Shrinky dinks are an easy and versatile craft that anyone can do. It uses materials that you probably already have laying around your house, so there’s no extra cost!

You can buy kits only with premade designs, but the real fun is designing it yourself.

They use #6 plastic, which is easier to find then you might think. Things like takeaway containers, plastic yoghurt lids, meat trays. If you are unsure just look for the 6 symbol (see picture below).

All you need is:

• A flat piece of #6 plastic
• Permanent markers
• Parchment paper
• Scissors
• A sheet pan
• Hole puncher (optional)

How to make it:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Using permanent markers, decorate shapes and designs on the plastic
3. Cut out the plastic, note that it will shrink down to about 1/3 of its original size
4. If you plan on turning it into a charm, punch a hole in your design before baking
5. Arrange your plastic pieces on a sheet pan with a piece of parchment paper underneath them to prevent sticking
6. Place your baking sheet on the middle rack for your oven
7. Watch your Shrinky Dinks closely. They will curl up and then flatten out again as they shrink. This will take around 2-3 minutes
8. Remove the pan from the oven and let them cool.

Once they have cooled down you can turn them into almost anything. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, luggage tags, keyrings, name tags or ornaments.

Just use the hole that you punched in before hand to attach it to stink, key chain, or jewellery.