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Mother’s Day is almost here! We love everything that Moms do for their families. A good mom is very easy to celebrate! Take the time this year to make the Mom in your life something handmade that lets her carry a piece of you everywhere she goes. Make Shrinky Dink Keychains!
Shrinky Dink keychains are a delightful and nostalgic craft that is both fun to make and heartwarming to give. Derived from a type of plastic, these keychains allow you to transform simple drawings or designs into miniature works of art that can be carried with your loved ones wherever they go.
This craft is perfect for every age! Younger kids can scribble away, while anyone older can create as intricate of a design as they want. Kids and adults alike will be fascinated by how much smaller their design shrinks with heat. This craft is also durable and practical! Something that many Moms love!
If you are wanting to get more ideas of what to gift Mom for Mother’s Day this year, check out our top gifts here! If your mom loves self-care products then we have the perfect list here!
Let’s Get Crafting!
To begin your Shrink Dink adventure, gather your materials.
What You Need:
- Shrink Plastic Sheets
- These can be found at most craft stores or online here. They typically come in opaque white or translucent varieties.
- Permanent Markers
- Choose your favorite colors to bring your designs to life. This pack of bright colors would be great for this craft!
- Scissors
- For cutting out your designs.
- Hole Punch
- To create a hole for the keychain.
- Keychain Rings
- There are so many choices for keychain rings! Which is wild. We like these keychains for smaller designs. Not what we used here, but would be great.
How To:
Design
Let your creativity soar as you color your designs on the shrink plastic sheets. Remember to use permanent markers! Bright and bold colors tend to work best, as they will intensify during the shrinking process.
Whether it’s a simple heart, a personalized message, or a miniature portrait, the possibilities are endless. We love little letters from older kids for Mother’s Day or something that is unique for that kiddos that Mom will love. Remember that your design will shrink to about one-fourth of its original size, so keep that in mind while drawing.
For younger kids let them scribble away! Then cut them out into fun shapes/write on them. For Mother’s Day write out Mom, Mama, I love you, or have your kids draw hearts all over them as a gift for Mom!
Cut
Carefully cut out your designs using scissors or a craft knife. If you’re creating keychains, don’t forget to leave space for the hole punch near the top of your design.
Punch Hole
Use a hole punch to create a hole near the top of your design. This is where the keychain ring will go.
Shrink
Preheat your oven according to the instructions on your shrink plastic packaging. Usually it’s around 300-350 for oven temperature. Place your designs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and pop them in the oven. Watch in amazement as your designs curl up and then magically shrink down to size. If you prefer, you can also use a heat tool to shrink your designs.
This process takes about 2-4 minutes. It depends on how large the items you are shrinking are!
Pro Tip: Things will curl. Keep it eye on them, but know that most of the time they curl right back down flat! Keep a metal spatula on hand to push down flat a curl that looks like it’s going to touch the other side (since once they stick they can be hard to unstick).
Cool and Assemble
Once your designs have cooled, attach a keychain ring through the hole you punched earlier. Your Shrinky Dink keychains are now ready to be gifted!
Mother’s Day Love
This Mother’s Day, go beyond the ordinary and give the gift of handmade charm with DIY Shrink Dink keychains. Not only are they a joy to create, but they also serve as a tangible reminder of the love and appreciation we have for the incredible mothers in our lives. So, gather your supplies, unleash your creativity, and craft something truly special for the one who deserves it most. Happy crafting!
