Shrinky Dink Rings: A Tutorial

Wonderseptuplet Powers ACTIVATE!

In order to create successful Shrinky Dink Rings, make sure you have plenty of generic crackers, adult beverages with umbrella straws, and Low Fat Pub Cheese.  You might also want to have on hand shrink paper, scissors, rulers, a rotary cutter with a self-healing board, permanent markers, various and sundry items that are roughly the diameter of your finger (chapstick tubes, highlighters, etc), and hole punchers... that is, if you ever get to the crafting part of Unconditional Craft Night.  I'd like to send a quick shout out to The Commish for her endeavors as photographer and Pub Cheese handler--Thanks KB!

Cut a strip about 5 1/2" x 1" for an average size ring.  You should really bake a tester ring to see if the length is right for you.  If it's a little too short, you can manage with some empty space in the back, but if it's too long, overlap in the back isn't very comfortable to wear.  As far as the width, you can go as thin as 1/2" or as thick as 1 1/2" comfortably. 

Decorate your ring with permanent markers before baking.  Keep in mind that the colors become more concentrated when they shrink.  By that same token, your design lines with be very tiny and intricate when they shrink down.  Play with size!  If you want to add a charm to the ring, be sure to punch a hole where you want it.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with two brown paper lunch bags:  one to line the sheet, one to place on top of the shrink paper to keep it from curling up.  So... yeah... do that.  Bake for 5-6 minutes, grab a hot pad and get ready to roll. 

The plastic will be hot and malleable for about 10 seconds, so you have to be confident and work quickly.  This is where that aforementioned test ring comes in handy.  Using your finger-sized chapstick tube (or whatever works for you), wrap the hot plastic around the tube and hold tightly with the hot pad.  If you're feeling ballsy, you can grab that plastic out of the oven with your bare fingers.  You can be a little more aggressive and perfecting this way.  I still think you should have a hot pad handy, because once you have the ring placed perfectly on your cylinder, you should hold it there for a bit to cure.  It's too hot to handle for more than a second or two. 

It takes some practice, and your first ring will probably turn out poorly.  If you bomb and your perfectly decorated ring is all wonky, though, you can fix it.  Just pop it back in the oven for a minute or two and it should soften back up. 

And here's what your final product should look like.  Most importantly, have fun.  And whatever you come up with, it's beautiful, and you're a good crafter.  You can do it!