DIY Shrinky Dinkies

Those of us in the DC area have been snowed in for ~~months~~ days. We all love our kids and we all love snow and we all love snow days (keep saying any of those to yourself that you need to re-believe) but after a while, a little diversion is necessary for everyone.

DIY Shrinky Dinkies to the rescue!

Remember, the Shrinky Dinks of your youth? I LOVED them – still do. But I never seem to have enough on hand when I need to shrink a dink. So I scoured the internet in search of ways to do it myself. I was inspired by the work of Aggieland Mommy (howdy, my Texas peeps!). The joy of this activity is that you probably have everything you need already.

Supplies:

Permanent Markers – Sharpies (are there other brands? honest, question)
Plastic cups (I used the milky white plastic cups I had on hand but these Solo Cups would be REALLY pretty for this project – I imagine any work)
An oven (kids, get your grown-up’s help with this, OK? Pinky promise? Deal.)
A baking sheet covered in tinfoil
A nonstick spray

Note: I am not sponsored or supported by Sharpie or Solo Cup (but I am open to being sponsored by either or both if that’s possible 🙂 – Sponsoring folks, contact me here)

What to do:

Preheat that oven to 350
Spray the nonstick spray on the tin foil (disclaimer, I have no idea if this step is essential or not. Skip at your own risk)
Color all over those plastic cups, inside and out. Be careful of your work surface, I covered mine with tinfoil just to be safe.
Whenever a cup is ready, put it sipping side down on the tinfoil and pop it in the oven for 3-5 minutes. You can watch it through the oven door! When it’s a melty as you want it, pull it out (grown up jobs here!), and, if you want, smoosh it down flatter with an oven mit.

shrinky dinkies

Take it to the next level? WHYNOT!

-Use a hole punch to pop a hole in the top. Run a string through and you have a necklace, a light catcher, a piece of a new mobile or whatever you decide it is!

-Can you string a bunch together to make something?

-What happens if you write your name on it?

-Can you make two that are identical after shrinking?

Let me know how yours come out. I love pictures and more “next level” ideas (hint, hint!).