DIY shrink plastic typography pendants | How About Orange

July 03, 2012

DIY shrink plastic typography pendants


I played with shrink plastic in the toaster oven last night to make some fun typographic pendants.

I used white shrink film sheets made by Grafix, purchased at a local craft store. (Rumor has it that Shrinky Dink brand plastic is a little better, especially if you plan to make larger items. It curls less. But Grafix worked just fine for this.)


How to make your own pendants:
Print out images to trace onto plastic. They should be 250% larger than the intended finished size. Download my ampersand and "hey" shapes here, or make your own words or characters—try asterisks or names! I used Helvetica for the ampersand and Pacifico (a free font) for "hey."

With a pencil, trace shapes onto the shrink film. If you're using glossy film and it's difficult to make pencil lines show up, roughen the surface of the plastic a bit with sandpaper first.


Cut out the holes in the shapes with an X-Acto knife and trim the outer edges with a scissors. Punch a hole at the top if desired; I used a 1/8" punch.

Erase any pencil lines from the edges or they'll be baked on.

Following the instructions on your film package, bake the pieces in a conventional oven or toaster oven. I laid my shapes on a piece of cardboard and stuck them in a 300 degree toaster oven. I watched them like a hawk, yanking them out and flattening them a bit if it looked like the edges were curling so much they might stick together. Then I put them back in the oven to finish baking. Don't be horrified by the crazy curling that happens; as long as the edges don't get stuck together, the shapes should flatten out by themselves. When they stop shrinking (2-3 minutes), pull them out and press them with a spatula or more cardboard while they're still hot to get them perfectly flat.


Add a jump ring and chain, and you're all set.


32 comments:

Grandma G said...

Hey, & how cool!

Mum

Kirsten B. said...

Very cool! I'd love to try this!
PS - I've never used Shinky Dinks or any such product before, so my question may sound silly, but, how did you cut out the word so nicely? Your post talks about punching the hole but not how to cut out the word. Exacto knife? Is it difficult or easy?? Thanks!

Christi said...

Do you think you could add color? I'm guessing that since you said the pencil lines would remain after baking you could use colored pencils or something. What do you think?
Thanks :)

Jessica Jones said...

Kirsten, I cut out the holes in the shapes with an X-Acto knife and trimmed the outer edges with a scissors.

Christi, you can use colored pencils or Sharpies if you rough up the surface with sandpaper (or Shrinky Dink makes a type that comes pre-roughed up.)

I've used Sharpies before and found that if I colored both sides, the side lying on the cardboard left some color behind. And it scratched off pretty easily. Haven't tried colored pencils. Any color you apply will become twice as dark during baking, so keep that in mind.

Jessica Jones said...

I'll add that I've also tried an inkjet printable version of shrink film with good results.

bright lights, big cities said...

You just brought back soooo many memories for me... I didn't even know shinky dink was still around!

the results you have are really lovely!

annie dee said...

Looks like a whole lotta fun!

Sharon said...

those are quite awesome, thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

I love these. I used to make necklaces with my drawings on, you can paint on the rough side using inks ...I used Derwent "Inktense" pencils.

Bek said...

I am kind of in love with that ampersand. This may be a craft to do when the kids are asleep so I don't have to share or make puppies or anything like that :)

LimeRiot said...

Very nice!

I would love to find the white shrink plastic. I've only ever used clear of that cloudy color. The white is much bolder.

Winter Redd said...

Brilliant and beautiful!

MilandDil Designs said...

Creative and lovely to behold!

Alacraft said...

Simply speechless. Really nice. I really love this. Check it mine http://www.alacraft.com.au/scrapbooking-cat10

Anonymous said...

so trying this out!

CBH said...

Thank you so much for this post. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in CBH Digital Scrapbooking Freebies (please, notice the new url for my blog), under the Page 3 post on Jul. 04, 2012. Thanks again.

Sanne said...

I remember Shrinky Dink, I loved that stuff when I was a little girl. Used to be pasted against the oven glass to watch it shrink, amazing! Like magic!

Rosa @ FlutterFlutter said...

The ampersand is perfection. Love it!

Atelier Buffo said...

Just found your blog.. Love it!

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Karin said...

Thank's for that idea! It will help me the last days at school before the summer break. I'm sure my pupils will love it.

Acrylic Keyrings said...

These are looks beautiful and I love these.

Cassandra said...

I have a friend getting her PhD in chemical engineering and she showed me how you can use any #6 plastic—the kind that things like store-brand cookies or donuts come in: red Solo cups also work—for Shrinky Dinks. Once I learned that I kept every #6 plastic that came through my house! The only caveat is that you have to be sure to clean the plastic really well because any food left on the container will become permanent in the oven.

Bela said...

I shrieked with delight when I saw this post. Last year, I commissioned a jeweller to make a silver ampersand for my partner, who is a book editor, for our 25th anniversary. :-)

Practically Martha said...

This is friggin brilliant! Love.

Anonymous said...

Simply speechless. Really nice. I really love this

Unknown said...

Plastic cards changes the way we think, the way we live, the way we do our transactions .It facilitate us in financial matters.

Emma said...

That's so cool! I love this! What a great way to make a personalised present for somebody :)

Shaina Longstreet said...

Seriously SO COOL! I haven't played with shrink plastic in years, but I might just have to play with this.

Fiona said...

Oh the memories from my childhood from using shrinky dink paper and putting chip packets in the oven to make them smaller :). Fiona www.imogensangel.com.au

LawraLoo said...

You can use colored pencils, or Stays-On ink stampers and the colors come out quite nice.

I found the frosted shrinky-dinks @ Hobby Lobby, they also have them on their website. :)

Anonymous said...

Oh so mant memories for me as well! I have actually painted my designs with acrylic paint before shrinking on the top only & then sprayed a clear gloss over the design after it was baked & cooled.