How to Make a Shrinky Dink Prairie Dog

Prairie dogs are often mistaken for groundhogs. The two are very similar, but not actually the same. The prairie dog lives underground, which can make it hard for you to catch a glimpse of one. They do come out to get their food and to find water. You can make a prairie dog on a Shrinky Dink sheet and then bake it in the oven.

Things You'll Need

• Shrinky dink sheets
• Cookie sheet
• Scissors
• Pencil Crayons

Instructions

1. Buy some shrinky dink sheets from the Shrinky Dink Store (see Resources below).

2. Pull out your shrinky dink sheet and feel both sides. One side is rough and one side is smooth. Use the rough side to draw on.

3. Use your black pencil crayon to draw the outline of your prairie dog. You can fit several prairie dogs on one shrinky dink sheet.

4. Color your prairie dog in with the rest of your pencil crayons. Make your prairie dog funny by adding a costume. You could give the prairie dog a cape and call it super prairie dog.

5. Cut your prairie dogs out with a pair of scissors. Make sure you leave a clear space about 1/4 inch space around the edges of the prairie dog to allow for shrinkage.

6. Lay your prairie dogs out on a baking sheet. Give them about 1 inch of space in between so they don't melt together.

7. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

8. Put your baking sheet in the oven as soon as it reaches its designated temperature.

9. Use a timer to count out 60 seconds and then remove the baking sheet with a pair of oven mitts.

Tips & Warnings

• Take a strip of magnet and stick it on the back of your shrinky dink prairie dog. Stick your prairie dog on the refrigerator.

• Punch a hole in the top of the prairie dog and thread a string through the hole. Tie the string in a knot to form a necklace.

• Keep your eye on the shrinky dink at all times when it is in the oven--it can burn in under 2 seconds.

Resources

• Shrinky Dink Store