Shrinkles, Shrink Art, Shrinkies for kids, How to make Shrink Art , childrens craft supplies

It's simple - any picture you draw or colour onto one of the plastic sheets will shrink to a size that is seven times smaller and seven times thicker than the original.

In essence, you colour a picture, cut it out and bake it in the oven - simple!

What is the Difference Between Shrinkles, Shrinkies & Shrink Art?

Shrinkles, Shrinkies and Shrink Art are all trading names of the same company.

Shrinkles are kits using Shrink Art plastic.

The Shrinkies range is mainly Shrinkie Egg Heads, which are shrinking plastic that are placed around eggs before they are boiled, to give them a decorative wrap or band.

So, lots of names but all essentially the same thing.

What Are Shrinkles Used For?

The completed shrink art shapes can be used for badges, key fobs, fridge magnets, figurines, pencil toppers, jewellery and lots, lots more.

They are also used in card making by kids and adults too.

A Crystal Clear Word of Warning

PLEASE NOTE - The crystal clear shrink plastic CANNOT be coloured with pencils it must be coloured with a permanent ink. All others can be coloured with permanent pens.

How to Make Shrinkles or Shrinkies

Although every pack includes detailed instructions, we have included the basic elements of shrink art making below.

Step 1 - Trace a picture on to a frosted Shrinkles plastic sheet or draw a picture on a white Shrinkles plastic sheet.

This step wil be removed if you are using a kit with pre-drawn designs.

Step 2 - Colour with pencils or permanent marker pens.

Step 3 - Cut to any shape and a make a punch hole if required.

Step 4 - Shrink by placing in a moderate oven for a few minutes.

Please remember, Shrinkles are for kids to create and adults to bake.

Step 5 - It's shrunk! Now you can attach to one of the accessories.

Age Suitability

As with everything we sell, Shinkles and shrink art are not suitable for children under three years of age.

The smaller and more simple kits will be suitable for a closely supervised three year old. Beyond that, as with most crafts, the more capabale the child, the better the end results.

Some of the kits do have specific age recommendations. Where this is the case, we have included details of this within the relevant listings.

As stated above, please remember, Shrinkles are for kids to create and adults to bake.

Buying Shrinkles

We have a great range of Shrinkle items available in our shop. Please just click on any of the links below to view and purchase these.

Shrinkle Mini Kits - great for party bags, party prizes and stocking fillers.

Shrinkle Medium Kits - used as small party gifts, rainy day craft sessions etc

Shrinkle Gift Boxes - these are perfect for kids birthday or Christmas presents and make lovely birthday party kits

Shrinkie Egg Heads - perfect for Easter but also the right value for stocking fillers and a rainy day treat!

Shrink Art Plastic - used for freestyle drawing and the clear versions are used for tracing images

Shrink Art Accessories - perfect to use with Shrink Art plastics for freestyle designs.

Manufacturers Recommendations & Frequently Asked Questions

The quality of Shrinkles is always excellent and every Shrinkle will shrink perfectly. However, performance in shrinking does vary, depending on a number of factors, so you have to be careful when you shrink them. The manufacturer suggests that you to bear in mind the following hints, which will give you 100% success.

Ovens - Ovens vary a lot, so it is very difficult to give a precise temperature. 350° F/ 175ºC (Gas Mark 3) is a guide - you may need to go a little higher. You can use a gas, electric or fan assisted oven, but not a microwave.

Thermostats - Thermostats also vary. In addition, your thermostat will be continually turning the heat ‘ON’ and ‘OFF’. Consequently, the heat is always ‘RISING’ or ‘FALLING’ and it is not actually constant. This is why you may sometimes experience two different results when shrinking one SHRINKLE after another.

Pre-Heating - It is vital to fully pre-heat your oven and baking tray. If not, this may cause excessive curling and bonding.

Cutting - Do not cut intricate shapes or long narrow pieces, as they are likely to break.

Holes - A standard hole-punch will position a 5mm hole, 7mm from the edge of the plastic. Do not position the hole any closer to the edge as the SHRINKLE could break when you clip a key chain or other attachment on.

Timing - It is impossible to be precise about the length of time that you leave the SHRINKLE in the oven. This will always vary due to the difference in ovens and thermostats, as stated above.

Removal from the oven - Do not remove the SHRINKLE from the oven until it is laying flat. If it has an overall slight curve on it, it may well be ready, but it certainly isn’t ready if it is at all “curly” or has a hint of a “bubble” in the middle, or the edges are turned up etc. The vital thing is that it MUST BE PLIABLE albeit for only a few seconds. When you place it under a table mat or book, it is simply to hold it flat whilst it sets. YOU MUST NEVER PRESS IT FLAT! If it is not pliable and you do press it, it will crack. If you discover that it is not pliable as you place it on the work surface, then simply re-heat it in the oven until it is.

Oven too cool - The SHRINKLE will either not shrink, or won’t go flat and certainly won’t be pliable, and may have bubbles.

Oven too hot - The SHRINKLE will curl excessively and bond to itself. ADULTS, if you’re quick to spot this happening in the oven, you can pull the bonded SHRINKLE apart WHILST IT IS PLIABLE, but remember, you’ll only have a few seconds and IT IS VERY HOT, so please be careful.

Finished Shrinkle - If you are not happy perhaps because your SHRINKLE is curved or has a bubble, remember you can always re-heat it, but it will take longer the second time.

Smudging - Smudging will occur if you colour too heavily, use soft or waxy pencils or lean on the areas you have already coloured. It is therefore best to start at the top of the Shrinkle & work downwards when you are colouring, so that your hand does not rest on the colouring you have done. Alternatively, you could rest your hand on a piece of paper which you place on top of your partially coloured Shrinkle.