Shrink Plastic Pins submitted by Shannon Green



Lightly sand opague shrink plastic with a fine grade sand paper.

Using black Fabrico permanent ink or any other permanent ink, stamp the image onto the sanded side of the shrink plastic.

Let the ink dry completely.

Apply color to your image using Artist Color Transparent Acrylics. I've never seen Artist Color Transparent Acrylics in craft stores, but then I've never looked for them there! I bought mine from Arizona Stamps, Too after I saw them do a demonstration using them for watercoloring and air brushing. They are very thin and runny and are permanent when dry. They come in fancy glass bottles with an eye dropper thingie attached to the cap. And they're expensive. I think I paid about $4.50 each. I only bought 4 or 5 basic colors and mix them when I need additional colors. I'm thinking Dick Blick carries them.

Cut the image out and place on a non-stick baking sheet that has been sprinkled with baby powder.

Bake in a 300 degree oven until shrinking is complete. The finished product will be about the thickness of a nickel. Some curling during the baking process is normal.

Remove from the baking sheet using a spatula and flatten to cool. The colors will become more intense as the plastic shrinks.

No sealing is necessary with these type of permanent acrylic paints.

This image was colored using Artist Color Transparent Acrylics in blue, red, process yellow, perm. green light, and raw yellow ochre hue. Water was added for a watercolor effect. Bell bronze Pearlescent Liquid Acrylic was added to the green for the eyes.

A 2" square piece of peach colored lace paper was attached to a 2 1/2" piece of dark blue cardstock that had been outlined with a copper Marvy Metallic Marker. The plastic image was glue to the cardstock using E-6000 adhesive, which also held the pin back in place.

Materials were obtained from:

Stamp: Arizona Stamps, Too

Transparent Acrylics: Arizona Stamps, Too

Pearlescent Acrylic: Stamp DeVille

Fabrico Ink Pad: Stamp DeVille

Marvy Metallic Marker: Viva Las VegaStamps

E-6000 Adhesive: Michael's Crafts

Pin Backs: Hobby Lobby