Shrink Plastic is a versatile and enjoyable crafting material that can be used to create a wide range of DIY projects. Whether you’re looking to make scrapbooking embellishments, unique jewelry pieces, stylish home decor items, fun kids’ crafts, or intricate stamped designs, Shrink Plastic is a great choice. It’s a type of plastic that can be easily cut, colored, and shaped, and then heated to shrink down to a fraction of its original size, resulting in a thick, durable, and slightly textured finished product.
If you’re new to Shrink Plastic
or looking for fresh inspiration, The Spruce Crafts is a fantastic resource for all things related to this fascinating material.
-Heather
Here are some more articles we wrote on Shrink plastic.
Project: Shrink Plastic Jewelry
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Shrink Plastic, also known as Shrinky Dinks or polystyrene film, is a type of plastic sheet that can be easily cut into different shapes and sizes using scissors or a die-cutting machine. It can be colored with markers, colored pencils, or paint, and then baked in a conventional oven or with a heat gun. As it heats up, the plastic begins to curl, shrink, and thicken, resulting in a more compact, durable, and textured version of the original design.
The shrinking process occurs due to the plastic’s composition, which includes polystyrene and other resins. When heat is applied to the plastic, the resins soften and expand, causing the plastic to shrink in size. The final product is roughly one-third the size of the original design and approximately nine times thicker.
Shrink Plastic has become a popular crafting material because of its versatility, ease of use, and durability. It can be used for a variety of projects, from making jewelry and keychains to creating embellishments for scrapbooking and card making. Its textured surface makes it ideal for stamping, while its ability to shrink down to a fraction of its original size allows for intricate designs and unique shapes.
Shrink Plastic was first invented in the 1970s by two Wisconsin housewives who were looking for a new way to entertain their children. They discovered that by cutting and coloring polystyrene sheets and baking them in the oven, they could create small, colorful shapes that would shrink down and thicken. They soon realized that their invention had commercial potential and began selling Shrinky Dinks kits, which quickly became popular among children and adults alike. Since then, Shrink Plastic has become a beloved crafting material, inspiring countless DIY projects and creative endeavors.
Why is the video for the many ways to shrink plastic not coming up?
Penny- This post is from 4 years ago and the site might not be available any longer.
-Heather
Can I use plastic food containers or must it be specific craft purchase? I’ve used plastic with heat gun before
You used to be able to use some plastic container lids but I’ve not seen the type that work in many years. I wouldn’t try it because of any chemicals it could release by melting and just stick to plastic that’s make for shrinking.
Hope that helps!
-Heather