CHIHULY Inspired Sun Catcher Made From Recycled Plastic Drinking Cups
by
Diana Kamps
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. I use a regular cookie sheet lined with parchment to put the plastic on for melting/shrinking in the oven. The shrinking only takes 2-3 minutes, so stay close. Use sharp scissors to cut plastic cups into different shapes (or leave whole). BEFORE you melt/shrink it, punch a hole in the plastic (it will be too hard after). The more variation in the plastic cups (bumps, ridges, etc.) the more interesting the piece will be. You can bend a piece after it is melted as long as you do it very quickly while the plastic is still very warm, you can flattened it with a metal spatula, or leave it as is. Using the cups is far less predictable than flat plastic, it twists and curls in strange ways. Be open to surprises! Use fishing line to string and hang up but you can use cord or ribbon.
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2 of 45 comments
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Thank you, I’m doing it!!!
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I think a heat gun and long tongs would allow you to pull out some longer swirls, Just be careful!
Frequently asked questions
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How did you make it, please?
WHAT SORT OF PLASTIC CUPS DID YOU USE? CAN YOU GIVE A BRAND NAME FOR EXAMPLE Solo, etc?
Is the plastic cups not poisonous when heated? It’s a carcinogen for everything I have read