Shrinky Dink Fun for the Family: Gifts, Games and More!

Shrinky Dinks are simply plastic sheets that shrink and thicken in the oven. You might not guess how addictive this process could be, unless of course you have fond memories of creating your own as a child. I was thrilled to see this product still available and came up with several reasons why I had to have it. My kids gladly went along with my crazy schemes and ended up creating Shrinky Dink projects for themselves, gifts for their school teachers, friends and even pets!

If it has been a while since you have tried Shrinky Dinks, you will be happy to know the plastic sheets are now available for ink-jet printers! Simply create your own graphics on your computer and then print it directly on the plastic, cut and shrink away.

Best Shrinky Dink projects

Custom game pieces. Make your own play pieces for Monopoly, Candy Land or other favorite game board. Choose a photo of your child sitting on their bike or skateboarding for an active piece. Dad can choose a photo of himself, or maybe his dream car, mom can even choose to have a celebrity double!

Photo charms. Scan your child’s photos, print on the Shrinky Dink plastic and then shrink down to carry on your key ring. Be sure to use a hole punch to poke a hole in the top before shrinking. These also make great gifts for grandparents. Gather photos of all the grandkids and then turn the charms into a memory bracelet.

Photo charms are also a great way to identify drinks at a holiday gathering. Make a collection of photo drink charms using earring hoops to temporarily attach it to the stems of glasses. For the kids table guests, slip the charm on a rubber band in order to attach it to cups.

Pet ID tag. Check out the downloadable pet ID tag templates on the Martha Stewart website, or create your own. The tags should be sealed with clear nail polish before attaching to your pet’s collar. Cheaper than a pet store, you do not have to stick to just one charm.

Gift tags. Design your own tags with an embellished name of the recipient. Punch a hole at the top and then bake. Use a long ribbon, or a handful of curly ribbons to attach it to the gift. Once the gift is opened, the birthday girl can wear it as a necklace.

Pushpins. A great gift for a teen, make tiny charms and then glue on the top of pushpins. A younger sibling can work on this project for an older brother or sister, or the family can create their own set of pushpins to use on the family bulletin board.

Party favors. Shrinky Dink charms can be added to ball chains to make backpack or zipper pulls, charm bracelets, buttons or magnets. Instead of making them ahead of time, you can incorporate the activity into the party and then send guests home with their own creations.

Christmas ornaments. Let your kids trace coloring book images or draw their own for a collection of unique holiday ornaments. Add bells and ribbons to the shrunken plastic charms and hang on the tree.

General Shrinky Dink tips;

Set Shrinky Dinks on brown paper bags before placing on cookie sheet. Keep your eye on the shrinking plastic while it is in the oven. The edges will curl up and then flatten out in a minute, but sometimes the plastic gets stuck and needs a little help. Press the plastic flat immediately after it comes out the oven. Remember, the plastic is hot! If it doesn’t flatten properly, you can try to pop it back in the oven for a minute to try again. Cover with clear nail polish once dry to seal the colors and protect the charm.

More by Sylvie Branch:

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