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Flickrshrink plastic ring tutorial
Thank you to everyone who requested a shrinkydinks ring tutorial! I hope this will answer all your questions. Please leave me a comment if you have any questions etc, or link to pictures of your own rings!
This tutorial is Donationware – the instructions are available for free, but if you like it please consider sending me a donation to show your appreciation:
Send me a donation and receive the easy-to-print PDF version of the tutorial as a thank you! The PDF also includes my tips that I’ve made in the comments since creating this tutorial.
Donations of any size are much appreciated. Just add the amount you wish to donate, and, once you have checked out and paid, your PDF will instantly be available to download from your PlanetJune account.
The complete instructions are available below, regardless of whether or not you choose to pay for them 
This is a PlanetJune original tutorial. Please do not share or reproduce this tutorial; instead post a link to http://www.planetjune.com/shrinkydinks
I’ll answer some questions from the comments on my previous shrinky rings post before I get started, and add more hints and tips throughout the tutorial.
Shrink plastic, for the uninitiated, was originally marketed as a toy for kids. It starts life thin and flexible. You draw on it and then bake it in the oven, and it shrinks to become about 1/3 of the starting size, but 9 times as thick. This thickness makes it strong and hard. It will not bend after baking, so if you try to pull your ring open, or stand on it, it may snap, but it is strong enough to withstand regular use as a ring.
The last step (bending the ring into shape) is the most difficult, so I highly recommend that 1) you read through all the instructions before starting, and 2) practice on a blank piece of shrink plastic so you can get a feel for it and test your size and bending technique before putting too much effort into your design!
Full tutorial instructions are after the jump…
1. Find your shrink plastic
I use Shrinky Dinks Frosted Ruff N’ Ready, which accepts rubber stamped images beautifully. Any transparent shrink plastic will work. If you use the coloured opaque shrink plastic, you would have to decorate the outside of your ring instead of the inside. You could also use the inkjet printable type of shrink plastic.
Note: If you are looking for sources, search for “shrink plastic” (generic term) not “shrinkydinks” (brand name) and you may have more luck. For example, for you UK people, googling ‘Shrink Plastic UK’ (without the quotes) will give you lots of online stores that sell it. You’re looking for large sheets of it, not pre-cut shapes.
2. Measure and cut to size
Note: Different brand of shrink plastic may shrink by different amounts, so you might want to try baking a plain test piece to make sure you’ve got the size right before spending time on decoration.
If you know your ring size, you can use a ring size converter to calculate the desired circumference of your ring. The circumference in this case will be equal to the length of your strip of plastic (after shrinking). Shrinkydinks shrinks by approx 3 times, but I found I had to allow an extra 10% in the length measurement to compensate for the curvature in the finished ring. For my rings (finished size approximately US 6, UK J, and 6mm tall) my starting dimensions are 14.2 x 1.6cm.
To cut the plastic, I like to use a guillotine (paper cutter) to get straight lines, but it’s probably not good for the cutter blade (I use an old cutter blade). You could also use an xacto knife and metal ruler, or just cut the plastic with scissors.
The corners can be very sharp, so I like to round them off slightly with scissors before baking (don’t worry if you forget this step; you can file or sand them down after baking).
3. Decorate shrink plastic
Follow the decorating instructions that come with your shrink plastic. Here are some ideas:
- Rubber stamps + alcohol-based permanent inks (be warned: other types of stamp ink will smudge)
- Fine-point permanent marker (e.g. Sharpie) to draw or trace your designs
- Coloured pencils (use in combination with the above to add colour)
- Print designs directly onto your plastic (inkjet shrink plastic ONLY)
If you’re using the frosted type, remember to decorate the rough (frosted) side.
I used peg stamps to decorate my first rings. The designs are only 1cm tall so fit my rings perfectly. Below I have also tried some other rubber stamps:
Don’t forget to let your ink dry before adding any coloured pencil embellishments, and remember that colours will become more saturated and vibrant after baking, so less is more in this case.
4. Find a suitable form to bend plastic around
Here’s a useful tip to find an object of the right size to create your ring: take an existing ring, and try to slip it over various thin cylindrical household objects, e.g. marker pen barrel, wooden spoon handle, lip balm tube. You are looking for an object that is a tight fit inside your ring. If you don’t have anything suitable, you could buy a short length of wooden dowel of the right diameter. Your object will come into contact with hot plastic, so don’t use any treasured possessions for this step.
5. Shrink your plastic
This is the fun part!
Preheat a toaster oven or conventional oven to the temperature specified on your packaging. Make sure you are in a well-ventilated area so any fumes don’t build up.
Note: Please read the instructions below all the way to the end before baking your ring – the shaping happens very quickly after baking so you need to be ready…
Place your strip (decorated side up) on a piece of brown paper on an oven tray, and put it in the oven. Keep watching… this is where the magic happens. Your strip will begin to curl up and wiggle about as some parts heat more quickly than others and so begin to shrink more quickly. Don’t worry if it looks like it’s stuck together – in my experience it always flattens out as it continues to shrink. When it has finished shrinking, leave it in the oven for another 30 seconds to heat through evenly.
Here’s an animation of the shrinking process:
6. Shape your ring
When your strip comes out of the oven, you will have to work quickly – you only have about 10 seconds before it has cooled and becomes rigid. Disclaimer: to protect your hands from the hot plastic, you should probably wear a thin glove (for more control) or an oven mitt (for better protection against the heat) but I don’t bother – it is hot, but the plastic doesn’t stay hot for long enough to burn skin.
Remove the brown paper from the oven. Wait for about 2 seconds (so it’s not too hot to touch), then carefully wrap the strip around your forming tool, with your decorated side facing in towards the tool. Hold it in place for a few seconds until it becomes cool and rigid.
I’m not going to lie, this step is tricky. You really do have to work quickly, and not make any mistakes, otherwise you won’t have time to wrap the entire strip around your object before it cools. But don’t lose hope! There is a magic fix for a badly-formed ring like the one below…
Pop your misshapen ring back into the oven on the brown paper, balancing it upright on its curved surface so the join is at the top (as in the picture above). After a minute or so, the plastic will relax back out of its shape, and revert back into a flat strip… I told you this stuff was magic! Let it heat through for about 20-30 seconds, then try to form the ring around your tool again.
Left: unsanded edges; Right: sanded edges
That’s it! You can sand down the edges to give a smoother finish, but this may partially obscure your design. You could also paint the edges after forming for a different effect. For more durability of your design, use a clear coat to carefully varnish the inside of the ring (one coat should be enough).
You can make matching earrings, charm bracelets or necklace pendants – just punch holes for the jewellery findings before shrinking the plastic, and remember that the holes will also shrink, so don’t worry that they will be too large.
Enjoy your new jewellery!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Please leave me a comment if you did, and consider leaving me a donation. Thanks!
Hi, I'm 
Jessica Said,
February 24, 2008 @ 11:49 am
Thanks so much for getting this tutorial up for us. It all looks like great fun, I think I shall go now and buy some shrinky plastic so that I can have a play.
sue Said,
February 24, 2008 @ 12:11 pm
you so rock!!!
thanks for your talent and time too.
sue
Amy Said,
February 24, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
This looks like so much fun, I will have to try and find some shrink plastic and brush up on my stamping skills.
laurakate Said,
February 25, 2008 @ 2:50 am
thank you!!
actually going to try it right now, i’ve had a mini packet sitting around for ages, i hope they’re big enough pieces.
x laura
futuregirl Said,
February 25, 2008 @ 1:18 pm
Great tutorial! I’m going to have to try this now … you make it look so easy.
lulu Said,
February 25, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
wow, you make this look so easy I really want to give it a try. Thanks so much for showing us how to…. even if I do think mine wont look a bit like yours
; )
kara Said,
February 25, 2008 @ 2:16 pm
Thank you!! I have a TON of shrinky dink material (I never got to play with it as a kid so now I do!) I am excited to try this:)
elowezil Said,
February 25, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
Thank you SOOO much for doing this tutorial. I can’t wait to try some rings and will also a bangle. You’re a star! Thanks.
Marlies Cohen Said,
February 25, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
This is so cool, now I can experiment with my shrink plastic and make something else. Thank you so much for your tutorial. I will add a link to my site to this.
Marlies
http://www.mcuniverse.com
Jaime Said,
February 25, 2008 @ 3:16 pm
Thanks June! I was wondering how to do that… I wondered how to get started so that was a great tutorial!!
sarahhh Said,
February 25, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
thanks for this!
I tried to do this about a year ago, and I burned the bejeezus out of my fingertips…. if the plastic sits for the couple of cooling seconds that you recommend, does this increase the chances of malformed rings?
June Said,
February 25, 2008 @ 3:49 pm
sarahhh, as long as you’re quick after letting it cool for a couple of seconds, it should be okay. Otherwise, I recommend finding some thin gloves to wear so they don’t get in your way too much but do offer some protection for your fingertips!
kim Said,
February 25, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
I’m thinking about doing something like that only roll it up so theres a smaller hole then overlap the rest(like how you make paper beads) the stamping is a good idea
msHandiworks Said,
February 25, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
My son’s girlfriend makes necklaces and earrings from Shrinky Dink. She inspired me to buy SD and try it. Have to say, your rings are so pretty and easy to make. Thanks.
Stephanie Said,
February 25, 2008 @ 10:59 pm
Oh thats awesome!!
Heather Said,
February 26, 2008 @ 8:14 am
Can you also use a heat tool (embossing gun) to do these and what would be the process for that? I don’t have a toaster oven so I am looking for a baking alternative.
June Said,
February 26, 2008 @ 10:16 am
Heather, you could use a heat gun to shrink the plastic, but you have to take more care, and it is more dangerous. As you can’t regulate the temperature, you’ll have to judge how far away to hold the heat gun from your ring to get it to shrink. If it gets too hot, shrink plastic can melt – not the effect you are looking for!
To use a heat gun, put the shrink plastic on a piece of brown paper on a heatproof surface – you don’t want to burn your tabletop. Aim the heat gun at the plastic and wait. You’ll have to move the heat gun over the surface to get the entire strip to shrink, but don’t worry if one end shrinks before the other – it will all shrink eventually when given enough heat. Once it’s all shrunk, keep the heat gun moving over the surface to make sure the entire strip is evenly heated through.
It is somewhat dangerous – you’ll have to judge when it’s warm enough to bend into the ring shape without being too hot to handle or to start to melt the plastic. I would recommend you definitely wear gloves if you’re going to do this – if you have overheated the plastic, you could burn your fingertips by touching it without protection.
If you find it’s not pliable enough to bend into the ring shape, heat it some more and then try again. I would definitely recommend you use a toaster oven, or even your regular oven, before you try using a heat gun. Please take care if you try this method!
Jacqueline Said,
February 26, 2008 @ 3:05 pm
I just love it , thanks !!!!
Cindy Said,
February 26, 2008 @ 4:43 pm
Thanks so much for sharing this helpful tutorial! I have some shrinky dinks at home that I can’t wait to try this with now!
vanna Said,
February 27, 2008 @ 11:52 am
i want to make these so bad, it brings tears to my eyes!! i will have to wait til i shovel out my craft room to find my shrink plastic… i have all kinds of ideas to make rings to match my outfits!
Lori Said,
February 27, 2008 @ 12:19 pm
I’ve seen your beautiful rings highlighted on the Craft blog and so I was so excited to see that you put up a tutorial!! Thank you!! Now to get some shrink plastic…
Honey, I know how to shrink the jewellery. « Said,
February 27, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
[...] 28, 2008 by Sarah Remember these? PlanetJune now has a tutorial for making your own ShrinkyDink [...]
Didi Said,
February 27, 2008 @ 4:48 pm
Wow love the idea.
Thanks for sharing it, I will try for sure =)
AdornmentCraft » Blog Archive » Shrink Plastic Flower Pin Tutorial Said,
February 28, 2008 @ 12:28 pm
[...] you like the looks of this project, also check out Planet June’s Shrink Plastic Ring Tutorial.) « de Cor’s Handmades Wired Chinese Knot [...]
Shrink plastic ring « Lady Lulu’s Braindump Hut and Craftarium Said,
March 8, 2008 @ 10:05 pm
[...] March 8, 2008 Shrink plastic ring Posted by Lu under she’s crafty | Tags: jewelry, shrink plastic | I am still feeling under the weather, but I really wanted to make something today. I went to my old standby, shrink plastic. I decided to follow PlanetJune’s shrink plastic ring tutorial. [...]
SewDelish Said,
March 10, 2008 @ 7:28 am
Thanks, Just what I was looking for!
Jill Said,
March 15, 2008 @ 8:09 am
I just found a great site with the ‘rough’ shrinky plastic super cheap! $5 for 10 8×10 sheets
http://www.goestores.com/catalog.aspx?storename=shrinkydinks&DeptID=34365&ItemID=695466&detail=1
den2 Said,
March 19, 2008 @ 11:45 am
hey! ive been looking everywhere for a tutorial like this! good stuff! ^_^ now i just need to find the stuff.
Tahnee Said,
March 31, 2008 @ 10:26 pm
Oh wow this is awesome– just started getting back into shrink plastic and was wondering if making rings was even possible. Nice tutorial
Nicole Said,
April 6, 2008 @ 9:12 pm
I tried making these years ago, but i didnt think to find something to wrap it around. Instead i used the finger in question. Ouch. another tip, forming it in the blast of a hot hair dryer or heat gun will give you some extra time. I sometimes use my heat gun instead of the oven for more control to shape while shrinking.
Foodaholic Said,
April 8, 2008 @ 8:26 pm
Those are beautiful! I can’t wait to try making some rings. I love customizing my own accessories. Thanks for the great instructions.
Ella Said,
April 12, 2008 @ 3:40 pm
These are beautiful! Hey anyone else tried to make them? Id love to see what their’s looked like!
Mary Lou Said,
April 15, 2008 @ 11:50 am
Hi,
My question is this…do I have to apply a coating to the inside ? and what kind would that be ?
The rings are awesome !
Mary Lou
Katie Said,
April 21, 2008 @ 9:15 am
I had a party yesterday and I got this kit with that stuff in it and it is such a fun thing to play around with.
katharine hearts more links « katharine hearts the internet Said,
April 23, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
[...] shrinky dink rings (looks fun, but could be frustrating to get that perfect circle) [...]
Aly Said,
April 26, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
You are a genius; I now mourn the loss of all the projects I tossed out because they fused together. But now I know to wait longer so they’ll fold back out =)
June Said,
April 28, 2008 @ 9:27 am
Mary Lou, I haven’t applied a coating to the inside of my rings, and I haven’t noticed any problems – how permanent it really is probably depends on the type of ink you use. If you do want to seal the inked surface to be safe, you could use any brush-on acrylic glaze/sealer (not a spray as you wouldn’t be able to coat the inside evenly) – just don’t use clear nail polish as it may eat into the shrink plastic!
Aly, if they are really stuck together and don’t uncurl when you reheat them, when they are hot you can use a chopstick (not fingers!) to help free them, and then they will straighten out again
Riechan Said,
April 29, 2008 @ 4:31 pm
Hello, Thankyou sooooo very much, I just love them !!!!!
But I don’t understand one thing very well, how big does it has to be when you measure it on your plastic. If I measure my finger and than take that measurement and enlarge it 3 times it should be the right measurement + 10% ??
Giulia Said,
May 1, 2008 @ 6:01 am
Genial!
Isabel Said,
May 2, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
I love The Dinks and have been doing fun craft projects with them for years. But I never thought about doing this with them. I love it.
Okay, so what do I do with the pack of opaque dink paper I have? I can’t figure out what it’s good for! Any suggestion?
June Said,
May 2, 2008 @ 4:43 pm
Riechan, I can’t tell you the exact measurement you’ll need, as different brands shrink by different amounts, plus they shrink a slightly different amount in each direction. I would say start with your best guess and shrink a test piece without decorating it to see if it’s the right size (that way you haven’t wasted your time decorating it if it’s wrong).
Isabel, you could still make rings with the opaque shrinkydinks – just decorate the OUTSIDE
Otherwise earrings, napkin rings, wine glass charms… You have tons of options!
potiron Said,
May 3, 2008 @ 5:21 am
Thank you for your idea!!! I love shrink plastic and am always looking for ways to do better than the little stuff I’ve done and not worth showing!!!
The tricky part will be to find something my finger size (as I have very small fingers)
I’m going to look up your other tutorials. I’m happy I found your blog!!!
Take care
potiron Said,
May 3, 2008 @ 8:08 am
I just tried my first ring -not easy calculating the correct lengths….
Anyway, your rings never join, do they???? There’s a space??? or am I understanding this wrong
Thanks for your help,
Potiron in France
June Said,
May 3, 2008 @ 11:45 am
Potiron, some of my rings get closer to joining than others – ideally you want the ends to just about touch but not overlap, but as long as the gap is quite small, it’s not a problem to have a gap. You can wear the ring with the gap on the inside and it looks fine and isn’t uncomfortable.
It’s all a bit of a trial and error method – it gets easier with practice!
Hopie Said,
May 6, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Hi There! Thanks for sharing your tutorial!
What a great little idea there – I do have a query:
Do you glaze your work?
If yes, before or after you have baked?
Super stuff – thanks again!
Hopie
Hopie Said,
May 7, 2008 @ 3:34 pm
Hi! Just saw your post on acrylic glaze sealer – thanks again for the great tutorial.
elowezil Said,
May 9, 2008 @ 5:45 pm
Wonderful tutorial and your results are awesome! Thanks so much for sharing the instructions. Am off to play …!
nat Said,
May 16, 2008 @ 12:45 pm
Cool!thanks for your tutorial. im going to try that soon.
do you use your normal toaster oven? will it be safe to
use (for food) after baking those plastic?
wonderment » Blog Archive » Crafty Linkfest Said,
May 18, 2008 @ 3:05 pm
[...] Shrinky Dink Rings (from PlanetJune), which we’ll be making next week at SNB – if you’re in need of the plastic, you can try the ReadyMade store (though I bought mine at Michael’s) [...]
Getting Crafty » Blog Archive » Shrinky dink report Said,
May 20, 2008 @ 1:25 am
[...] for jewelry made with shrink plastic, the first thing that caught my eye was Planet June’s tutorial, which I shared earlier. A search on etsy revealed the beautiful rings of Dillon [...]
afrolunatika Said,
May 29, 2008 @ 4:45 am
hello friends well a saw this tutorial. i wanna put artwork in the shrink using the printer what paper i need to use clear or translucid? because i print a artwork in clear shrink and the paper dont absorb the tint of the printer what i cant do to put image of my computer in shrink? (sorry for my english)
June Said,
May 29, 2008 @ 7:18 am
nat: it should be safe to use the oven for food after shrinking your plastic. Just make sure the plastic only touches the brown paper – don’t put it directly on a tray you will then put food on.
afrolunatika: there is a special type of shrink plastic you can buy that is safe for putting through your printer. The packet will say if it is the right type. This type has a special coating that allow the inkjet ink to stick to the shrinkydinks – if you use regular shrinkydinks, the ink will smudge.
Heidi Said,
June 3, 2008 @ 7:27 pm
I, too, found your instructions after seeing the beauties on Etsy. Thanks so much for posting them! I had the frosted plastic in my drawer and stamping fabric paint that is well over 10 years old, but it worked fine. I did have an issue with the piece turning on its side while baking. I’ll have to work on that. I tried resting the wooden spoon handle over the piece, but even though it doesn’t touch, the part under the handle doesn’t heat as fast.
I baked mine on baking parchment. When it’s done, you can use the paper to start wrapping around your dowel or form. Just make sure you complete with the ends wrapped and trapped under the dowel so they end up flattened and level.
This is a great reason to haul out those old tiny stamps! Thanks again.
Rachel Said,
June 10, 2008 @ 1:52 pm
wooowwww….. I’ve had about a zillion sheets of this stuff for YEARS that my grandmother gave to me when this stuff was real popular, and all I ever made was kiddy stuff. I didn’t know you could make something so elegant and simple with it! I’m definitely going to try this out.
Anita Said,
June 14, 2008 @ 9:43 pm
This is wonderful! I love shrinky dink, and you make the rings look really simple. I’m going to do a ring this weekend!
starr Said,
June 15, 2008 @ 10:47 am
My jaw is hanging open from how beautiful these rings are.. they look like frosted glass! You rock June
rachel Said,
June 23, 2008 @ 4:23 pm
it looks easy and fun! i will try it ater today though it is probably harder than it looks!
Make Shrinky Dink Plastic Rings | Crazy4Crafts- Crafts and Art Projects Said,
June 27, 2008 @ 6:50 am
[...] full tutorial for making these nice shrink plastic rings is on the blog Planet June. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and [...]
Jeannine Said,
June 27, 2008 @ 10:52 pm
I have just found your site via an entrecard user who had your link on her site. I am so happy to have found your site. I totally enjoyed this shrink art ring tut..So well done!
Madison Avenue Said,
June 28, 2008 @ 5:30 pm
I LOVE Shrinky Dinks. My kids and I played with them when they first came out but I recently rediscovered how much fun shrinking is. I made some pin-head covers for bulletin/notice boards. Fun!
the lost_poet Said,
July 3, 2008 @ 12:04 pm
Pretty nifty hack. Very creative. Kudos.
Iris Said,
July 17, 2008 @ 5:51 pm
I finally tried these today and had a blast doing it!
At first I had some trouble with the forming. Perhaps I’m more sensitive to heat than others but by the time I could touch it without hissing with pain, it was too late to form properly (there’s a very short window, as you mentioned). Finally I had an epiphany and dug out my cotton gloves – they’re the kind you use at night to hold in lotion. They’re easy to maneuver with and made shaping much simpler!
Thanks for the tutorial!
Joey Said,
July 21, 2008 @ 4:13 pm
I have heard that #6 recyclable plastic works too.
Shrink plastic rings « Joniphippin Said,
July 23, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
[...] is a great tutorial at planetjune . I find placing the pre-shrunk ring on a strip of tin foil to shrink, then using it to roll up the [...]
sam Said,
July 31, 2008 @ 2:13 pm
WOW – i would love to try this !!!
where can i get this stuff from, i live in the uk and have never heard of this shrinky stuff before???
Thanks
ReadyMade » Blog Archive » Go see a shrink: Getting practical with kitsch Said,
August 1, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
[...] such projects as dog tags and key fobs (thanks, Making it Lovely, for the how-to) as well as the rings pictured above (tutorial à la Planet June). Considering the current chaotic state of airline [...]
Artisan Love | Weekend Projects :: Shrinky Rings and Save Your Old Chair Said,
August 2, 2008 @ 12:14 am
[...] Shrink Plastic Rings at PlanetJune Save Your Old Chair at Ikea Hacker [...]
Cindy S Said,
August 4, 2008 @ 8:17 pm
You’re a peach for sharing this tutorial! They look so elegant and not “kiddie”. There’s no reason you couldn’t make a cuff bracelet. Will a metal ring mandrel work? I also have a metal bracelet mandrel. Thanks again!
June Said,
August 4, 2008 @ 8:28 pm
Cindy S: yes, if you have one, a ring mandrel would be the best tool for the job! I just assumed that most crafters (like me) don’t have such specialized equipment.
The only thing limiting a cuff bracelet is the size of shrink plastic you can buy. A strip cut from a regular 11″ long sheet will shrink to under 4″ in length. But you need to leave room to get the bracelet on and off, so it should be fine!
Marcy Said,
August 5, 2008 @ 6:27 am
This looks fantastic. I can’t wait to try it.
Thanks for sharing your technique
Judy Frizell Said,
August 5, 2008 @ 11:46 am
Thank you for the great idea, How about using glue to add a rinestone or big bead to fill in the gap,
Plastic - Homemade Shrinky Dinks (Weekly Unplugged Project) | Unplug Your Kids Said,
August 30, 2008 @ 8:28 pm
[...] gorgeous, funky rings: Shrink Plastic Ring Tutorial from [...]
Madeline Said,
September 9, 2008 @ 4:01 pm
That’s so cool! I bought the Shrink Dink Jewelry book and was going to try and make the rings except I lost my ring roller! I love the rings they are so pretty!
Here are some pics of earring I made!
http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb90/beadexchange1/?action=view¤t=msoF33A5.jpg
http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb90/beadexchange1/?action=view¤t=msoE14B2.jpg
http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb90/beadexchange1/?action=view¤t=mso9C164.jpg
http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb90/beadexchange1/?action=view¤t=mso1B832.jpg
P.S Is that a OPI bottle? That’s genius!
LollyChops Said,
September 15, 2008 @ 6:35 pm
Wow! This is really cool. I cannot wait to give it a try!
Lolly
caro Said,
September 16, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
where i can finde the plastic ?? and if dont find it can i use other ??
This is cool! | A Touch of Scrap Said,
September 23, 2008 @ 8:09 am
[...] Shrinkydink Ring Tutorial [...]
Cute, Quick, and Easy Shrinkydink Ring tutorial · Jewelry Making @ CraftGossip Said,
October 10, 2008 @ 1:50 am
[...] adorable shrink plastic ring tutorial by Planet June. I really like her simple yet modern black on white rings in the picture, but you [...]
Creative Activities 2 « MOPSNZ Term Four 2008 Said,
October 12, 2008 @ 5:40 pm
[...] Shrink Plastic Ring – tutorial with photos [...]
Caroline Said,
October 13, 2008 @ 2:25 pm
This looks like so much fun.
Talli Said,
October 15, 2008 @ 10:45 am
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kukeit/2943840571/
with a quote from alice in wonderland.
Thank you!!
babychan Said,
October 15, 2008 @ 11:47 pm
very cute
Tina Said,
October 22, 2008 @ 10:46 pm
OMGasher!! OMGashers!! OMGashers!! I totally love this I am definetley making one of these this weekend I love LOVE LOVE this idea!!!!
THANKS! Can’t wait to make a ring
k. Said,
October 23, 2008 @ 10:39 pm
This is great :}
A friend of mine got a shrink plastic kit and we made pendants.
pencils work equally as well on the plastic :}
Shirley Said,
October 24, 2008 @ 9:35 am
That is the coolest thing! I would have never thought of shrinky dink rings!
Ryan G Said,
October 26, 2008 @ 8:34 am
Great idea for effective yet inexpensive presents.
Arzu Musa Said,
October 27, 2008 @ 8:57 am
very nice tutorial. Thank you so much for sharing….
rick Said,
November 8, 2008 @ 1:36 pm
What a great tutorial. Your skills are saving money for the bills.
Weekend Wrap-Up | Words Unspoken Said,
November 9, 2008 @ 1:37 am
[...] Shrink Plastic Rings – GORGEOUS rings! Very creative, and you could customize them to match any outfit! [...]
ashleigh Said,
November 17, 2008 @ 9:17 pm
this is a great idea. I have a friend that has a really old family heirloom ring made out plastic, but part of it is broken. I was curious if you thought that this shrink plastic technique could be used to try to fix it. Thanks for your help!
Shabbar Said,
November 22, 2008 @ 12:36 pm
Excellent. Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Shabbar
lisa Said,
November 27, 2008 @ 8:26 am
nice !! I am adding your tutorial to my blog
claudia Said,
November 28, 2008 @ 3:35 pm
That was a very good tutorial but i have a question.what temperature does the oven have to be at?
June Said,
November 28, 2008 @ 4:55 pm
Claudia, check the instructions on the shrink plastic packaging – it may vary from brand to brand and I wouldn’t want to give you the wrong information! For Shrinkydinks brand, the temperature is 325F.
rosa Said,
November 30, 2008 @ 10:25 pm
Oustanding!!
I doubt i’ll take the time to do this but is good to know i can with your instructions!!
Thanks.
Seth Said,
December 2, 2008 @ 12:42 pm
I’m going to have to send my wife this way – those rings are nice. She loves projects like this and is always looking for something different. Definitely giving 1 thumb up on Stumble!
Shrinky Dinks!!!! « Domestic Geek Said,
December 5, 2008 @ 6:27 pm
[...] For those of you too lazy to go to a Borders or who don’t want to drop the $7 on a Shrinky Dink kit, heres a helpful page for making your own Shrinky Dinks using some plastic containers you probably have lying about the house. Also if you want an interesting idea for a cool Shrinky Dink project check out this guide to make adorable Shrinky Dink rings. [...]
Pathojen Said,
December 17, 2008 @ 2:29 pm
I am just awful at this, but thank you so much for the tutorial. I’m working on a set RIGHT NOW, and they just won’t turn out. Try and try again, I suppose. :]
June Said,
December 17, 2008 @ 2:42 pm
Pathojen, it is a bit tricky to get the hang of the bending part because you have such a short time to work with the plastic before it becomes rigid. But do stick with it – keep trying and you’ll get there
Pixie Said,
January 11, 2009 @ 1:39 am
I am an artist, and I have been looking for a way to make my pieces accessible to more people. I’ve never seen this before. I am very excited to make pieces like these with my own original designs. I had to order the plastic online as my local craft stores didn’t carry it.
I can’t wait to try this out and put some finished pieces in my store. It’s a great way for me to get my original designs out in way that people can carry with them.
THANK YOU!
Nikki Said,
January 25, 2009 @ 12:14 pm
Does the ink wear off over time? If you wash your hands with the ring on will the ink wear away? I love your tutorial thanks for sharing.
joycrusher.org » Blog Archive » Friday Link Round Up#2 Said,
January 31, 2009 @ 1:25 pm
[...] Shrink Plastic Ring Tutorial When I was really small I used to put Hula Hoops on my fingers, draw on them and pretend they were really awesome rings. I always used to get upset when they crumbled off These Shrink Plastic Rings are not only prettier but will last longer. I doubt they’ll taste as good though. [...]
cybilbird Said,
February 18, 2009 @ 11:42 pm
Thanks for the tutorial. I just hosted craft night with 2 of my friends and we thoroughly enjoyed. Determining the right length was a challenge. We started with the math and conversion chart, they were generally too long and we worked back incrementally from there. We used Shrinky Dink brand plastic. Don’t take “well vented area” lightly- we should have turned the fan on earlier. But I can quote my friend in saying “You know you’ve had a great craft night when your throat burns.”
Chahat Said,
March 2, 2009 @ 10:50 pm
Is it safe to shrink the rings in the same oven you use for food? Are the fumes toxic?
Leah Said,
March 4, 2009 @ 3:43 pm
Do you have any ideas for marking black shrink plastic sheets? I would like to make some black rings, but I don’t know if there is any way to make a design on them. Please let me know if you have any ideas.
June Said,
March 4, 2009 @ 3:58 pm
Ooh, more questions to answer! I’m so happy you guys are still finding this tutorial useful! Here goes:
Nikki: The ink should be permanent after the piece has been shrunk. Having said that, I do try to take my rings off to wash my hands, just in case. At the end of the day, it’s a plastic ring, not a family heirloom – it probably won’t last forever, but it’s easy enough to make a replacement!
Chahat: Yes, it’s safe to use the same oven you use for food. Maybe don’t use it for food immediately after taking out the plastic – give it a few minutes first if you’re worried. Open a window or turn on the hood fan while you shrink the plastic to keep your kitchen ventilated. Shrinkydinks are sold as children’s toys, so they shouldn’t be toxic.
Leah: For black shrinkydinks you can use white or metallic coloured marker pens or stamp pads. Just remember not to use water-based inks, which will smudge. Permanent/alcohol-based inks should work well on the black shrinkies.
sue kremer Said,
March 13, 2009 @ 9:51 pm
Wow, this is great info!! OH, the places we can go!! (Dr. Seuss,LOL) Thanks for all the great tips & ideas
Sue
Petra Said,
March 22, 2009 @ 6:09 am
Thanks for the tutorial!
Aksaraini Said,
March 29, 2009 @ 11:40 am
Thank you very much much much muccchhhh
guy m s said Said,
March 30, 2009 @ 11:06 am
this is exciting-i’ll go looking
EJ Hall Said,
April 2, 2009 @ 8:04 pm
Love this idea. My niece are going to make matching jewelry for all the ladies in our family. I found that old fashioned transparency paper, not the kind for printers or copiers, works just great for shrinky dink paper. You just have to rough one side up with sandpaper to hold the color. I found a box laying around the office and tried it on a whim. It worked.
Jessica Said,
April 5, 2009 @ 1:28 am
I just love your tutorial, except I use a recyclable #6 plastic, most commonly found in plastic food containers. The plastic does need to have a sanded side for stamping or drawing with non permanent markers.
Christine Said,
April 6, 2009 @ 10:30 am
Fantastic! Can’t wait to try this. They look so classy. Just wondering… I’ve never tried shrinky dinks before, and I read a few comments from people saying they’d made shrinky dink keychain charms and pendants and they didn’t last very long before breaking. Just wondering if you’ve had the same problem with these rings?
christina Said,
May 8, 2009 @ 3:30 pm
thank you so much for this tutorial…I wanted to make some rings, but was at a loss at how to do so…this solved the problem! thanks again
Etsy, Playdough & Shrinkydinks! | Tickly Moo Said,
May 13, 2009 @ 7:08 am
[...] to attach the little discs to. I have found some great tutorials for pins from Tutti Frutti, for rings from Planet June and I yet to try anything as complicated as Jessica Poundstone’s YouTube [...]
toni Said,
May 13, 2009 @ 5:14 pm
Thank you! You are incredible! I’ve been looking for a pictured step-by-step and you’ve done an amazing and clear job. Thank you sincerely and all the BEST to you!
ERIKA Said,
May 24, 2009 @ 12:02 pm
Great tutorial, thank you so much!
guy m s said Said,
June 17, 2009 @ 10:41 am
whaat a smart idea-good luck
Mambo Said,
June 24, 2009 @ 7:05 pm
Thanks for the tutorial, i have had a go, had a few problems though!!
i have been trying to make necklaces out of these, but the ink from the sharpies came off on my skin and using glaze made the pen bleed into my design. what arethe best inks to use that wont do this?
June Said,
June 25, 2009 @ 8:48 am
Mambo:
1. You must use a permanent (alcohol-based) ink. Make sure you’re using a permanent marker, not a water-based marker!
2. You have to draw on the frosted (rough) side of the Shrinkydinks so that the ink will set.
3. If you’ve done both of the above, the ink should be permanent after shrinking, so it won’t rub off on your skin and you can safely glaze it if you want without the ink bleeding.
Hope this helps!
Kelsey Said,
June 26, 2009 @ 11:12 am
I’ve had a blast making pendants and charms with my Shrinky Dinks, but the shiny side of my designs always comes out blotchy. The center of the design (the part that stays on the baking sheet when the rest curls) is smooth, but the edges are scratchy. It really ruins the look. Any ideas?
Photojojo » Make Photo Necklaces, Earrings, Magnets and More Using Shrinkable Plastic Said,
June 29, 2009 @ 4:51 am
[...] long thin pieces into custom-fit rings as soon as they come out of the [...]
athena Said,
June 30, 2009 @ 4:08 am
awesome.
question: what did you use for glazing?
thanks!
Living Locurto – Creative Ideas & FREE Downloads » Blog Archive » Shrinky Dink Jewelry Said,
July 1, 2009 @ 12:12 am
[...] Planet June made these awesome rings. [...]
June Said,
July 2, 2009 @ 9:05 am
Kelsey: I’ve never heard of this happening, but I’d suggest you try putting your shrinkydinks decorated side DOWN (shiny side up) instead and see if that helps.
athena: I didn’t glaze my rings and I haven’t had any problems with them. I’m thinking that if you do want to glaze yours, the easiest way may be to form the ring with the decorated side facing out – that way you could put the ring over a dowel or similar and use a spray glaze/sealer on the outside. Let us know what happens if you try it!
photo jewelry Said,
July 6, 2009 @ 11:03 am
This is a cool tutorial. Your rings are cute! I do photo jewelry on my site also so I am always interested in blogs posts like yours.
Meredith Said,
July 7, 2009 @ 7:36 pm
Beautiful rings. I was just looking at my pack of shrinky dink paper and wondering what to do with it…
I initially had trouble with the edges rolling in and then fusing together. I think it was because I was using a large oven (no toaster oven) and it was perhaps a little too hot. I ended up reaching in with chopsticks and pulling apart any stuck curls.
I tried again with the oven set a smidge cooler with much better results. Only one ring became stuck. Yay!
Love them! Here’s a link to a pic of my first one http://www.flickr.com/photos/54416353@N00/3699666228/
Monica Marie Said,
July 16, 2009 @ 12:46 am
thanks June. I’ve featured your rings on my blog and linked it back to you!
http://www.thecraftjunkieblog.com/2009/07/how-to-make-shrinky-dink-rings.html
Events Said,
July 19, 2009 @ 5:36 am
Great little rings!
Fiona Said,
July 27, 2009 @ 11:55 am
What lovely rings! I love the idea of using them as wine glass charms as well.
Fiona
Karen Said,
July 27, 2009 @ 3:52 pm
This is a great tutorial! I have a question: I have problems with making marks on the plastic as it cools with my fingers. What is the best way to avoid this? Thanks!
Christine Said,
August 3, 2009 @ 6:01 pm
Wow, this shrink wrap ring is a really neat craft. I never thought you could make things out of something like that. The wine glass charm is a really clever idea too!
June Said,
August 6, 2009 @ 9:33 am
Karen: do you mean you’re leaving fingerprints on the plastic while it’s hot?! I’ve never experienced this! I’d suggest you try letting it cool for a couple of extra seconds before trying to bend it, or wear thin gloves to protect the piece from your fingers.
Poze Said,
August 30, 2009 @ 9:31 pm
Very nice tutorial, the ring looks great. Thank you.
Elbie Said,
September 22, 2009 @ 1:33 pm
You made this look so easy!! Nice tutorial.
Is there any way to join two sheets together? I want to make a 4″ circular(ish) shape but the sheets are too small. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
June Said,
September 23, 2009 @ 6:06 pm
Elbie: I know you can fuse shrinkydinks together by overlapping it and baking it at higher than normal temperatures (then you’d have to let it cool and then reheat at the normal temperature to bend it – you’d run the risk of being seriously burnt otherwise), but it would leave a big bump at the join and probably wouldn’t look very good.
Your best best would probably be to make the piece in 2 separate sections and make the join a part of the design, e.g. for a bracelet you could punch a couple of small holes at the end of each piece, then connect them with jump rings or lacing after baking. Without knowing what you plan to make, I don’t know if that would work in your case! But that’s my best suggestion – hope it helps
And now I really want to try making some curved shrinky bracelets…
Mary Said,
September 28, 2009 @ 11:29 pm
Thanks so much! We’ve been working with shrinky dink plastic in my Jewelry class but so far we’ve been limited to tassels and jewelry pieces, I wanted to learn how to make rings and the like. Once again, Thank you!
Laura Said,
October 6, 2009 @ 8:09 pm
I stumbled upon your tutorial with google, and I can’t wait to try it, I do have a question though.
Bangles?
I think a strip cut diagionally form an 8×10 sheet would be long enough (between 12 and 13 inches pre-shrunk) since you would need a siginifacantly larger gap then with a ring. Is my brain functioning correctly, or does that make no sense? Also I was wondering, if I were to try a bangle, would tradition shrink plastic be thick enough or should I opt for the new “SHRINKY DINKS ULTRA THICK MISTY WHITE” (pardon the caps, it was a copy/paste)?
In the end I want to more or less replicate this
http://www.angelicpretty.com/shopping/acce/ka/92ka-13170/92ka-13170.html
and I knew polymer clay wouldn’t haev the right look.
michelle Said,
October 15, 2009 @ 10:43 pm
does anyone know what type of ink is in that picture?????
I used to have an ink pad just like that and LOVED it but I cannot remember where I got it or what brand it was.
ANY HELP would be great!!!
OneDay Said,
November 21, 2009 @ 10:13 pm
Excellent tutorial. These look amazing and very fashionable.
Embarking On New Adventures In Life…Like Shrinky Plastic - Stickers and Donuts Said,
January 4, 2010 @ 12:39 am
[...] this tutorial as a guide, I first made a ring. IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE ABOUT THIS TUTORIAL: Different brands of [...]
D2 Said,
January 15, 2010 @ 7:58 pm
This rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
katkaif Said,
January 18, 2010 @ 12:34 am
Wow! Thats so cool. Thanks for sharing this nice and interesting product.
laura Said,
January 23, 2010 @ 7:15 pm
that is very cool
Caitlin Said,
January 26, 2010 @ 8:55 am
Hey thanks I am 12 and me and my friend are going to sell a whole bunch of crafts we made, mostly jewelry, like friendship bracelets so I made many rings, well like 7 last night until 10 ‘o’ clock and I was having so much fun. The first 2 I made I broke because I forgot to read the tip that said I could reheat them. Oops! Well now I know. THANK YOU!
Katie nebber Said,
March 9, 2010 @ 5:13 pm
I can’t get the rings molded fast enough. any tips?
Ashley Said,
March 24, 2010 @ 3:36 pm
Great tutorial!
I’m thinking about making some rings to add to my boyfriend’s band’s merch table. My question is, since you decorate the BACK of the shrink plastic how would I go about stamping the bands name on there? Wouldn’t it come out backwards? There has got to be a way.
Thanks!
June Said,
March 24, 2010 @ 3:41 pm
You’re right, Ashley – a normal rubber stamp would come out backwards. You could print the band name backwards and then trace it onto the shrink plastic with a marker pen (remember, any mistakes shrink too, so the effect won’t look as ‘hand-drawn’ once it’s shrunk!), or get a custom rubber stamp made with the lettering reversed.
June Said,
March 24, 2010 @ 3:42 pm
Not really, Katie, you just have to be really quick on the draw! And remember if you do mess it up, you can reheat it and have another go
Lisa Said,
March 28, 2010 @ 12:59 am
Wow, what a great idea. I wanted to add that I use a heat gun (the kind for embossing when you stamp) to shrink my plastic. Will have to try it to make rings, though I’m not sure if it will heat enough to leave it pliable long enough to shape, if that makes sense. I’m thinking using dowel would mean it could be re-heated on the mould… hmmmm
Kathy Walker Said,
April 9, 2010 @ 7:55 pm
How cool is this? I love Shrinky dink. Thanks for the Tutorial.
Arabela Said,
April 16, 2010 @ 8:18 am
That is such a great tutorial, i love it.
Where do you buy this shrinking plastic ? I did a quick search on google, but don’t find many sites who sell this, and none who ships internationaly. I will search more, but would apreciate your help. Thanks
June Said,
April 16, 2010 @ 8:40 am
I think from your email address that you’re in Germany, Arabela? I searched http://www.google.de for ‘shrink plastic’ and selected ‘Seiten aus Deutschland’ and found this site immediately. There are probably lots more if you do a similar search!
If you’re not in Germany, do a similar search with your country’s Google site and choose ‘pages from
I hope that helps!
Things I covet: Shrinky dink rings « a stitch in lime Said,
April 17, 2010 @ 7:23 pm
[...] gonna go ahead and suggest you check out the sweet tutorial (complete with an animated image of how this stuff sizes down while in the oven!) by Planet June! [...]
Teresa Chen Said,
May 7, 2010 @ 11:42 pm
I love this (: I tried making a keychain, but I noticed that I could easily scratch off the color (which I colored with sharpie). (For some reason, the black wasn’t easy to scratch off, but the pink was). I tried using a clear finish “triple thick brilliant brush on gloss glaze” but as i pbrushed it on, the pink sharpie smeared along with the strokes of the brush. Again, black didn’t.
What did you use for your clear coat?
HELLO Said,
May 9, 2010 @ 1:23 am
Me and my mom tried a couple of times to do this but the ring snapped like a twig immediately after we tried to shape it , any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
June Said,
May 9, 2010 @ 7:04 am
1. You must use a permanent (alcohol-based) ink. Make sure you’re using a permanent marker, not a water-based marker!
2. You have to draw on the frosted (rough) side of the Shrinkydinks so that the ink will set.
3. I didn’t use a clear coat for my rings, but I have used one for other projects. The Shrinkydinks packaging recommends Krylon Crystal Clear spray glaze and I can confirm that it works well. You have to use a spray-on glaze, not a brush-on, when you’ve used Sharpie markers, to avoid smudging your design when you glaze it.
June Said,
May 9, 2010 @ 7:16 am
You must be waiting too long after removing it from the oven – you have a very short time while the plastic is still hot enough to shape. That’s why this is a tricky project: by the time it’s cool enough to comfortably handle, it’s too cold to shape! Try wearing thin gloves so that you can handle it more quickly and shaping it within seconds of removing it from the oven.
Shrink plastic « LIVLIG Said,
May 16, 2010 @ 5:41 am
[...] Als kind speelde ik wel eens met krimpplastic: plastic waar je op kunt tekenen, en dat je vervolgens in de oven legt om het in een paar minuten te laten krimpen tot iets van een derde van het originele formaat, maar 9 keer zo dik. Zo kon je van een grote tekening kleine oorbellen maken bijvoorbeeld (filmpje van Planet June): [...]
Dedou Said,
May 30, 2010 @ 8:36 pm
Thanks loads for this tutorial! I’m inspired to do all sorts of things with this cool stuff – glad I found your blog, kind of you to share so freely:)
Lisette aka Liszha Said,
May 31, 2010 @ 7:08 am
Wow, supergreat idea! thanks for sharing
Laura Said,
June 9, 2010 @ 3:21 am
I ment to let you know I tried it for a bangle. It worked well check out my results here-
http://community.livejournal.com/egl/14439111.html
Thanks again fo this awsome tutorial. =D
Gaelene Said,
June 18, 2010 @ 12:44 am
Great tutorial! I have the shrinky dinks plastic sheets somewhere. Will definitely have to try. Thanks.
Gaelene’s Creative Korner
getcha Said,
June 22, 2010 @ 3:53 pm
I hope someone sees this since this thread is a couple years old =o)
I’m using Shrinky Dink Frosted Ruff n’ Ready and StazOn Solvent Ink Pad
Each time I stamp (on the rough side) the ink runs. I’ve tried less ink, blotting the stamp before stamping on the SD, but it keep running into the roughed up lines.
I’ve used both clear mountable stamps and rubber wood mounted.
I’ve let the ink dry on its own as well as gently blowing across it and it still runs.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Hints or tips? Thanks!!
June Said,
June 22, 2010 @ 4:02 pm
That’s strange – StazOn Solvent Ink is one of the brands that Shrinkydinks specifically recommends. I’d suggest you email Shrinkydinks to ask for help – they have an email address on their website
getcha Said,
June 24, 2010 @ 11:42 am
thanks for responding June. I’d sent them an email and am waiting to hear back from them, I was hoping maybe someone had also had this experience and could help.
Friday Link RoundUp | So You're EnGAYged Said,
June 25, 2010 @ 9:37 am
[...] PostsAwesome cufflinks by blockpartypressNot your old school ugly Shrinkydinks, but modern looking Shrinkydink rings.A bright, cheery wedding quilt Broke Ass Bride shows readers how to make a handkerchief into [...]
Chandra Said,
June 26, 2010 @ 5:28 pm
That was the best tutitorial I have seen yet, Great going to get started very soon!!
Thanks a bunch!!
Peggy Schofield Said,
July 7, 2010 @ 10:26 am
I love love love this idea and I would love to do this for girls camp. My problem is this I suck at the math. Is there any way you could help me figure out the different ring sizes… they will range from US 5-12. The girls are ages 12-18
I would really appreciate the help
Peggy
June Said,
July 8, 2010 @ 9:56 am
Peggy, the problem is that different brands of shrink plastic shrink by different amounts, and even shrink slightly differently along the length and width of the plastic! So my advice would be to make a shrinky ruler:
Cut a strip of the plastic (in the same direction you’ll be making the rings)
Mark it in 0.5cm or 1/4″ increments
Bake it (don’t form it into a ring!)
Once it’s shrunk, you’ll know exactly how much your plastic shrinks by, and so how long you need to make your starting strip to form the right size ring.
Also, remember that the internal diameter of the finished ring will be the same size (or slightly larger if you can’t form it tightly before it sets) than the object you wrap it around to form the ring, so you’d need different sized cylinders to match those ring sizes.
And one more thing: it’s okay if there’s a little gap between the two ends of the ring! So you might want to make all the strips the same length, and then just wrap them around a larger cylinder to make a larger ring (with a larger gap).
Shelagh McFarlane Said,
July 16, 2010 @ 6:27 am
what a brilliant tutorial. will definitely be trying this one. thank you
Petalbelles Said,
July 19, 2010 @ 8:26 pm
Brilliant! Thank you for the tutorial and a great idea for a children’s activity. As an aside, I attended a local environmental fair where one of the activities was using clear plastic food containers (#6, I think) instead of shrinky dink material. We used sharpies and a tiny toaster oven to make little pendants. I wonder if those food containers would work instead of the shrink material. Probably not as nice but cheaper which is a plus for children’s activities. I’m not sure of it was #6 or #7, but it had to be that particular number. I’m sure we could find the exact number on the web.
June Said,
July 22, 2010 @ 9:04 am
Yes! I haven’t tried it personally, but I’ve seen many people mention it. The correct plastic to use is #6. You’d have to experiment to see how much it would shrink, though – different #6 packaging may shrink by a slightly different amount, which would affect the size of your ring!
kring Said,
July 23, 2010 @ 12:14 am
thanks a bunch for this! you’re awesome!
Kirsty Said,
August 20, 2010 @ 10:29 am
has anyone has trouble with the ink transferring to fingers? I used permanent markers and sharpies but the picture ended up on my hands! Is there a way to finish your design so this doesn’t happen. I’ve tried nail polish, pva, varnish etc and the all make the inks run instantly? Thanks.
June Said,
August 20, 2010 @ 10:31 am
Kirsty, see my answers from a few months back, here: http://www.planetjune.com/blog/shrink-plastic-ring-tutorial/comment-page-3/#comment-94393
137 inexpensive, handmade holiday gift ideas, Part 6 - Craftynest Said,
September 6, 2010 @ 10:01 am
[...] supplies into a shrink plastic kit for the child to make his/her own projects. Simple key fobs Shrink plastic ring DIY Shrinky Dink [...]
Lori Said,
October 14, 2010 @ 11:17 pm
SSSSoooooo cool! Thank you for sharing!
gül?ah(turkey) Said,
October 25, 2010 @ 4:05 pm
thank you nice design
Mair Said,
October 26, 2010 @ 11:16 am
Hi there
You may like to try Archival Ink from Rangers.
All the best
Mair
alison Said,
November 22, 2010 @ 7:05 pm
it didn’t work it got stuck all together
Mary Said,
December 7, 2010 @ 10:25 am
No, even RIGHT out of the oven the plastic often times is too cool to shape. This project has been one of the most frustrating to me. Out of at least 20 rings I’ve tried to make, only 2 have turned out decently, and one is a bit cracked. All the others did not shape properly, snapped when I tried to shape them, curled up and stuck together in the oven, snapped when I tried to re-shape them after trying once before… it’s so aggravating!
One tip I have learned is not to make the rings too thick. I made them 6 inches by 1 inch the first time and quickly found out that making the width that thick causes them to crack EVERY SINGLE TIME you try to shape them. Now I make them 5 1/2 by 1/2 an inch and it seems to crack less (but still has all the other problems.)
In the end, I don’t think this project is worth it. Making charms with shrink plastic is still a safe bet, but ring making is iffy at best and wastes a LOT of plastic before you can procure ONE decent sample.
I am going to try it one more time before I give up- this time with gloves so my fingers don’t hurt and my image doesn’t smear due to the material pattern in the mittens I was using. I doubt I will have more success, but if by some miracle I do, I will post extra tips here immediately.
June Said,
December 7, 2010 @ 2:27 pm
Sorry to hear that, Mary – none of mine have ever cracked or snapped. If you do want to give it one more try, the only thing I can think of to suggest is that maybe your oven should be a few degrees hotter (and be extra careful not to burn your hands if you try that)? If the plastic is hotter, it’d be more flexible – i.e. easier to shape – and would give you more working time before it cools to the point where it won’t shape properly any more and might crack if you keep trying to bend it.
Mary Said,
December 10, 2010 @ 12:15 pm
Using Krylon Crystal Clear spray is the fastest way to ruin your charms or rings- it’s like pouring nail polish remover onto your project. If you want to get the permanent marker OFF, I recommend it.
Out of 25 rings I have now tried, I have a total of ONE decent ring, one cracked ring, and one that is straighter than desired on one side. All my other attempts broke, cracked badly, or curled up on themselves. You will use an excessive amount of plastic to get ONE decent ring. Then, as OTHERS have already commented, there is the problem of the marker scratching off very easily.
If you are masochistic, please enjoy this project.
June Said,
December 10, 2010 @ 12:29 pm
Mary, I’m sorry you’ve had such a frustrating experience
All I can say is that my method does work for at least some people; here are some links from people who’ve sent me pics of their completed shrinky rings:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/muckyfingers/2369527133/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kukeit/2943840571/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54416353@N00/3699666228/
http://stickersanddonuts.com/2010/01/04/embarking-new-adventures-in-life-like-shrinky-plastic/
http://joniphippin.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/shrink-plastic-rings/
http://community.livejournal.com/egl/14439111.html (This last one is a bracelet made using my method – you can see it also worked in a larger size for her)
I’m very sorry you weren’t able to replicate the same results. Did you try my suggestion of turning the oven a few degrees higher to make the plastic more flexible and give you a longer working time (being careful not to burn yourself, of course)?
heather Said,
February 1, 2011 @ 2:40 pm
i love this idea and i want to do it for a school project but idk if i should buy the shrinky dink ruff n ready AND stazon solvent ink pad. please help.
Angie Said,
February 5, 2011 @ 4:58 pm
I just tried making one of these rings. When I put it in the oven, it did the shrivel up thing but then it got all stuck together. I tried straightening it out to let it flatten out, but it wouldn’t…any suggestions?
June Said,
February 8, 2011 @ 9:11 am
Angie, if it’s really stuck together and doesn’t uncurl when you reheat it, when it’s hot you can use a chopstick (not fingers!) to help free it, and then it should straighten out again.
If it comes unstuck but won’t flatten, use a piece of cardboard to press down on the piece when it’s just come out of the oven, and you should be able to flatten it out. (You’ll then have to reheat it so you can bend it into the ring shape.)
If all that fails… scrap the ring and try again with a new piece! It’s all a matter of trial and error. If you shrunk it at too high a temperature, it could be fused together permanently, so check your baking temp if it doesn’t come apart even when you reheat it – you may need to use a lower temperature in future.
Fun With Shrinky Dinks: Blog Ring | Just Something I Made Said,
February 14, 2011 @ 11:15 am
[...] Today I shrunk my blog header into a thumb ring!I won’t even attempt to top this excellent shrink plastic ring tutorial on PlanetJune. For my ring, I just changed it up a bit by printing my blog banner to Shrinky Dinks® Ink-Jet [...]
Kelly Said,
February 27, 2011 @ 1:39 pm
Thank you for the great tutorial.. I linked you on my blog…http://runwithglitter.blogspot.com/2011/02/shrinky-dink-ring.html
How To: Shrinky Plastic Ring Said,
March 6, 2011 @ 3:49 pm
[...] came across this tutorial on PlanetJune a few months ago, and I am going to try it [...]
vt Said,
March 14, 2011 @ 4:48 am
Hola quiero saber si Ud me puede hacer el anillo transparente pero q el aro sea CUADRADO Y CON DIBUJO DE CÓMIC
Malinda Said,
March 25, 2011 @ 9:29 pm
Hi June! Stumbled across your tut and I can’t wait to try it out! Except, I’m having a hard time figuring out how you got your starting dimensions since I’m comparing with the size converter you linked. My ring size is 8…do I multiply the circumference (in the cm listed, which is 56.6) by 3 since it will shrink to a 1/3 of the size?? so my starting strip will be 169.8cm x 1.6cm??
Malinda Said,
March 25, 2011 @ 9:35 pm
Nevermind, I think I figured it out. Thanks again for the fabulous tutorial!
<3
June Said,
March 25, 2011 @ 10:18 pm
In case anyone else has the same problem, the ring size converter I linked to gives the circumference in mm, not cm, so you’ll need to divide by 10 to get the cm value (so closer to 16.9cm than 169 cm)
Also, Malinda, if your ring has a small gap between the ends like mine do, that will be included in the final circumference measurement, so you can start with a slightly shorter length of shrinkydinks. If you want to make sure you get the size right, try baking a plain one first and see if it fits before you go to the trouble of decorating one that may be the wrong size!
Clever ways to upcycle/recycle - CurlTalk Said,
March 31, 2011 @ 9:55 pm
[...] it's not exactly upsycling/recycling but you can make pretty cool rings out of shrinky-dink paper. If you've got some time on your hands you could even make a bracelet. [...]
Simple Saturday Tutorials Said,
April 9, 2011 @ 1:21 pm
[...] Shrinky Dink Rings via Planet June [...]
Sharon at www.momof6.com Said,
April 10, 2011 @ 7:41 am
This is such a great idea! I will be sharing your picture and link on my Links to Love post on Sunday 4/17 at http://www.momof6.com!
Links to Love | Mom Of 6 Said,
April 17, 2011 @ 6:07 am
[...] is such a cool idea! Shrinkydink rings! Thanks Planet June (for the craft idea) and Simple Crafter (for showing it [...]
Michelle Said,
April 22, 2011 @ 1:07 am
I had no idea you could curve the shrinky dinks like that and make rings out of them. I would actually wear that. I get so bored with my daughter putting flat pieces of plastic in the oven. Thank you for the detail of your blog. I am going to “try” to make these.
Seabeanie Said,
April 25, 2011 @ 7:36 pm
Hey these are really cool but do you think you could make bracelets instead???
June Said,
April 30, 2011 @ 2:25 pm
Seabeanie, the only thing limiting a cuff bracelet is the size of shrink plastic you can buy. A strip cut from a regular 11″ long sheet will shrink to under 4″ in length. But you need to leave room to get the bracelet on and off, so it should be fine!
Alternatively, you could make a bracelet from 2 or more curved pieces (punch holes in the ends before baking and curving) and join the pieces together with jump rings or other jewellery findings.
Dori Said,
May 8, 2011 @ 12:29 am
really nice tute!
Teresa G Said,
May 11, 2011 @ 12:15 am
Thank you this is awesome.
Mei Said,
May 12, 2011 @ 12:42 pm
These are awesome. I recently made some of these and the tips you gave made the process much, much easier. Thanks for being so generous with your ideas!
http://meiphemera.blogspot.com/2011/05/fiction-vs-non-fiction.html
(I hope that comes up as a link to the pictures…also, if this is spammy, please delete it; I don’t mean it to be spam.)
June Said,
May 12, 2011 @ 12:59 pm
Not spammy! Your rings are lovely; I’m glad my tutorial helped you
Day 5: Shrinky Dink Rings | dianne faw Said,
June 6, 2011 @ 12:53 am
[...] rings are fun to make! I saw this incredible tutorial by June Gilbank and decided it was my creation for Day 5 of 30. I used Stampin’ Up’s [...]
Dianne Faw Said,
June 6, 2011 @ 12:57 am
Hi, June – this is really a wonderful tutorial! I used it for my Day 5 Creation of 30 Days of Creativity and put up a link in my blog. Thank you! http://diannefaw.wordpress.com/2011/06/05/day-5-shrinky-dink-rings/
Ariiaa Said,
June 15, 2011 @ 2:15 pm
Oh …i just love these cute rings…its so easy to make… i’ll try it soon… thank you for sharing
DIY Shrinky Dinks for Adults | Family Style Said,
June 30, 2011 @ 5:33 pm
[...] PlanetJune for the full tutorial! #babbleshare-commentsbox{ background-image: [...]
MamaMay Said,
July 7, 2011 @ 12:14 am
I featured you!
http://allawesomelinks.blogspot.com/2011/07/shrinky-dink-rings.html
pilaifarmer Said,
July 9, 2011 @ 4:27 pm
this is a great project, thank you for the tutorial. FYI…S&S worldwide has shrink plastic in other colors, red, green purple. etc…i am going to try this in the coloerd shrink plastic i ordered. again thanks
Peggy Said,
July 12, 2011 @ 8:34 pm
Thank you so much…that helped me alot
I’m doing them this year instead
thanks again
Tammy F. Said,
July 14, 2011 @ 4:03 pm
You might also try using a very, very fine grit sandpaper to sand the piece in a cross-hatch pattern before stamping. I have done this before running it through my inkjet printer when using the regular Shrink Plastic sheets from Ranger. I have to let it sit a while so the ink fully dries, but the light sanding seems to make the ink set better.
GinaC Said,
July 16, 2011 @ 9:05 pm
I am not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but plastic clam shell food packaging works just as well as expensive shrink plastic, and it puts a piece of trash to good use!
This is the type of packaging I am talking about:
http://www.brenmarco.com/userdocs/ItemImages/260115lrg.jpg
June Said,
July 18, 2011 @ 3:30 am
That’s right! Just make sure that it’s #6 plastic – I just checked and here in South Africa clamshell packaging is made from #1 (the same as soft drink bottles)! So do check the plastic type (the number in the triangle of arrows) on the package before you try to shrink it and check it says #6.
Lynda Allred Said,
July 20, 2011 @ 8:09 pm
Great tutorial! Very precise and helpful! So I used to do something similar when I was a young girl (like 40 years ago) we used liver lids! The local grocers would sell liver (yuk) in these little plastic containers with lids on them. BUT they were nice enough to let us buy just the lids for a small price. It worked similarly …I am glad to know that you can purchase the sheets of plastic now. I would like to do this with my grand kids. Are the sheets available at regular craft stores? JoAnns etc..? Or where have you purchased them?
Thanks again,
Lynda
Cocktail machines Said,
July 30, 2011 @ 4:56 am
I just ran across some shrinky dink paper in an old craft drawer. I’ll have to let the grandkids try this out. Looks like fun.
June Said,
July 30, 2011 @ 9:06 am
Yes, most craft stores sell the sheets now, usually near the scrapbooking supplies
Daily Craft Said,
August 1, 2011 @ 8:50 am
Great project! I just wanted to let you know that we featured this project on our Facebook page with over 17,000 fans. We’d love it if you’d use our Featured Blogger button, available at: http://www.dailycraft.com/thank-you-for-crafting/. Our audience loved the project and we look forward to sharing more from you. Please let us know if you have any questions or projects you’d love us to feature! Thanks!
frizzy Said,
August 17, 2011 @ 12:31 pm
hey june I know every one is saying this but you truly have a great tutorial!!!!
i just have one problam I truly am not good at math and I dont get how to find my size!!:(
PLEASE HELP
June Said,
August 18, 2011 @ 3:36 am
Here’s something you can try that involves NO math! Cut a strip that’s 15cm (or 6″) long. Use a marker to draw a little line every cm (or 1/4″) with a ruler, so it looks like a little ruler (you don’t need to number the marks though). Shrink the strip and wrap it around your forming tool (use the method in my tutorial to find the right size of tool using an existing ring). Now you can use your marks to find out how much too short (or long) it is:
- If it’s too short, guess how many of the spaces between your marks would fill the gap then make your next strip that many cm (or 1/4″s) longer.
- If it’s too long, count how many marks you’d need to cut off to make it the right length then make your next strip that many cm (or 1/4″s) shorter.
Janet Trieschman Said,
September 14, 2011 @ 3:53 pm
great tutorial. I linked to it from my blog.
Shrinky Dink Rings | CKC Creative Said,
September 18, 2011 @ 11:20 am
[...] is the tutorial from PlanetJune I used to make my Shrinky Dink rings. Just a quick note about the instructions. It took me forever [...]
Linda Said,
September 20, 2011 @ 3:15 pm
Hi June,
There was an article in today’s paper from Fayetteville, NC about your shrinky dink rings. I had no idea this stuff was still out there. I am a crafter and always looking for new things to do with my 2 granddaughters.
This I am going to look for when I go to my craft store. Thanks so much for sharing. By the way, I never get my crochet animals to look as good as yours do. Does practice make perfect you think??
Thanks,
Linda in NC
June Said,
September 21, 2011 @ 5:31 am
Linda, practice definitely helps, and there are also several techniques you can use to improve the appearance of your crocheted animals. Take a look at my tutorials at http://www.planetjune.com/help and see if they make a difference!
Susan Said,
September 21, 2011 @ 10:29 am
Thank you for the great project idea and tutorial! My 1st -4th grade Sunday School class LOVES Shrinky Dink Plastic projects. I can always find something the boys will like to make. Our best success is with the frosted ruff n’ ready. We use rubber stamps with the StazOn solvent ink, permanent sharpies for outlines/names and colored pencils. I use a heat gun to shrink because they love watching them shrink. Be sure to have a bamboo skewer ready to flip them over and a wooden block to flatten, if necessary. I do the shrinking on a (dedicated) non-stick metal cookie sheet.
I have had luck using a black & white – TONER ONLY copier with the ruff n’ ready. While the image will not be perfect-once shrunk, looks great.
If you forget to punch the hole before shrinking, a dremel is your best friend.
Lydia D. Said,
October 1, 2011 @ 8:58 pm
Thank you so much for posting all these great ideas!!
Braedon Said,
October 19, 2011 @ 9:39 am
Thank You!!! Still getting the shaping it part down but these are awesome!
lost all my cool wrings and I tried making wire rings ( did not work).
Thank You!
Sarah Said,
November 6, 2011 @ 7:48 pm
I can’t figure how to mesure and cut. I am a size 9, and I can’t figure how to mesure… because it will shrink. Please help!
I love shrinky dinks and this looks like so much fun!
Erin Said,
November 6, 2011 @ 11:53 pm
This is so cool. I hope to give it a try soon!
June Said,
November 7, 2011 @ 7:30 am
Sarah, I answered your question in an earlier comment – to save me retyping it, please check my response here
Peggy Said,
November 7, 2011 @ 10:50 am
My mother made original shrink plastic in the “70′s”, I recall she used a plastic wrap of some sort. Do you have information on that?
Thank You,
Peggy
Lynn Said,
November 7, 2011 @ 11:19 am
You should sell these on etsy.com!!! (especially for those of us who don’t have the patience or talent to do this!)
Don Draper Said,
November 7, 2011 @ 6:04 pm
wow these are really lovely I am going to make these for my nearest and dearest for Christmas.
thanks for sharing!
sherri Said,
November 7, 2011 @ 6:49 pm
I’m not sure of any plastic wrap, but if you check your to go containers for a recycle #6, those peices can be used! You’ll have to sand it a bit, but it shrinks down just the same!
Kristie Said,
November 7, 2011 @ 7:22 pm
Wow! What an excellent idea! I can’t wait to try this!
D'Ann Said,
November 7, 2011 @ 9:42 pm
This is so awesome! I can’t wait to try this!!
Mellissa Said,
November 7, 2011 @ 10:08 pm
Peggy, Shrinky Dink plastic is #6 plastic, which a lot of food containers are made of!
Thanks for this tutorial! I super heart Shrinky Dink stuff!
tmv Said,
November 7, 2011 @ 11:54 pm
Excuse me, is this your ring? I love the pattern, and was trying to figure out who made it so I could see if I could buy one …
http://pinterest.com/pin/466204081/
June Said,
November 8, 2011 @ 7:28 am
Peggy, you can shrink clear #6 plastic food containers, but I’ve never heard of shrinking plastic wrap – I have a feeling it might be too thin to give good results. Maybe your mother used #6 plastic containers and that’s what you’re thinking of?
June Said,
November 8, 2011 @ 7:40 am
tmv, no, it’s not my ring – it’s actually a resin bangle, not a shrinky ring at all! I’ve just written a blog post to explain this confusion, and there’s a link in the post to the artist who makes the bangles, in case you’d like one
http://www.planetjune.com/blog/how-to-track-down-creditless-photo-sources/
Shrinky Dink Ring Tutorial | Christmas Adam Said,
November 8, 2011 @ 12:55 pm
[...] June has a tutorial on how to make adorable rings with some shrinking plastic and stamps. And in case you don’t [...]
sheril mathews Said,
November 8, 2011 @ 5:25 pm
Well blow my hair back with a flute!!! Those are amazing!!!! Have you made bangles? How long would the shrink plastic have to be? And can you join them while they are hot?
I am SOOOO impressed with your tutorial too.
Thank you!!
Sheril
tmv Said,
November 8, 2011 @ 10:05 pm
You rock. Thank you for the explanation and the link!
June Said,
November 9, 2011 @ 3:37 am
Sheril, see my answer about making bangles here.
And no, you can’t join them while they are hot: Shrinkydinks will fuse together, but only in the oven at 450F for 15-30 mins, which would be far too hot to touch in order to shape it! You can only fuse flat pieces of Shrinkydinks (by placing them into the oven on top of each other so they will fuse). You’d have to make a bangle with a gap, in the same way as my rings have a gap.
DIY ~ Shrinky Dink Ring | *bespoke* zine Said,
November 9, 2011 @ 4:06 pm
[...] I had no idea they could make such beautiful rings! A big thanks to Planet June for sharing the easy, step-by-step tutorial for how to make your own plastic jewelry. The best part is that you get to decide on the [...]
J Said,
November 10, 2011 @ 11:29 am
This is a great idea. I’d love to be able to have one, but I just know I’d burn the crap out of myself trying.
pixelatedmushroom Said,
November 10, 2011 @ 5:46 pm
yay awesome tute! I want to try it
Dustin Said,
November 11, 2011 @ 2:15 pm
I have heard about using laminated scraps from school…but I usually use Graphix Shrink film…comes in all kinds of finishes and color. My kids are going to love making rings…or maybe bracelets. Thanks for the lesson.
Stephanike Said,
November 12, 2011 @ 12:32 am
I made these and have come across a problem with the ink rubbing off onto my finger. Have you had this problem? If so, how do you combat it?
June Said,
November 12, 2011 @ 9:41 pm
Stephanike, please see my previous answer to this question, here
Laurie Said,
November 12, 2011 @ 10:08 pm
You just put one or two coats of clear sealant. I’ve even used clear nail polish, but you have to reapply it every so often.
Susan Said,
November 21, 2011 @ 1:17 am
What kind of clear sealant do you use? Are you talking about polyurithane? Thanks for clearing this up for me!
Misse Said,
December 8, 2011 @ 10:47 am
how about fingerprints of your children? or fingerprints of grand parents for children’s rings?
Jessica Said,
December 18, 2011 @ 10:37 pm
Great tutorial! I love shrinky dinks! I’ll be adding this to my 12 days of Christmas blog series. Thanks!
Chrissi Said,
December 21, 2011 @ 10:56 pm
Hi! I love your rings! When I tried to make these, the rings curl onto themselves and get stuck. I have tried 4 times, and each time I let it do its shrinky thing, but they still stay stuck! Any suggestions?
June Said,
December 22, 2011 @ 2:24 am
Chrissi, I haven’t experienced this personally, but here are a few things you could try:
Savitha S.M Said,
January 2, 2012 @ 6:49 am
this is creative and amazing
PlanetJune by June Gilbank » how to track down creditless photo sources Said,
January 17, 2012 @ 1:29 am
[...] There’s been much talk lately about how to share on Pinterest properly: giving credit to the source of your image, and making sure the pin actually links back to the source correctly before you re-pin it. I have an excellent example of why this is so important. Yesterday, I suddenly got a massive traffic spike on my blog and lots of new comments on my shrinkydinks ring tutorial. [...]
norma Said,
February 1, 2012 @ 4:54 pm
great tut. i have shrink plastic that can be shrunk with my embossing gun and am going to try these with my granddaughters!
michelle Said,
February 11, 2012 @ 10:13 pm
i have had shrink plastic sitting in my craft room for years. never dreamed of making rings from it! amazing!
esther Said,
February 13, 2012 @ 10:18 pm
This is so cool! I’m thinking about making these and selling them for our charity project. (:
Charley Said,
February 18, 2012 @ 4:23 pm
Awesome I can’t wait to make shrinkydinks!!
fun with Shrinky Dinks! (the owl set) « The Frabjous Versipel Said,
February 23, 2012 @ 6:32 am
[...] good friend T. turned me on to this great tutorial for making shrinky dink rings. Yes, you can shape Shrinky Dinks when they first come out of the [...]
Tammy Said,
February 27, 2012 @ 9:13 am
We always used clear deli lids -
Heather B Said,
February 27, 2012 @ 8:16 pm
These are awesome. Great job on the instructions. It was good to know I could reheat and re-bend. I think I redid the first one 4 times. It looks great! My shrinky dink stuff did not shrink to 1/3, so I did have to recalculate the length I started with, but it all worked out. I can’t wait till naptime tomorrow to make another one.
Kay Said,
March 14, 2012 @ 3:51 pm
We tried these using some shrinky dink plastic from the 70′s. The plastic shrunk just as you described, but it only took about 10-s. We waited a bit longer before taking the first batch out, but it was too brittle to bend. We took the second batch out as soon as it had flattened out and wrapped them around a lipstick. These were too brittle and broke also. Do you think it is because the plastic is too old?
June Said,
March 14, 2012 @ 4:02 pm
Hmmm, I don’t know… It may be age degradation, or the plastic formula may have been slightly different in the classic stuff – when mine went wrong, they just solidified too quickly; they didn’t ever break, so it sounds like yours may be too brittle. Things you could try before you give up on it:
If none of those work, I’d save the classic shrinky dinks for flat projects and maybe invest in a new pack!
Jeremiah Said,
March 18, 2012 @ 8:28 am
In testing, the final piece is generally 40% smaller than the unshrunk film.
Susan Said,
March 30, 2012 @ 1:56 pm
Hello
What can be done with recycled 4 plastic
that is all I can seem to find around here- I am having a problem finding recycled 6-
I tried the shrinky donk idea with the 4 it did not shrink- but it did turn white
and it did harden a bit but thats all
so what can be done with recycled 4 if anything at all.
I can not seem to find recycled 6 plastic
June Said,
March 30, 2012 @ 2:26 pm
You can’t shrink other types of plastic; only #6. The best thing to do with your #4 is to recycle it! And then maybe buy yourself a pack of Shrinkydinks
Ashley Said,
April 2, 2012 @ 12:45 am
Hi, I was just wondering, about how many rings come out of one sheet?
June Said,
April 3, 2012 @ 5:08 am
Ashley, a sheet is 8 x 10 inches, and my rings were about 5.6 x 0.63 in. So I’d get about 15 out of one sheet, plus maybe 3 more if I used the offcut edge piece too (but as the plastic may shrink by a slightly different amount in each direction, you’d have to do a separate test run for size if you cut a tall narrow piece vs a short wide piece). Obviously it also depends on the size of rings you want to make and which brand of shrink plastic you use!
Jenny Fincham Said,
April 6, 2012 @ 2:35 pm
These are amazing, I have made a couple now and love them!
One question? What do you sand yours with? I tried sand paper and it doesn’t work so well! Did you use a little machine?
You are very talented.
June Said,
April 10, 2012 @ 6:37 am
Hmm… thinking back… I sanded gently by hand. If it didn’t work for you, you may be using a sandpaper with too coarse a grit, which would leave scratches – is that what happened when you tried? I have 320 grit and 600 grit that I use to get a very smooth finish for my craft projects.