How to Make Your Own Plastic Charms

Plastic charms may be worn on a bracelet or necklace. These handmade trinkets will also look good as earrings or when used to make pins. Make plastic charms for yourself or to give to friends as gifts. These small hand-crafted objects also make inexpensive items to sell at local craft fairs or online at your favorite arts and crafts website.

Things You'll Need

• Shrink art plastic
• Scissors
• Heat embossing gun
• Heat-resistant surface
• Hand drill
• 200-grit sandpaper
• Rubber stamp
• Stamp ink that can be heated
• Jewelry pliers
• Jump ring

Instructions

1. Sand the shrink art plastic to prepare the surface for the designs. Create an evenly-sanded surface. The shrink art plastic should have a cross-hatched design when you are done. Sand both sides for charms that will be seen and designed on both sides.

2. Press the stamp into the stamping ink. Blot the stamp on paper towel to remove excess ink. Stamp the design onto the sanded shrink art plastic to make the plastic charm.

3. Cut out different shapes from the shrink art plastic. Keep in mind that some shrink art plastic will shrink down anywhere from 45 to 60 percent of its original size. Read the label on the brand of shrink art plastic you are using to make your plastic charms.

4. Heat the shrink art plastic with the heat embossing gun. Control the rate of shrinkage by moving the embossing gun closer to or further away from the charm. Let it cool completely.

5. Drill a small hole using a hand drill. Attach a head pin to the plastic charm. Repeat the process to make more plastic charms.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a hand-cranked hand drill on the delicate charms.

• Drilling the holes after the charms have shrunk lets you control the size of the hole.

• Do not make the charms in the same toaster oven you use for food.

• Do not give these plastic charms to small children or babies.