How to make Shrinky Dinks, everything you need to know! Craft

Watch closely as they shrink and curl up, then flatten out again. Use permanent markers, colored pencils, or acrylic paint to decorate your plastic shapes. Here, you’ll find pre-cut Shrinky Dink sheets in custom shapes—think hearts, stars, or even intricate designs—perfect for themed projects. Kids and adults love watching their designs curl, twist, and flatten in the oven, turning a simple drawing into a sturdy keepsake in just minutes. I remember standing by the toaster oven with my sister watching the little plastic sheets curl up and melt.

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They should shrink at the same rate if you bake them in the same batch, so just size your images similarly on the computer before printing them. Shrinky dinks don’t tend to turn out perfect though. So, if you need perfectly straight lines or corners to fit into a tiny frame or something that might be tricky, but you could sand it down (with fine grit sandpaper). I will say, they probably aren’t perfect rectangles. So, if yours are curled, they may have needed to bake longer.

• Sadly, my new Epson doesn’t have a flat feeder, so I can’t use this anymore.
• 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!
• I started by outlining all of my shapes with black, and then went back and colored them all in.
• First, I cut the sides off of the cups/boxes, so I was working with just flat pieces.
• Do not select any other type of photo paper.

Tracing and colouring your design

You’ll notice the plastic begin to curl at the edges—this is normal! Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Leave a small border (about 1/8 inch) to prevent the edges from curling too much during baking. Popular ideas include animals, names, cartoon characters, geometric shapes, or even custom keychains. You can make matching earrings, charm bracelets or necklace pendants – just punch holes for shrinky dink paper the jewellery findings before shrinking the plastic, and remember that the holes will also shrink, so don’t worry that they’ll be too large. After a minute or so, the plastic will relax back out of its shape, and revert back into a flat strip… I told you this stuff was magic!

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If using a heat gun, you’ll start to see your shrinky dink move and curl, as the first parts of the shrink plastic in the design shrink down. We have had the best results by keeping the bulk of the design as outlines, and only filling some of the shapes with solid colour. Line artwork works best, and we have found that embroidery templates or colouring sheets are a great place to find the shapes that work well as outlines. Use a small pair of sharp scissors to cut out the coloured stamped image. You can give it a helping hand by covering it with the back of ceramic tile, to ensure it flattens out completely. Being neat is not important, as you will cut out the image and shrinking concentrates the colour.

Coloring Tips for the Best Results

Because the pieces become small and durable, they’re perfect for personal adornment. Permanent markers (like Sharpies) are fantastic for vibrant colors on any surface, though they work particularly well on the smooth side. When exposed to heat, typically in a conventional oven or toaster oven (microwaves are a no-go!), the polystyrene molecules rearrange themselves. Opt for non-toxic, odor-free materials to ensure safety, especially for projects involving children. The Yncotte kit stands out by including 15 printable shrinky dink sheets plus key rings and earring accessories, offering a complete crafting experience without needing to source extras.

White, Frosted or Ruff N Ready Shrinky Dinks are best suited for colored pencils. When I did this as a kid we would use sandpaper to roughen up the plastic, and then coloured pencils worked like a charm. Tiny designs have more possibility of the sides touching each other when they curl up in the heat. The reason I recommended not making your designs too small is because of this curling.

Grafix KSF6-WIJ Printable Shrink Film 8.5X11 6PC 6-Pack, White, 6 Count

Place the cut-out designs on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and put them in the preheated oven. Using the colored pencils or markers, draw your desired design on the Shrinky Dinks plastic sheet. Download some free patterns, gather your supplies, and let the winter crafting fun begin!

Materials such as permanent markers and colored pencils can yield great results, but it’s crucial to avoid water-based inks that may bleed or smudge during shrinkage. If, after 1 minute, the piece hasn’t flattened completely, microwave it for additional 10-second intervals. They can be used by children and adults alike, making them a fun activity for both solo and group crafting sessions. Then, you’ll place all your little drawings on some parchment paper on a baking sheet, and bake them in the oven for 30 seconds to 2 minutes. In addition to the Shrinky Dinks, you’ll require a baking sheet, parchment paper, and an oven. To cook Shrinky Dinks, you’ll primarily need the Shrinky Dink sheets designed for crafting.