Shrinky Dinks Test Lab – The Wrap-up Of It All…

[16 Jul 2008 | By Dot | 9 Comments | 15,016 views ]

Hope you all enjoyed the shrinky dinks test lab… I sure did!
A reminder, I want to see your creations. If you’re on Flickr, add your pictures to the new Dabbled pool, and/or put a comment here (with a link to your blog) or one of the other Test Lab posts. If we get enough fun stuff, i’ll do a spotlight on readers’ shrinkies :)

Also, be sure to check out the comments, because there are alot of talented people who posted their experiences, especially with sealing, and there is good info to be had.

Here are links to all the posts, for your ease of reading pleasure.

Shrinky Dinky Test Lab – Intro
Part 1 – Shrinky Dinky Test Lab: How to make Doodle earrings
Part 2 – Experiments
Special Holiday Edition – Glass markers and a Shrinky Party
Part 3 – More Experimentation
Part 4 – The optional sealing part

EDIT 12/08: New Shrinkies tutorial here – Santa Ornaments, with a Template

Edit 8/8/08:
Heather Sitarzewski was researching other sealing methods.. here are her results:

Better late than never… I tried coating the shrinkies with embossing powder and I ended up with a bubbly, melted mess. So I decided to try a clear embellishing accent called “Crystal Effects” from Stampin’ Up (you can also get something called Glossy Accents from Archiver’s, Hobby Lobby etc.) it worked brilliantly!!! Although I lost the one I did that to… so I’ll have to make more! Will try to post as soon as I have the next batch completed! Thanks for all your info about the shrinkies!

2/09: More Shrinky projects:
Funky cool Bracelet
Shrinky Xmas Ornament
Shrinky Wine glass markers

These might be related posts, too:

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9 Comments »

Cindy Lietz, Polymer Clay Tutor :

I just found your blog today and I love it! All the great up-cycled projects! My favorite are the shrinky dinks… clever easy and cheap! Thank you so much for the tutorials!

# 7 August 2008 at 6:18 pm

Sophie :

Great stuff!! Why buy the shrink plastic when we are surrounded in the stuff. BTW have you ever tried to shrink a chip packet? Weird, I know, but I recall when we were kids that we used to do it – everyone had a mini chip packet on their key ring. Just wondering if it still works or if they’ve changed the plastic in the packets – perhaps I’ll have to give it a go.

# 3 September 2008 at 11:37 pm

Debi :

Great information. I added a link to it here, http://holidaycrafting.blogspot.com/, I was talking about shrinky dinks and crafts. Awesome site you have. Love it!

# 30 September 2008 at 8:45 pm

lorrwill :

Please please please post how you used this. My experiments with the sealing phase are not going so great.

# 10 October 2008 at 1:37 am

Pepi :

Muy bonito el resultado,quedan unas piezas bellisimas.Un saludo.

# 25 May 2009 at 6:29 am

Sara :

I was trying to figure out how to make recycled beads and came across this blog by accident. I am so excited to discover that I can make my own gorgeous and artistic jewelry from recycled plastic – and who does’nt love shrinky dinks – thanks so much for blogging this!!!

# 23 May 2010 at 9:41 pm

Dot :

So glad you enjoyed it! would love to see pics of what you make!

# 24 May 2010 at 8:36 am

CraftyKid :

I love your tutorials!

I’m trying to find information online about melting plastics with recycling #s 1-5. I’m curious what will happen, how they melt, and whether they’re usable for crafts. I hesitate to experiment myself because I figure someone somewhere has already tried!, and I don’t want to sacrifice our toaster oven or fill our house with horrible-smelling toxic fumes, if that’s what the other numbers of plastic do when melted.

Do you have any information about what happens when you melt plastics other than #6? How did you come to know #6 was best for crafting?

Thank you! Happy crafting!

P.S. — Have you tried any eco-friendly resins as sealers? How do they compare to standard sealers?

# 12 April 2011 at 7:17 am

Dot :

Honestly, I’ve only tried with a few different kinds so I’d be hesitant to give any advice about other plastics. Some will simple soften, some will do nothing at these kind of temps. I would be concerned about fumes from too much experimenting, so try anything outside in an old toaster at your own risk :)

I do have another cool project – http://dabbled.org/2009/12/tutorial-make-a-bracelet-from-an-old-record.html
a bracelet from a vinyl record, but I’m not sure if that will help you.

# 12 April 2011 at 1:38 pm