Things You'll Need
Ink jet Shrinky Dink sheets
Ink jet printer
Shrinky Dinks became popular in the 1980s as a craft for kids. These shrinkable plastic sheets can now be printed on your own ink jet printer at home and then baked to create all kinds of crafts from party favors to jewelry. No longer is this magical product just for kids.
How to Print on Shrinky Dinks
Step 1
Create images on your computer. Photo images work well. Remember that you will have to cut your image out, so stay away from small circles and intricate corners. Be sure to make the image large enough; it will reduce by more than 50 percent after it has been baked.
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Step 2
Print the images. Ink jet and bubble jet printers must be used. A laser printer will not work. Use the best print setting and the least resistant path for the sheet. Many printers allow you to feed straight from the back so the thick paper is not forced to curl inside the machine.
Step 3
Cut out the images. It is not possible to cut the images after it has baked; they will be too thick. A good pair of sharp scissors is necessary to cut the thick sheets.
Step 4
Bake the images. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place the images on a cookie sheet, making sure they are not touching. Allow them to bake for two minutes. Remove them and let them cool.
Tip
If your images start curling while they cool, place a heavy pan on top of them.
Warning
Images will shrink more than 50 percent. Some printers will not be able to feed the thick sheets.
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