Can anyone tell me how to use shrink plastic?

Oct '04 Mollysmom

I've gotten some shrink plastic and I'm not sure how to "shrink it" or cut it, any one have any tips?
Oct '04 Rach51286

RE: Mollysmom: I've gotten some shrink plastic and I'm not sure how to "shrink it" or cut it, any one have any tips?

Well you need to shrink it in the oven, didn't it come with instructions on the temperature etc.? The oven has to be fairly hot but it only takes a few seconds to shrink, you put it in a tray on a piece of cardboard and it will curl up all small (don't panic!) but then lay out flat again. Cut it with scissors or a craft knife, scissors are quite difficult if you're doing something tiny. Oh I just found mine ... it says to bake it at 300 - 350 degrees. Make sure you watch it as it doesn't take long. Good luck!!
Oct '04 Lamissy

RE: Rach51286: Well you need to shrink it in the oven, didn't it come with instructions on the temperature etc.? The oven has to be fairly hot but it only takes a few seconds to shrink, you put it in a tray on a piece of cardboard and it will curl up all small (don't panic!) but then lay out flat again. Cut it with scissors or a craft knife, scissors are quite difficult if you're doing something tiny. Oh I just ...

You can use a sizzix, or punches on it. I have punched squares out of , stamped letters on them, punched a little hole in the top, and then shrunk it. Makes cute little letter tiles, kind of like the doodle bug ones. I have also stamped images, and cut them out with a craft knife, and made cute charms. You can color it with markers, inks or chalks too before you shrink it.
Oct '04 Katiesquirrel

RE: Lamissy: You can use a sizzix, or punches on it. I have punched squares out of , stamped letters on them, punched a little hole in the top, and then shrunk it. Makes cute little letter tiles, kind of like the doodle bug ones. I have also stamped images, and cut them out with a craft knife, and made cute charms. You can color it with markers, inks or chalks too before you shrink it.

You can also shrink it using an embossing heat tool, if you have one. It curls up as you shrink it, but flattens itself as it gets close to done.
Oct '04 Mollysmom

RE: Katiesquirrel: You can also shrink it using an embossing heat tool, if you have one. It curls up as you shrink it, but flattens itself as it gets close to done.

Thanks a bunch... can you paint it or embellish it and then shrink it?
Oct '04 AuntLynnie

RE: Mollysmom: Thanks a bunch... can you paint it or embellish it and then shrink it?

I've heard that if you bought the injet kind, print it at 50%, then shrink it. The color will be right when it's done shrinking.

If you don't print it at 50%, everything will be super dark.

However, not all shrinky dink plastic can run through the printer. read your labels.
Oct '04 Punchaholic

RE: AuntLynnie: I've heard that if you bought the injet kind, print it at 50%, then shrink it. The color will be right when it's done shrinking. If you don't print it at 50%, everything will be super dark. However, not all shrinky dink plastic can run through the printer. read your labels.

I recently gotten some shrink plastic, too.
I've read that you can paint it, but only use acrylic paint.
Oct '04 DianeP

RE: Punchaholic: I recently gotten some shrink plastic, too. I've read that you can paint it, but only use acrylic paint.

Hey, I LOVE shrinky dink plastic!
Oct '04 DianeP

RE: DianeP: Hey, I LOVE shrinky dink plastic!

If you're using the shrinky dink brand....
Oct '04 DianeP

RE: DianeP: If you're using the shrinky dink brand....

you can't run it through your computer, but....
Oct '04 DianeP

RE: DianeP: you can't run it through your computer, but....

(sorry, doing some shameless posting here...:) )
Oct '04 DianeP

RE: DianeP: (sorry, doing some shameless posting here...:) )

you buff the plastic using a fine grit sandpaper. I use a fingernail sanding block cause it's easy to hang on to.
Oct '04 DianeP

RE: DianeP: you buff the plastic using a fine grit sandpaper. I use a fingernail sanding block cause it's easy to hang on to.

then you can stamp on it using staz-on or any heat set ink.
Oct '04 DianeP

RE: DianeP: then you can stamp on it using staz-on or any heat set ink.

you can color it with your watercolor pencils or chalks, cut out the image, poke a hole with an eyelet hole maker tool, and bake it! You can also use the paint pens, but whatever you do, don't use a dye ink. It will never dry and the only way to keep it from running is to coat the plastic with something like diamond glaze.

pm me if you have any questions!
Oct '04 Mommie2angels

RE: DianeP: you can color it with your watercolor pencils or chalks, cut out the image, poke a hole with an eyelet hole maker tool, and bake it! You can also use the paint pens, but whatever you do, don't use a dye ink. It will never dry and the only way to keep it from running is to coat the plastic with something like diamond glaze.pm me if you have any questions!

What about colored shrink plastic?
Oct '04 Gg Loves Matthew

RE: Mommie2angels: What about colored shrink plastic?

just remember to draw or print BIG (when shrinks becomes a size you can still see) poke or punch any holes you may want it in BEFORE BAKING (like if you are making a charm that requires a jump ring) and last cut out whatever your design requires BEFORE BAKING.
Oct '04 Holdensmom

RE: Gg Loves Matthew: just remember to draw or print BIG (when shrinks becomes a size you can still see) poke or punch any holes you may want it in BEFORE BAKING (like if you are making a charm that requires a jump ring) and last cut out whatever your design requires BEFORE BAKING.

You can purchase ink jet shrink plastic. You do have to lighten it by 50% though...
Oct '04 Mollysmom

RE: Holdensmom: You can purchase ink jet shrink plastic. You do have to lighten it by 50% though...

I am lovin' the shrink plastic.