You may have created Shrinky Dinks in your childhood, but we’re putting a spin on it this week! Shrinky Dinks aren’t JUST for kids, and we’re bringing you a tutorial to prove it. This Valentine’s Day, create your own Shrinky Dink pins to show off your creativity. We created eyes, hearts, clouds, and lips, but you can create any illustration you want! That’s the beauty of Shrinky Dinks.
Read below for the full tutorial on how to make Shrinky Dink pins for Valentine’s Day.
Materials:
My illustrator friend, Michele, is one of the most clever people I know. For Christmas, she gifted me a pin that she had created out of Shrinky Dink, and I thought it was the most magical thing in the world. I had never even heard of it. And yes! I’m a baby from the 80s! I don’t know where I was. I decided to catch up on lost time and make some Shrinky Dink Valentine’s Day pins for our Galentine’s Heart, Hand, Eyes, and Lips brunch, which we will be releasing on Wednesday. They are super easy to make and, being a kid’s toy, super fun too. All you do is draw it, place it in the oven, then it shrinks down to half it’s size. Glue a pin to the back and you’re set!
We mixed ours in with some gems that we backed with pins, as well as googly eyes.
See below for the full tutorial!
DIY Shrinky Dink Valentine’s Day pins
Materials:
- Shrinky Dinks set (all you need are the blank sheets)
- heart, eye, lips clouds templates for drawing
- permanent markers (we used these ones)
- super glue
- pin backings
Instructions:
- Follow the instructions on the box for the Shrinky Dinks set
- Draw your design onto the sheets (remember that it shrinks down by 1/2 – 2/3 its size)
- Get creative with your colors and outline color choices
- Once it’s out of the oven and cool, glue a pin to the back.
- Repeat as many times as you want!
Model photos by Jessica Peterson | other photos by Brittany Jepsen
Valentine’s Day party ideas
These Shrinky Dink pins are the perfect way to show off your crafting skills at a Valentine’s Day party. If you’re looking to throw your own party this holiday, we have plenty more ideas for a glamorous celebration! While you’re showing off your Shrinky Dink pins, you and your guests can wear these printable Valentine’s Day crowns.
Every party needs a piñata! You can view 3 Valentine’s Day piñata ideas here, and a mini fruit piñata tutorial here.
Check out more details on the heart, hands, eyes, and lips Galentine’s Day party here.