The Lead Chandelier

If you grew up in the 80s, you’ve sat, poised in front of your oven, witnessing in amazement, the mystery of ShrinkyDinks. I did. I still do. Though I’ve graduated from coloring in pre-printed Shrinky Dink paper emblazoned with Disney characters, I’m still completely hooked. In fact, I spent an entire semester of college studying and testing the limits of Shrink Dink plastic, turning photographs and drawings into tiny masterpieces.

Beyond the resulting pleasure, in process, of creating the little beauty, these small pieces of art offer a dimensional, translucent and tangible artifact unique to Shrinky Dink paper. The minuscule dimensions draw you in and the delicate lines resulting from the 1/3 final size beg for some sort of archeological admiration.

Use ink pens, graphite pencils, colored pencils, stamps or permanent markers on the rough side of the Shrinky Dink paper. The lines become finer and the colors become really concentrated and vibrant as a result of the Shrinky Dink plastic shrinking. Even some ink jet printers successfully print images onto the rough side of the material. (Black ink works much better than color.) Do note that any plastic, when exposed to light, may discolor. Enjoy this natural aging process by allowing areas to remain uncolored or cover the entire dink with color to mask the affect.

Even if you’re design looks amazing now, I promise it will look one million times more amazing at 1/3 the size. But getting it there can be scary. I’ve lost many an ill-watched dink during the shrinking process. This is especially true with larger pieces as they tend to curl up on themselves as they shrink (I’ve worked with 24X30″ sheets, available upon request by phone, from ShrinkyDinks).

ShrinkyDink paper and similar products recommend placing the materials in a conventional oven set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or a toaster oven set to the same temperature. It is a good idea to place a piece of thin cardboard (I use non corrugated) on top of your project as well as underneath. It’s light, so it will still allow the Shrinky Dink paper to shrink down without weighting down the item. It’s also possible to achieve the desired result with a heat gun and even a hairdryer set on high. Do note that the Shrink Dink plastic will emit a foul scent as it shrinks and you should always work in a well ventilated area.

See more examples in our unique gift shop. Or send us a photo of what you’ve created on your trip down memory lane.

This entry was posted Tuesday, August 18th, 2009 at 12:29 am and is filed under All, DIY / Hand Made Crafts. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.