How to Make Your Own Shrinky Dinks

1. Design-Trace, Draw or write your desired image or text on your shrinky dink paper using permanent markers

The total image will shrink to about a third of its original size, and five or six times its original thickness. Keep in mind that the film shrinks by about 50%, so draw your image bigger than the desired finished size.

2. Color- Color the design on the back rough side by permanent maker

3. Cut- Cut out your design with scissors or a craft knife. If you want a hole in it for hanging, use a hole punch PRIOR to baking.

4. Shrink- Place design on sheet lined with Teflon sheet in the oven at the temperature 180℃/356℉ for baking about 1-2 minutes( suggestion)

For the first minute your art will curl up all crazy-like, but soon, it will flatten itself out.

5. Cool- Using the tongs or oven mitt to remove the tray.

At this point, it’s still plyable, so if you want to flatten it more, or add waves or bend the corners, do so CAREFULLY within the first ten seconds

Now you're done!

The shrinky dinks are still cut-able, sand-able, drill-able, glue-able, and plenty more. Attach it to jewelry, make a luggage label, or even a guitar pick!

Tips & Warnings

If you don't like the way a molded design turns out, or if the plastic cools and hardens too quickly, you can put it back in the oven for 2 to 3 minutes to reflatten it and then twist or shape it again.

Do NOT use a microwave oven when baking Shrinky Dinks. Only a conventional or a toaster oven will shrink your shapes.

Watch the shapes as they bake and don't allow them to curl so tightly that they stick to themselves. If this happens, carefully open the oven door and use a chopstick or a small blunt knife to unstick the shapes and flatten them

Shrink Film may not shrink perfectly, allow for some distortion; Children require adult supervision when baking