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Did you know that you could use any typically tossed out
container that is marked with the (6) inside the recycle symbol to make
awesome jewelry? Many take out
containers have this symbol, as do many egg containers. After you paint or decorate with markers you
simply bake it in a 350-degree oven for about 2 minutes and it shrinks to a
third of its size with about the thickness of a nickel. It is also amazingly
hard and durable. It is very similar to
the familiar kid’s Shrinky Dinks.
You can use these shapes for key chains, necklaces, zipper
pulls, pins and more. This little
Valentines heart necklace is a super kids craft. I use thick tube acrylic paint and layer it
on. When you bake it to shrink the paint
texturizes and looks pretty amazing.
This is a fun snow day craft for kids.
The kids can cut out the shapes and decorate them and parents can bake
them.
Supplies:
Number 6 plastic egg carton (Look for the little recycle
triangle with a 6 inside)
Red tubed acrylic paint
Small paintbrush
Paper hole punch
18 inches rat tail ribbon
Two large jump rings
Needle nosed pliers
Cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil
Home oven or toaster oven
Paper, scissors or pinking shears, pen or pencil, paper
plate for paint
Instructions:
1.
Cover your work surface with paper to protect it
from paint. Cut out the top flat area of
the egg carton. Cut out a heart shape
from paper and use it as a pattern to transfer on the flat plastic egg carton
piece with pencil or pen. Be aware that whatever size you use it will shrink to about 1/3 of it's original size.
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| Look for the 6 in the symbol |
2.
Cut out the heart shape with scissors or pinking
shears if desired.
3.
Squeeze some acrylic paint onto a paper plate
for a palette. Working on a protected
work surface, use the small paintbrush to apply a liberal amount of paint on
the heart cut out. Let dry.
4.
Use the hole punch to make a hole in the center
of the heart.
5.
Place the heart on a cookie sheet lined with
foil and into a preheated 350-degree oven.
The motif will begin to curl and may distort somewhat but will
eventually lay flat, shrink and thicken.
Remove from the oven and let cool.
6.
The paint will have texturized and there may be
a little distortion in the shape but that is desirable and makes it quite
unique.
7.
Cut an 18-inch piece of rat-tail ribbon. Using the needle nosed pliers, open the jump
ring by twisting rather than pulling apart.
Insert the jump ring through the hole in the top of the heart (It will
have shrunk as well) and close in the same manner. Add another jump ring and close. Insert the cords through the top jump ring
and tie a knot.
