March 21, 2012 Shrinky Dink Martian

CaliforniaMama · 03-21-2012, 11:32 AM

Here he comes, a Shrinky-Dink Martian, out of the sky, to visit the humans of Planet Earth.

For the uninitiated, a shrinky-dink is a picture drawn and colored on a certain kind of plastic, placed on a tray and put in the oven to bake. The heat of the oven causes the plastic to shrink.

The plastic shrinks evenly and the picture stays intact.

The point? One can draw and color images in full size and then shrink them down into miniatures. It is a lot easier to color a big picture, especially for children, and a lot of fun to watch it shrink!

Follow the link to Curbly for full instructions.

glatt · 03-21-2012, 11:40 AM

A scientist used shrinky dinks to manufacture microfluidic devices for a fraction of the normal cost.

Wombat · 03-21-2012, 05:26 PM

I remember doing shrinky-dinks as a kid. I had no idea it was so easy to find the right kind of plastic now, so thanks for the link, I'll be getting my kids to do it on a rainy day :-)

Aliantha · 03-21-2012, 05:39 PM

Yeah, I remember making jewellery type things from that stuff.

I might see if I can find some too. I have a midget here who would probably love it.

Aliantha · 03-21-2012, 05:41 PM

I also remember that other stuff that was kind of like clay and you made your little model, then put it in the oven and it set, but not really hard. More like hard plastic. I remember I made a plaque for the shower door that stayed there right through my childhood.

wolf · 03-21-2012, 05:52 PM

I loved Shrinky Dinks. I'm sure I have a blank batch somewhere around here in a box I haven't opened since I moved.

I never used them for jewelry though, great idea. I had a set of Dungeons and Dragons figures. I think it came with a mini adventure.

Happy Monkey · 03-22-2012, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha

I also remember that other stuff that was kind of like clay and you made your little model, then put it in the oven and it set, but not really hard. More like hard plastic. I remember I made a plaque for the shower door that stayed there right through my childhood.

Sculpey? Or Fimo?

Aliantha · 03-22-2012, 05:20 PM

More like the Fimo I think. It was lots of fun.

BigV · 03-22-2012, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha

I also remember that other stuff that was kind of like clay and you made your little model, then put it in the oven and it set, but not really hard. More like hard plastic. I remember I made a plaque for the shower door that stayed there right through my childhood.

Ask jim to show you his collection of ornaments.

Aliantha · 03-22-2012, 07:15 PM

I'm pretty sure I saw them. The christmas ones he made with the kids?

BigV · 03-22-2012, 07:32 PM

Yarp.

wolf · 03-22-2012, 08:21 PM

Darn, but I love that movie.

sandypossum · 03-23-2012, 12:07 AM

In high school we would put empty chips or twisties packets into the front part of the heaters in the schoolrooms, and they would shrink to a mini version just like these shrinky-dinks. I once made myself a necklace out of all different kinds of tiny chips, twisties, cheezels, etc packets.

And a question for the other Aussies here: I was overseas for a decade during the time the Australian $10 note came out, i.e. the first plastic notes. (For you non-Aussies: they're all like that now.) Is it true that they will shrink like a shrinky-dink as well? I heard if you had one in your pocket when you washed it it would be okay but not if you then put your washing into the clothes dryer, as it would shrink. True? I would try it with a $5 note, but we don't have a clothes dryer.

Aliantha · 03-23-2012, 12:31 AM

Aussie notes don't shrink in the dryer (thank god!). I've tried it lots of times. lol

sandypossum · 03-23-2012, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha

Aussie notes don't shrink in the dryer (thank god!). I've tried it lots of times. lol

thanks Ali, saves me doing that!

03-21-2012, 11:32 AM	#1
CaliforniaMama I wonder . . . Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Left Coast, a pretty good place to be. Posts: 1,278	March 21, 2012 Shrinky Dink Martian Here he comes, a Shrinky-Dink Martian, out of the sky, to visit the humans of Planet Earth. For the uninitiated, a shrinky-dink is a picture drawn and colored on a certain kind of plastic, placed on a tray and put in the oven to bake. The heat of the oven causes the plastic to shrink. The plastic shrinks evenly and the picture stays intact. The point? One can draw and color images in full size and then shrink them down into miniatures. It is a lot easier to color a big picture, especially for children, and a lot of fun to watch it shrink! Follow the link to Curbly for full instructions.

03-21-2012, 05:26 PM	#3
Wombat (marsupial with backward-facing pouch) Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canberra Posts: 251	I remember doing shrinky-dinks as a kid. I had no idea it was so easy to find the right kind of plastic now, so thanks for the link, I'll be getting my kids to do it on a rainy day :-) __________________ If you don't do it properly, you'll get to the pub sooner.

03-21-2012, 05:39 PM	#4
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Yeah, I remember making jewellery type things from that stuff. I might see if I can find some too. I have a midget here who would probably love it. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

03-21-2012, 05:41 PM	#5
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	I also remember that other stuff that was kind of like clay and you made your little model, then put it in the oven and it set, but not really hard. More like hard plastic. I remember I made a plaque for the shower door that stayed there right through my childhood. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

03-21-2012, 05:52 PM	#6
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I loved Shrinky Dinks. I'm sure I have a blank batch somewhere around here in a box I haven't opened since I moved. I never used them for jewelry though, great idea. I had a set of Dungeons and Dragons figures. I think it came with a mini adventure. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

03-21-2012, 11:40 AM	#2
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	A scientist used shrinky dinks to manufacture microfluidic devices for a fraction of the normal cost.

03-22-2012, 05:20 PM	#8
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	More like the Fimo I think. It was lots of fun. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

03-22-2012, 07:15 PM	#10
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	I'm pretty sure I saw them. The christmas ones he made with the kids? __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

03-22-2012, 07:32 PM	#11
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Yarp. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

03-22-2012, 08:21 PM	#12
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Darn, but I love that movie. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

03-23-2012, 12:07 AM	#13
sandypossum tri-continental dag hag Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 247	In high school we would put empty chips or twisties packets into the front part of the heaters in the schoolrooms, and they would shrink to a mini version just like these shrinky-dinks. I once made myself a necklace out of all different kinds of tiny chips, twisties, cheezels, etc packets. And a question for the other Aussies here: I was overseas for a decade during the time the Australian $10 note came out, i.e. the first plastic notes. (For you non-Aussies: they're all like that now.) Is it true that they will shrink like a shrinky-dink as well? I heard if you had one in your pocket when you washed it it would be okay but not if you then put your washing into the clothes dryer, as it would shrink. True? I would try it with a $5 note, but we don't have a clothes dryer. __________________ you're never too old to have a happy childhood

03-23-2012, 12:31 AM	#14
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Aussie notes don't shrink in the dryer (thank god!). I've tried it lots of times. lol __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

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