Monday, July 25, 2016

Recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace


Recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace


Try this quick and easy recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace kid’s craft at summer camps, vacation bible schools and more. 

Summer is in full swing and it’s time for summer camp and vacation bible school crafting.  This recycled egg carton cross necklace is easy and costs practically nothing to make so you will be able to make this craft on a budget!

Did you know that you could shrink egg cartons with number (6) recycle symbol in an oven or toaster oven? And the shape shrinks hard and is thick as a nickel?  You can make them in all sorts of shapes and use them for necklaces, zipper pulls, hair ornaments and more!  And the best part is that many egg cartons come in colors so you don’t even have to paint the shapes.  I found white, yellow, and green.  Today I’m making a crucifix in yellow, but you can make it in any color you like.  You can even paint or color the white with permanent markers.

Materials:

·      Number 6 Egg carton in yellow
·      Scissors
·      Oven or toaster oven set to 350 degrees
·      Aluminum foil cover cookie sheet
·      Metal spatula
·      Needle nosed pliers
·      Jump rings
·      Rat tail ribbon
·      Paper hole punch

RECYCLED EGG CARTON CROSS NECKLACE


1.     The first thing you need to do is make sure your egg carton has a 6 symbol somewhere on it.  Number 6 egg cartons are the only ones that will work.

Recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace

2.     Next, cut out the egg holder portion.  Each egg holder will make a cross. 

Recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace

Recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace

Recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace

3.     Now cut four equal sections up to the base of the egg holder. 

Recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace


4.     Fold down each section flat.  Once you fold all four sections down, trim up each section into a rectangular shape, making one longer than the other three.  You have the cross made.

Recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace

Recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace

5.     Use the paper hole punch to make a hole in the top of the cross.  This will shrink along with the cross

Recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace

6.     Place the prepared shape on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil and place in a 350-degree oven for just a few minutes.  The shape will begin to curl but will soon shrink and lie flat.  When it completely shrunk, remove from the oven and immediately press with the spatula.  You will be able to pick up your cross in just a few seconds and at this point you can trim up any ragged pieces. 

Recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace

Recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace

Recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace
In this photo you can see how it shrinks

Recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace
It shrinks thick and hard


7.     Use a needle nosed pliers to open a jump ring by twisting rather than pulling apart and insert through the hole in the top of the cross.  Close the jump ring in the same manner.

Recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace

Recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace



8.     Cut a length of rat-tail ribbon, thread it through the jump ring and knot the ends together.

5 comments:

  1. I had no idea that egg cartons would do this. How cool!Thanks for linking up to Merry Monday! Pinned! Have a great week!
    Kim

    ReplyDelete
  2. I had no idea this kind of egg carton shrunk like this either!
    We don't get that kind round here very much now but I'm certainly going to keep my eyes open for them now I know this little trick, thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by. If you have a Costco near you I think their eggs are in #6 containers and I believe egg land best are as well

      Delete
  3. So cool Crystal! Thanks for this information! I never knew!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your lovely comments!