How to Shrinky Dink Directions
- 1). Select your design. Be aware of design placement if using a printer or copier to transfer the design to the plastic, to avoid wasting space. Place your designs on the edges of the plastic rather than centered in the middle. Follow the directions for your printer or copier to transfer the design to the plastic. Print the design on the rough side of the plastic, if there is a rough side.
- 2). Place your design underneath the side of a sheet of plastic or a piece of code 6 plastic if tracing a design by hand. Tape the edges of the plastic down over the design to eliminate movement. Carefully trace the design onto the plastic. If using a stamp, load the stamp well with ink and press down firmly. Allow to dry completely.
- 3). Color your design. Use a variety of different tipped pens to add detail. Lighter colors of pencil or pen will result in clear, stained glass qualities, while darker colors have a tendency to turn dark and hide details. Begin with simple graphic designs at first until you get a feel for how the colors turn out.
- 4). Punch a hole in the plastic using the hole punch, if desired. Remember that the size of the hole will shrink considerably. Cut the design out of the plastic, taking care to remove any sharp edges. Round the corners on square pieces, as they become sharper as they shrink.
- 5). Place the plastic on the oven tray and set into the toaster oven. Turn the oven to 250 F. Watch carefully as the plastic heats up and begins shrinking. It twists and curls and sometimes flips. If it appears the plastic is folding back onto itself, open the oven door and use the chopsticks to pry the apart the stuck section. Continue to heat the plastic until it has shrunk by 1/3, and is laying completely flat. Allow the oven to cool.
- 6). Alternately, place the plastic on the oven tray. Turn the heat gun to medium and begin sweeping back and forth across the plastic until it begins melting and shrinking.
- 7). Seal the back of the plastic with several light coats of clear varnish. Failing to seal the decorated areas results in wear on the design.
