Shrinky Dinks are a nostalgic craft that brings back memories of childhood creativity. Many of us spent countless hours turning simple designs into delightful keepsakes. Today, this timeless activity is something I enjoy sharing with my family.
If drawing isn’t your strong suit, templates can be a lifesaver. I’ve created a variety of templates to help you get started on your Shrinky Dink projects. These designs are perfect for kids and adults alike!
Free Shrinky Dink Templates
To make your crafting experience even better, I’m offering five sets of free templates. Each set is designed to spark your creativity and make it easy to create personalized items. Here’s what you’ll find:
Kawaii Foods: Adorable food-themed designs with a playful, cute style.
Geometric Flowers: Elegant floral designs with a modern twist.
Geometric Shapes: Clean and versatile patterns for endless possibilities.
Blank Shapes: A blank canvas for your creativity to shine.
Cute Designs: A mix of fun and charming patterns.
Feel free to mix and match these templates, or use the blank shapes to craft your own unique designs. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination!
Endless Creative Uses
These templates are perfect for crafting all kinds of items, including:
Earrings
Keychains
Zipper pulls
Charms
Necklaces
Magnets
Whether you’re making gifts or fun accessories for yourself, these templates make it simple and enjoyable to create professional-looking Shrinky Dink projects. So, gather your supplies, let your creativity flow, and start crafting today!
How to Make Shrinky Dinks
Supplies You’ll Need:
Shrinky Dink Sheets
Colored Pencils
Permanent Marker
Small Scissors
Hole Punch
Earring Making Supplies, Keyrings, etc.
You can find Shrinky Dink sheets online or at your local craft store. Once you have your supplies, download and print the templates. The templates are sized to fit a 5½ x 7½-inch Shrinky Dink sheet. If printing directly on the Shrinky Dink sheet, make sure to print on the rough side.
Important Notes:
Shrink plastic reduces to about 20% of its original size, so plan your designs accordingly.
If your design includes text, flip it horizontally before printing so it won’t appear backward on the shiny side.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Trace or Print Your Design:
If printing directly, ensure it’s on the rough side of the sheet.
Alternatively, trace the design onto the sheet using a permanent marker.
Color Your Design:
Use colored pencils on the rough side for best results. The colors may appear dull initially but will intensify once baked.
Cut Out Your Shapes:
Use small scissors for precision.
Punch Holes:
Use a hole punch to create holes for earring hooks, keyrings, or jump rings.
Skip this step for items like magnets that don’t require holes.
Bake Your Shrinky Dinks:
Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
Place your pieces on a parchment or foil-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 1-2½ minutes. Watch as the pieces curl, shrink, and flatten out. Allow an additional 30 seconds to ensure they’re fully baked.
Cool and Assemble:
Remove the pieces from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes.
Attach earring hooks, jump rings, or other embellishments with pliers as needed.
Now you have your very own custom Shrinky Dink creations! My daughter and I love making earrings together, and they always turn out so cute. What will you create?
Cute Shrinky Dink Patterns
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: $10
Materials:
Shrinky Dink Sheets
Colored Pencils
Permanent Marker
Earring Making Supplies, Keyrings, etc.
Tools:
Small Scissors
Hole Punch
Pliers
Instructions:
Download the templates HERE (automatic download). Print the templates on paper or directly on the rough side of the Shrinky Dink sheet.
Color the templates using colored pencils on the rough side. The design may appear dull, but it will intensify once cooked.
Cut out the template pieces using small scissors.
Use a hole punch to create a hole where you want to attach your earring hook or jump ring. No hole is required for a magnet or post earrings.
Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
Place your cut-out pieces on a parchment or foil-lined baking sheet and bake them in the oven for 1-2½ minutes.
Once they flatten out, leave them in the oven for another 30 seconds. Watch as they magically shrink and become thicker and more durable!
Once shrunk, remove them from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes.
Attach your earring hooks or jump rings using pliers.
Notes:
Check the print settings before printing, especially directly onto the plastic.
Alternate heating sources include a toaster oven or a crafting heat gun. Microwaves do not work!
