky Dinks?"
ReplyDeleteNo, but I don't think it would work. The clear, thin #6 is made by rolling the plastic flat until it's super thin, then when it's heated it just returns to its normal thickness. I'd imagine styrofoam is manufactured in a different way.
DeleteI love this! Great way to show how to make amazing and inexpensive jewelry. I have recently started experimenting with shrinky dinks and I love it. I have found some really cool ways to create things. Please feel free to check out my etsy store to see :)
ReplyDeleteetsy.com/shop/joellelove
Fun! Thanks for sharing.
DeleteThanks so much for sharing this. I have always wanted to try and make shrinky dink jewelry, and this is easy and using recycled products.
ReplyDeleteHow fun. Probably way easier than resin. TFS!
ReplyDeleteI would just like to agree with everyone else, these are sooo cool, I even have a pack of the old shrinky dink plastics, but this seems much cooler, and of course basically free. Thanks for the post
ReplyDeleteIm surprised nobody has thought of sandwiching small photos between two per set/ these would make awesome charms, mementos! mothers day pics of the kids! awesome!
ReplyDeletemy 2cents about removing permanent marker. car paste wax takes it off many many surfaces,Sandy
We made these tonight! They were so fun and cute, but already, the marker is scratching off. We used the #6 plastic and Sharpies to color them. Do you have any recommendations on how to prevent that from happening? Has anyone else had this issue?
ReplyDeleteOMG Pinterest just brought this post back to life. I used to LOVE shrinky Dinks! this is way cool. I will have to try it!
ReplyDeleteObrigada pelo tutorial, a plástico depois não quebra? que grossura ele fica?
ReplyDeleteThank you for the directions! I was so relieved when I saw this and realized I wouldnt have to waste my money to buy my necklaces for my best friends, I just needed to turn plastics into pendants! THANK YOU!
ReplyDeletethis looks like fun...but is the #6 plastic thin ? because the pendant looks thick ....im confused
ReplyDeleteYes. It starts out thin but gets thick once it's baked.
DeleteI shared this idea years ago on www.refabdiaries.com and while I still love the idea, I do want to say something to people complaining that they can't find #6 plastic: THIS IS A GOOD THING! It's awful. It's Polystyrene (styrofoam). It's potentially toxic and is notoriously difficult to recycle. I love this idea because it's a way to repurpose something NOT recyclable. If you actually live in a world devoid of #6, lucky you! :)
ReplyDeletelove it. where did you get the black choker that you put your pendant from?
ReplyDeleteMichael's I think, but any craft store should have them.
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