I’ve included a few easy-to-make suggestions of images in the templates list. To make Shrinky Dink Christmas ornaments, I’ve found that a full sized image (from a coloring book or the like) works very well. If you ever want to make your own, five or six images per page works out to be about the right size for necklaces or keychains. Check out The Homestead Kids Blog, where the kids share the things they’ve been creating! The colors will darken, so don’t worry if it seems light.

If your design does not entirely flatten, make sure it is is good and hot, and then place an acrylic block or another ceramic tile on top of it, to flatten it while it cools. With larger designs like our heart, the shrink plastic can curl up on itself and look like it will never be flat. 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. Use a wooden skewer (or any heat-proof tool) to gently hold the image down while you apply heat from a heat gun.

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After sanding, you can draw or trace an image onto the sanded side of the sheet. Additionally, if you are printing text, remember to invert your photo to ensure the text appears correctly after shrinking. Therefore, it is recommended to start with an image that is three to four times larger than your desired final size. Some types of paint can bunch up, curl, and flake when heated, ruining your creation.

Flatten & Cool:

Guiding children through the creative process makes cherished memories. Our kits are perfect for birthday parties, sleepovers, camp, or as gifts. Our kits are age-adaptable with projects ranging from simple to advanced. As children draw, color and assemble their shrink art designs, they build artistic skills from composition to fine motor coordination.

These Shrinky Dink Christmas ornaments couldn’t be simpler to make. If you make a purchase base on my referral, I earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. I decided to use some of vintage postcard imagery from the New York Public Library’s digital collection to make my Shrinky Dinks Christmas ornaments. You may remember the Christmas Bingo card ornaments I made for last year’s event. I just loved watching the paper curl up and shrink in the oven. It’s never too early to get a jumpstart on your Christmas crafting.

Purchase options and add-ons

• Check out The Homestead Kids Blog, where the kids share the things they’ve been creating!
• My children enjoyed making their Shrinky Dink Handprints so much that I had to purchase another pack of paper.
• You can also put a layer of parchment paper on top of the Shrinky Dink designs to help to keep them flat.
• While Shrinky Dinks never completely disappeared, they’re also remembered as one of the ultimate toys of the past.
• This versatile art supply isn’t just for kids; it’s a magical medium that sparks endless creative ideas for crafters of all ages, turning simple designs into durable, adorable treasures.

Hand painted and hand drawn in shrink film. For simple jewelry, just use a tiny dab of E6000 on the jewelry finding where you want it to attach to the shrinky. Now if you did punch holes to make dangly earrings and necklace pendants jump rings and needle nose pliers in addition to a necklace chain and french earring hooks. Once your shrinkies are removed from the oven, immediately remove them from the baking tray and place them on a flat surface underneath a large heavy object.

What Tools and Materials Do You Need to Make Shrinky Dinks?

Whether you’re working on intricate patterns or bold illustrations, having an assortment of colors ensures that you can bring your ideas to life with accuracy and precision. Prioritizing non-toxic markers also aligns with environmentally friendly practices, supporting a healthier and more sustainable crafting experience. The quick-drying feature ensures that the ink sets rapidly on the smooth surface of the shrink film, preventing smudging or smearing during the coloring process. The small, fine tips allow for intricate details and fine lines to be drawn accurately on the small shrink film surface. When creating intricate designs on the smooth surface of shrinky dinks, quick drying ink helps prevent smudging and ensures precise results. Overall, investing in the best markers for shrinky dinks is a wise choice for achieving professional-looking results and enhancing your crafting experience.

Browse to your image to bring it to the “Select Image Type” menu. Once the image is ready, bring it in to Design Space just like we did with the sunflower. If you need to lighten an image, do so with photo editing software before uploading it to Design Space as you cannot shrinky dink paper make the necessary color changes in Design Space.

Have you read?

Personalize your pieces with vibrant colors and add a touch of sparkle with sticky gem strips. Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. At checkout, you can add a custom message, a gift receipt for easy returns and have the item gift-wrapped If they struggle to flatten after you take them out of the oven, place them under a plate for a few seconds.

Steps

Layering your colors and using a light hand helps prevent the construction from warping. Acrylic paint, watercolor, and permanent markers also work well due to their adhesion. Typically, materials will cost you around $15, and you can knock it out in a couple of hours, including drying time! After creating with acrylics, seal your Shrinky Dinks with a clear acrylic spray, like Krylon’s 1305, to enhance durability. Some colors came out vibrant, while others faded when baked; it was both exciting and nerve-wracking!

This project is a great way to add some festive flair to your accessories collection and is perfect for the winter season. These earrings are perfect for adding a touch of seasonal charm to your outfit, and they make great gifts for friends and family. This project is perfect for preserving memories or showing off your favorite designs. The Shrinky Dink Heart Wrap Bracelet and Wildflower Rings are both easy to make and perfect for adding some unique flair to your outfit.

If you don’t have a heat gun, they are not pricey, you can usually get one for around $25 and they are great for other home uses. What we have found to be much easier AND quicker is using a heat gun! My kids love carrying pocket-sized shrink dinks to carry around their pockets or add them to their endless cache of loose parts or special treasures. You can also grab our FREE printable Earth Day coloring sheet to make perfect cute earth!