How to Make Shrink Plastic Earrings

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By gottalovelattes
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Shrink Plastic - Endless Opportunities

Remember the Shrinky Dinks kids used to love in the 1970s? Well, they have taken on a new life and have become their very own art form. The creation of earrings (and other jewelry) from photographs printed on shrink plastic via an ink jet printer have become increasingly popular. They are simple to make and each pair is as unique as you choose to make them. Be forewarned...shrink plastic earrings are quite addictive!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Shrink Plastic for inkjet printers
photo or design to be printed
earring findings
nail polish or clear acrylic art coating

Step 1

First thing to do is decide if you will be printing your design, in which case you will need ink jet shrink paper specially coated to accept inkjet inks. If you are going to draw directly on the shrink paper, your will need a type which has been roughened which will allow colored pencil, acrylic paints or permanent ink (think stamping) to adhere.
Step 2

If you are printing, make sure you size the image about 30%-40% larger than the size you want the charms to be. After you have printed the images on the inkjet shrink paper, use an exacto knife or scissors to cut around the image and into the shape you desire. Take a hole punch (1/8 inch should work) and make a hole at the location which will allow the earrings to hang as you would like them.
Step 3

Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees, line a cookie sheet with flat brown paper (like the kind from a brown paper bag) place the shrink plastic pieces on the brown paper and place in the oven for 3 minutes. When the pieces lay flat allow them to remain in the over for an additional 30 seconds.
Step 4

After you have allowed the shrunk plastic to cool, coat them with clear nail polish or a artistic varnish to protect it. Now you are ready to create you earrings using jewelry findings. You can purchase earring findings at most craft stores. The possibilities are endless and numerous inspirational examples exist online. Practiced enough, you can really make this into a true art form.