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CatharsisJB — Shrinky-Dinks Tutorial
Published: 2007-05-05 21:33:09 +0000 UTC; Views: 61561; Favourites: 1827; Downloads: 1177
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Description
Because I got a lot of questions on this stuff, here's a tutorial. Feedback on items like these are appreciated!Related content
Comments: 403
There are some kinds of SD paper that cannot be seen through, I think - it's opaque. Most you can see through though, fairly well. The color on one side may appear frosted.
I don't know what you mean by "what's the difference"... one side is smooth, one is rough 
It is preferable to color on the rough side, though I like to do darker linework with marker on the smooth side for kicks. Just fiddle with it and see what works for you!
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This. Is. Lovely.
But... well I'm too lazy to go through all of the comments...
The glaze on the shiny-side of my shrinky-dinks always peels or scratches off. When it does, it takes the sharpie with it, leaving a most ugly keychain. Does this happen to you? Do you have any tips to prevent this?
(I find intentionally peeling off the entire front and then modge-podging it back on sometimes helps a little...)
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I haven't had that happen!
However, perhaps try using a different sealant? Perhaps some Minwax Polycrylic or something similar?
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isn't it so that it not only gets thicker but also a lot smaller?
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Yes... hence the name "Shrinky" Dinks
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yeah, I know, but since you're explaining the basic stuff you don't mention it anywhere o-o
and I started doubting xD
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I figured the name "Shrinky-Dinks" and the starting octopus being much larger in my hand than the final piece would negate my needing to mention it.
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They just get thick when you bake 'em naturally.
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i work at an art store and for a REALLY long while was trying to find out exactly how i could make those little things...i thought you had to buy plastic and such...
need at work [with discount<3] thanks so much!
and now i know exactly how to go about it! thanx!
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whoa this is awesome, i was wondering, instead of using a cookie sheet, can we just use tinfoil? @____@
and where can i et sculpey glaze? can i get it at michael's? i can never seem to fin sculpey glaze XD
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If you use foil, you must make sure it is very flat, with no wrinkles
Michael's usually carries it, yep. Check Hobby Lobby if you have a local one, or JoAnn Fabrics as well!
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Alright, thank you so much!
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I've never made these before, but now I really want to go to Michael's. Great job
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this is neat..I want to try this out..
I have a question though...
so you put the paperbag into the oven?
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Yes, but if you do this, please keep an eye on it.
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Oh so THAT'S what shrinky dinks are... *scratches head* I still don't get it...
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This was really helpful though I need to find new markers. The one I use dries a bit streaky and it doesn't really come out as a solid colour like your one despite being permanent and you can see the nib marks where you start and stop doing the outline. Rather frustrating but I guess I'll see how it looks once it's shrunk.
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I checked out the SD website a while ago and was thinking about getting some of the paper.. but I had no idea WHAT exactly it was or how it was used.. or what type to get.. etc.. etc.
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I never really understood why the paper bag specifically underneath was necessary. I've actually found sometimes it can STICK to the bag which is really bad! (Maybe when my roommate did it they put the wrong side down, I wasn't really watching them and didn't think about it at the time.)
I use aluminum foil to no apparent side-effect, is that bad?
I used to love to make SD stuff a while back, I really need to get back into making them
Also I was wondering if you can use something like marker or paint instead of colored pencil? I guess it would likely mess up paint though that would give a better flat color. I felt like when I used colored pencil my colors weren't coming out strong and even enough but I guess I just need to keep working with it (CP is actually generally my favorite medium.)
I know I always feel a bit alarmed when the start to squirm and shrink in the oven but so far I've been lucky and they havn't touched themselves. I also was using a book for final flattening
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I think you have to be careful to choose the right kind of bag - some of them have waxy stuff on them for some reason (and yes, using the wrong side of the plastic face-down can cause problems). I don't think there's a problem with the use of aluminum foil, but I haven't tried it. I stick with parchment paper mostly.
You should be able to use marker, like Sharpie especially, but I would not try paint. Sharpie can be used on the "shiny" side of the stuff, so it won't bleed (the scratched side soaks it in). Paint bubbles in heat, and does not shrink, so you would probably end up with a pretty big mess, depending on what kinds of paint you use.
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Oddly enough, I got some more SDs and on the package one of the recommended materials is acrylic paints. I would think the paint would warp/bubble during shrinkage, but now I'm curious so I'll have to try some out on some scrap pieces when I get around to it. If it works that badly I don't see how they could suggest it.
So when you use sharpy on the smooth side, is that your 'front' side for display? I would think if you use something like colored pencils and do a shading blend both sides wouldn't look exactly the same. Though I guess the shiny side probably looks better overall anyway.
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I like to use sharpie and make sure the coloring on the other side doesn't cover up the sharpie areas so that either side can be "display."
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I finally got one made, but I seem to have found just the right way to screw it up >.<
[link]
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Oh! Cool! So in Michales you bought the shrinky dinks? Because I started to search here in my city and they never heard about that stuff, and I was searching in Office Depot too but nothing. ;_;
I'm from Mexico and now that I know where to buy that stuff and with this tutorial I can start to play doing some stuff with the shrinky dinks. :3
Thanks a lot.
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Yes, I get my Shrinky-Dinks from Michael's or Hobby Lobby
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oh, I see. Thanks for the info, now I'll see the link you sent me.
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haha
It'll be hard not to copy him
hes so cute!
:3
hmmm.
maybe with a puppy
XD
I'm getting a car soon too!
It'll be perfect!
:3
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Thanks so much for the tutorial.
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This looks really fun! I've always wondered how people made that cool shrinky dink stuff. Can you see the drawing on both sides or does it look weird on the other side?
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You can see the drawing on both sides! (Though I think there are colored shrinks that might not work the same as the Ruff-n-Ready stuff I used here.) You color on one side, and that side shrinks and you can see it fine, and as long as you don't burn them, you can see the colors on the other side as well. They may look a little different, but you should be able to still see them.
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Awesome! Thanks for the info.
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I always wondered how such things were made, and when I saw this tutorial, I found my answer! This is very cool, and I hope I can make some shrinky dinks myself! Thanks for the tutorial
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This was so bloody helpful. I am going to use it!
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Do you work with printable shrinkydinks paper?
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I've heard that for the printable shrinkydinks paper, you have to lower the opacity 50% so the color still has somewhere to go. 
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yeah, I tried that.. still, it ends up looking uncolorful, lol
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No, sorry, I didn't know how well it'd work so I always do my stuff by hand
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oh don't be sorry ^_^ your work is just wonderful btw, I totally love "Chibi Foxy Dink"
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Wow I bow down to you creativeness and skill
(translation: I am a dork, but I love your tutorial)
(and also you sound like you got some moxy. A spunky artist is always a plus!)
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This tutorial has totally saved my Christmas.
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awesome possum. finally shrinky dinks are put to some good use!
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Ooh, cute! I'd never thought to do real art stuff on shrinky-dinks... Yay the grown-up version! lol. Awesome tutorial, excellent pictures and very clearly written. *favs*
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I read this and wanted to reply "Wow"(I imagine this is a common reaction)!
Well done, good work: concise and useful... hopefully many people should learn from it (including myself).
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