How to Create Your Own Fashion Ring
If you have a passion for create-your-own jewelry projects, but don't want to spend a lot of time or money on the materials, then you can easily make your own fashion rings at home by using shrink plastic and simple decorating tools. Shrink plastic is a craft tool that starts out thin and bendable, but as it is heated in the microwave or the oven, it hardens and shrinks, making it the perfect material for fashion rings. These fashion rings can be made and decorated in your home, and they make great gifts, party favors or accessories. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Shrink plastic
- Utility knife
- Rubber stamp
- Alcohol-based stamp ink
- Fine point permanent marker
- Brown paper
- Oven or toaster oven
Instructions
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Purchase sheets of shrink plastic from a craft store, a scrapbook store, on the Internet, or even a toy store. If you plan on only making one ring, then you will only need one sheet of shrink plastic, so buy the smallest package sold.
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Measure your ring size. Print off a ring size converter, such as the ones offered on BlueNile.com or OnlineConversion.com. Once you measure your finger, mark the size that fits on the ring size converter and cut off the excess shrink plastic.
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Lay the ring size converter on top of a piece of shrink plastic, and use a utility knife or a pair of scissors to cut the shrink plastic. Wrap the shrink plastic around your finger to make sure it fits well. Use the scissors or the knife to round the corners of the shrink plastic for a more streamlined look, or leave them as is and file them later.
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Decorate the piece of shrink plastic with rubber stamps, creating a pattern along the ring. Use permanent markers to draw a design as well, or make additional embellishments to the stamping pattern. Use alcohol-based ink; all other types of ink will smudge on the plastic. If you are using frosted shrink plastic, stamp and decorate the side that is rougher, which is the frosted side.
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Find a cylindrical object that is the same size as your ring finger. Use a tube of lip balm, a marker, or the handle of a wooden spoon. Wrap the hot shrink plastic around this object, and make sure that it doesn't melt.
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Preheat the oven or the toaster oven based on instructions found on the shrink plastic packaging. Place the shrink plastic with the decorated side facing upward on a piece of brown paper or wax paper. Place it in the oven or the toaster oven. The plastic will begin to roll up and shrink before your eyes. When it has rolled up and then relaxed to lay flat again, wait 30 seconds longer. Then, remove it from the oven.
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Quickly remove the shrink plastic and wrap it around the cylindrical object, bending the ends together. The plastic will immediately begin to harden, so you must do this quickly. Hold the ring in place for 20 to 30 seconds until it sets. If you can't get the ring right the first time, simply place it in the oven again, laying it on its curved surface so that as it heats, it will lay flat again. Try the molding process again.
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Tips & Warnings
Use sandpaper or a nail file to sand or round any edges.
Make additional bracelets, necklaces and pendants in the same style.
The plastic will be hot when you remove it from the oven. If you have sensitive fingers, use an oven mitt or a pair of gloves. This project requires adult supervision if a child is participating.
