There was a time when Shrinky Dinks® was on almost every child’s Christmas list. Betty Morris of Brookfield, Wisconsin, invented the plastic polymer sheets in 1973. Kids could color designs on the sheets and cut them into different shapes. With the magic of heat, the designs would shrink, allowing kids to make shrinky dink pictures, keychains, necklaces, charms, or whatever unimaginable little trinkets kids could devise.
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After reaching the peak of its popularity in the 1980s, Shrinky Dinks® faded into near obscurity. Crafters rediscovered the shrinkable polystyrene sheets, which are still available today. Some crafters have found that any #6 recycled plastic suits their creations. The sheets can receive print from standard inkjet printers, which makes them more versatile for some projects, including shrinky dink pictures.
Applying heat shrinks the polystyrene to about one-third of its original size and makes it thicker. When the heated items cool, they become rigid. Crafter Katie Jane has been exploring this material’s new-found versatility. Katie has a two-part tutorial detailing the entire process on her TikTok page.
Part one of Katie’s tutorial explains the printing process and tips for perfecting your finished project. In part two, Katie explains the process of adding resin to projects. The resin adds a perfect finishing touch if you are a professional crafter. Part three hasn’t been posted yet, but Katie promises to add tips for using your shrinky dink creations to add flair to any fashion.
If you are interested in this type of craft project, you can find many more tutorials and crafting ideas by searching #shrinkydink on TikTok. The ideas and tips are endless. Have fun exploring this throwback item and create new smiles.
Please share if Shrinky Dinks® is on your Christmas list.
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