Technique Tuesday - Shrink Plastic

Lisa thought it would be a great idea to have  techniques day - Tuesday seems to work!!  So on a Tuesday we will be posting techniques for you to try out.

This time we are looking at Shrink Plastic - it is not as scary as you may think HONEST!!!

A few things/tips about shrink plastic - 

• You can get it in transparent, white or black  - I like to use the transparent as you can see through it when you stamp on to it.  
• you need to 'prime' it before you start working with it - basically sand the surface done so the ink has something to 'grip' onto.
• If you are colouring onto it remember that the colours will deepen as the plastic shrinks, so don't be worried if it looks pale when you have coloured it.
• stazon seems to work best on shrink plastic, it 'sets' better than versafine or memento - but if you leave them to dry for along time they can be used
• you can put it through your printer and so use digi images if you want 
• punch any holes you want in it BEFORE you shrink it!

So here are a couple of ideas for you to try to get you started:

I like to use the clear plastic as it means you can create charms so this is the plastic I use ...

The first thing you need ot do is 'prime' your plastic using a sanding block.  I tend to go over it all horizontally and then vertically.  Wipe it thoroughly clean.

 I stamp in stazon, and pretty much anything goes ..

 

 I stamped 2 feathers and cut them put.

Then I punch any holes I want into it - make them big as they will shrink too!

 Then heat it using a heat gun.  Or you can put them in the oven, there are temperature instructions in the pack.

 Now this is the scary bit - as it heats and shrinks the plastic will curl.  DO NOT PANIC!!!!  Just keep heating it and it should all uncurl and flatten out.

 See!!!

And here is what I did with it them - they are feather charms for the card.

 The image is Visible Image Edgar, the feather is fom their Free your Imagination set, the papers are Prima Engraving.  The flourish is a Tim Holtz one, covered in frantage shabby wine, and heated.


And here is another quick idea ...

Using your primed shrinkie and a flower die and alcohol inks.

 Cut your flowers out and before taking them out of the shrink plastic colour them using alcohol inks - it is less messy leaving them in situ!

 Punch any holes you want - I am going to layer these up so I punched the holes in the centres.

 Now shrink ...

 I only wanted these three ...

 And I layered them together using a brad ...

 Then I took a metal tag availabel from the shop, ran it through an embossing folder, covered it in alcohol inks and added the flower.  Even the seam binding has been stained using the alcohol inks.

 And the children can have fun - school bag charms made by Ellie and her friend...

And Easter key rings made from my Gran when Ellie and Beth were younger.

 I hope that has wetted your appetite to play with the fabulous shrink plastic - endless possiblities!! 

Do pop over to the shop and facebook group to see what other fabulous things are in stock.

And don't forget, there is also a That Craft Place challenge every fortnight - you can find it HERE.