Inside: Everything you need to do Shrinky Dinks for 90s Week! Including free printable summer shapes templates and where to grab supplies!
Have you ever done Shrinky Dinks with your kids? If you grew up in the 90s or early 2000’s this craft is definitely nostalgic… and it is just as fun now as it was back, then!
We did Shrinky Dinks as part of our 90s Week this summer and my kids all loved it.
As a mom I loved this activity because it is so simple and easy, plus it’s low-mess, and the results are so satisfying. There is nothing quite like watching a piece of plastic curl up in the oven and shrink down into a tiny colorful charm!
What Are Shrinky Dinks?
For those of you not familiar with Shrinky Dinks they are sheets of special plastic that you color, cut out, and bake in the oven.
When the heat hits the plastic paper, they shrink down to about a third of their original size and get thicker, stiffer, and the colors brighten. The result is adorable little keychains, charms, jewelry, and bag tags that kids are so proud of!
This was a classic 90s craft, which makes it a perfect fit for 90s Week. Plus, it is one of those activities that works for all ages my younger kids loved coloring the designs while my older ones got creative making their own. (I cut out all the little kid’s drawings.)
What You Need for Shrinky Dinks
Here is what you need to get started:
- Shrinky Dink paper (we got ours on Amazon)
- Colored pencils or markers (use sharpies or the ink will rub off)
- Scissors
- A hole punch (for keychains or jewelry)
- A toaster oven or regular oven
- A baking sheet
- Oven mitts
That’s it! Super simple.
How to Make Shrinky Dinks
Here is how we made our Shrinky Dinks step by step…don’t worry it’s really easy.
Step 1: Trace or Draw Your Design
Print the free templates onto regular paper (I cut each shape out so that everyone could have a shape and then swap) trace the template or draw your own design on the rough/matte side of the Shrinky Dink paper.
If you want to make this even easier get the Shrinky Dink paper that already has designs printed on it.
Step 2: Color It In
Use colored pencils or sharpies color your picture. Sharpies tend to bleed so if you want a clean crisp design use pencil. I wish I wouldn’t have pulled out the markers because if they are out that’s all the kids want to use.
Colors do get a little more intense when the plastic shrinks, but it’s better to color heavily than end up with something too light. Really make sure you can see the color before you bake it.
Step 3: Cut Out Your Shapes
Cut around your designs, leaving a small border is a good idea. The plastic paper does crack so be careful and go slow as you cut out your designs.
Step 4: Punch Your Holes Now
If you want to make keychains or jewelry, punch your holes before baking. The hole shrinks too, so make it bigger than you think you need (we used a little hole punch, and the holes were so small! That was a mistake.)
Step 5: Bake!
Place your pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet (or risk baking marker into your baking sheet…don’t ask how I know) and bake following the instructions that came with your paper. Watch through the oven window for the magic part, it’s the best! The plastic will curl up and then flatten back out. Once it’s flat, it’s done! This usually only takes about 3 minutes.
Step 6: Press Flat if Needed
If a piece comes out a little warped, you can press it flat while it’s still hot with a spatula or book.
Let them cool completely, and you’re done!
You can use the Shrinky Dinks you made for friendship bracelets, keychains, backpack charms and more.
Free Printable Shrinky Dink Summer Templates
Don’t want to draw designs from scratch? I put together this fun free printable Shrinky Dink summer templates are perfect for 90s Week and all summer long.
The set includes fun summer designs like the sun, a popsicle, flip flops, a beach ball and more. Just download, print on regular paper and let the kids have tracing the summer designs onto their Shrinky dink paper.