Shrinky dinks are a favorite childhood craft of the people who were born in the 70s. If you love flowers, you can even create 3D shrinky dink floral masterpieces to enhance the artistic vibe of your home. You can create butterflies and many other creatures using the shrinky dink.

FREE printable cards:

I know many people thing of the handprint keychains but there are really SO many other fun things to make from shrink film that would make awesome gifts. If the mom in your life wears fun earrings, she will love a handmade custom set from her favorite kiddo. Leaving it as a solid shape will help it shrink better and result in fewer chances to stick to itself. 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 . We love shrinky dinks, in fact be sure to read through my helpful Shrinky Dinks Tips and Tricks article before you start.

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Zoo Animals Life Cycle + Animal StudyIf your kid loves the zoo, this zoo animal life cycle is perfect! Paper Doll Template Weather Dress Up Seasons ActivityThis dress up activity for kids is perfect for creative play. If your children like arts and crafts, check out my Kiwi Crate Reviews + What We Really Think About KiwiCo! While the oven is heating, place the plastic cutouts on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. A standard paper hole punch is about the perfect size. Have the kids draw flowers or other small designs onto the plastic with permanent markers.

Release the stick and if your piece at the top needs more flattening, use a small spatula to flatten it. When you take the baking dish with baked designs out of the oven you may need to flatten out the designs slightly with a flat object in case they have curled. Shrink plastic will curl up in the oven, but it should flatten out as it bakes. In just a few minutes, usually 1 to 3, they begin to curl, twist, and then flatten as they shrink.

  • – Feel free to experiment with different methods and tools to create unique and innovative Shrinky Dink projects that reflect your personal style and creativity.
  • If your kids are into sports, check out these fun 24 Free Sports Shrinky Dink Patterns.
  • Use a chopstick or skewer stick to hold the hole in place so the piece doesn’t go flying when the heat gun is on.
  • And since the transformation happens so quickly, it keeps children focused and excited from start to finish.
  • They are suppose to curl and then fully uncurl as they bake.

Tips For Making Shrinky Dink Crafts

For frosted or sanded sheets, colored pencils work beautifully. For printed designs, use graphic software or a photo editing app to resize your images. Before you start, remember that your design will shrink to about 1/3 of its original size and become 9 times thicker. Be sure to follow the instructions specific to the type of plastic you purchase, especially when it comes to coloring and baking. Inkjet printable sheets are designed to go through your home printer, allowing you to print full-color images and photographs. To create Shrinky Dinks, you don’t need a lot of specialized supplies, which makes this an easy and accessible craft for all ages.

Not only do they make perfect keychains or accessories, but their versatility allows you to bring your favorite themes to life. These tiny masterpieces can be personalized with his favorite colors or interests, making them a unique and thoughtful gift. I did notice the hand print shrinky had a harder time flattening out after it shrunk. Templates give kids a clear starting point while still leaving room for personalization with colors and details. All of the cups flattened into lovely little disks.

We found that creating a simple Word document and typing the letters using “Franklin Gothic Heavy” font in size 400 worked perfectly. PIN for when Mother’s Day is drawing near and you need an awesome gift! With just a few simple supplies and your children’s creativity, you can create seriously stunning personalized keychains that will be a total hit with Mom or Grandma this Mother’s Day. Here you’ll find our favorite crafts, activities, and recipes, all tested (and loved!) by our families, along with plenty of hands-on fun and nature-inspired ideas to try at home.

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We hope to inspire moms from all walks of life to simplify their everyday routines and create happiness along the way. Our weekly newsletter grants exclusive access to our favorite projects, recipes, free printables, and more! Flip the paper over and use colored permanent markers to color inside the design. Each key chain takes just a few minutes from start to finish, but my kids made batch after batch and were kept busy for the better part of the afternoon!

We used this same technique and created keychains! Immediately after taking out of the oven, I press a metal or porcelain bowl with a flat bottom on top of them. They will bubble as they fall flat. These will start to melt within about 5 seconds so keep your eye on them! The perfect Father’s Day gifts for preschool, kindergarten, and first-grade students to give their dads.

Make sure the correct Material Size is selected for each mat. The Cricut will use the border markers shrinky dink art to know where to cut when the images are loaded. Resize the image to approximately 5” in height to get a nice size keychain with most shrink materials.