Shrink art is a craft in which you transfer a design to a sheet of plastic, color it, trim it and shrink it down to 1/3 its original size. You then have a hardened, brightly-colored but smaller version of the design that you can use in craft or jewelry projects. The Rose Art Super Shrink Art kit features more than 50 designs, eight sheets of plastic and six colored pencils -- blue, green, orange, purple, red and yellow -- that you use to create shrunken art projects.
Things You'll Need:
- Non-Stick Cookie Sheet
- Scissors
Lay the design on a table. If the design has writing, position it so that the text is reversed.
Position a plastic sheet over the design with the rough side facing up.
Trace the design onto the plastic using one of the colored pencils.
Add an additional line 1/4 inch around the design -- this will serve as a guide line to neatly cut out the design.
Color the traced design as desired.
Cut out the design, following the guide line around the design. Make sure edges are smooth -- round out all sharp edges.
Heat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place the plastic designs, colored side up, on a non-stick cookie sheet, leaving 1 inch of space between pieces. Slide cookie sheet into the oven.
Wait for the designs to curl, shrink and flatten. Although this can take up to five minutes, check your designs once every 60 seconds. Once your designs flatten, wait 30 seconds more and then remove them from the oven.
Wait until the designs are cool before handling them.
Tip
To use your shrink art as a charm, use a hole punch to make a hole that will accommodate a string, cord or chain before putting the plastic piece in the oven.
Warnings:
- Heat plastic in a well-ventilated room since melting plastic creates toxic fumes. Do not use your microwave to make shrink art.
References
- “Rose Art;” Super Shrink Art Instructions; MEGA Brands, USA; 2007
Tips
- To use your shrink art as a charm, use a hole punch to make a hole that will accommodate a string, cord or chain before putting the plastic piece in the oven.
Warnings
- Heat plastic in a well-ventilated room since melting plastic creates toxic fumes.
- Do not use your microwave to make shrink art.
Writer Bio
Based in Southern Pennsylvania, Irene A. Blake has been writing on a wide range of topics for over a decade. Her work has appeared in projects by The National Network for Artist Placement, the-phone-book Limited and GateHouse Media. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Shippensburg University.
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