DIY Shrink Plastic Charms
$5
30 Minutes
Easy
One of the things I have been reinforcing with my kids recently is the importance of recycling and repurposing. You know those plastic food containers that restaurants give out when you take food to go? You can actually create adorable plastic charms with them! I know… mind-blowing! Today, I will be sharing with you the easy tutorial to do just that. When it comes to crafting, my kids always enjoy creating stuff with their hands and this project was a big hit with them!
To get started with this project, you will need to find plastic food storage containers. You can typically find them at bakeries, restaurants and supermarkets.
IMPORTANT: To make sure that the plastic shrinks properly in the oven, make sure you see the number 6 inside the recycling triangle. This indicates the exact composition of the plastic and is necessary for proper shrinkage in the oven.
Gather the rest of the supplies for the project:
- permanent markers
- hole punch
- jump rings
- wire pliers
- pair of scissors
My daughter loved drawing on the plastic. I made a batch of my own designs, too. After drawing is complete, cut out the individual shapes with the scissors. Again, be very careful since the plastic edges are quite sharp.
Check out all the designs we made.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place the designs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for about two minutes. You will see the pieces shrink by about 300% in the oven. Here is what they look like when they come out! Notice how much smaller and shinier they are! They also get much thicker and more 3-dimensional!
For more tips & pics, please visit the blog post.
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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1 comment
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I had no idea the plastic shrinks. Super tutorial and great projects. Kids would get a kick watching the plastic shrink. Great share. Now one of my lucky numbers is 6
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