Shrink It, Shrinky Dinks, Shrink Plastic...

Whatever you call this stuff it's great fun.  You can draw on it, painting on it, print on it (special kind) and when you're done being creative you toss it in the oven and it shrinks, thickens and become hard.   It's awesome!

Space Shuttle Astronaut Cake

Commemorate the last space shuttle launch with a cake that's sure to blast off into history!

Space Shuttle Astronaut Cake

What You Need

• Shrink plastic* or recycle clear plastic containers from the grocery store (look for #6 on the bottom of the container)
• Baking sheet
• Baby powder
• Oven or toaster oven
• Scissors
• Hot pad
• Permanent pens
• Aleene’s® Jewel-It™ glue
• Brown cake with mound of white frosting (see photo)

*Aleene’s® Shrink-It™ is available in clear or opake through www.Amazon.com or use #6 plastic (check out to-go and berry containers- check the bottom for the number 6 surrounded by the arrows)

Creating with Shrink Plastic

Welcome to the fun and exciting world of shrink plastic!  Shrink plastic starts out thin and when heated in a household oven, shrinks about 60% to the thickness of a nickel.  Available in clear which starts clear and remains clear when shrunk or opake which starts translucent and shrinks to a pearl-white finish.

To Make Astronaut Shrink Plastic Decorations

1. Place patterns under shrink plastic. Trace using permanent pen.
2. Cut out using household scissors.
3. Preheat oven to 275-300 degrees. Lightly sprinkle baking sheet with baby powder and place plastic pieces on baking sheet. Place in oven. When flat, remove from oven with hot pad and let cool. 
4. Color pieces using photo as a guide. Let dry.
5. Write name on cloud using permanent marker.
6. Glue shuttle support stick to back of shuttle, astronaut support sticks to back of astronauts and glue cloud to back of astronaut’s hands. Let dry.
7. Insert all pieces into cake.

                                                                   

Enlarge patterns to fit on 8-1/2 x 11 paper - trace one astronaut and flip pattern over and trace one more. Trace three support sticks.

 Directions to make the Happy Birthday Susie cake are available at http://stores.lulu.com/craftproductsatyahoodotcom

Oh, so tiny baskets

Shrink Plastic Baskets
I made these shrink plastic baskets ages ago - I think it's time to update them, so check back to see 'modern' versions. They're perfect for favors or gifts - fill them with candy, tiny soaps, flowers...have fun!

What You'll Need:
Shrink plastic - opaque
Aleene's Super Thick Tacky Glue - 8 oz bottle
1/4" Paper punch if making the ribbon laced basket
Pencil
Oven or toaster oven
Scissors
Spatula
Hot pad
Baby powder
Moss, flowers, ribbon, candy, etc. to decorate basket
7-1/2" to 8" plate for pattern
Ruler
Cookie sheet

How to Make It:
1. PATTERN - Place plate on shrink plastic. Trace around plate with pencil. Cut a basket handle 3/4" x 10-3/4" from shrink plastic.
2. CUT OUT - Cut on inside of lines using scissors. If making basket with laced ribbon, use paper to punch holes every inch about 1/4" in from edges of circle and at the center of the handle.
3. SHRINK - Preheat oven to 275-300 degrees. Sprinkle cookie sheet lightly with baby powder. Lay shrink plastic designs on cookie sheet. Place in center of oven and watch it shrink - the shrink plastic will flatten when process is complete - this should take about 5 minutes. Remove one piece from oven at a time. Immediately shape around glue bottle. Hold until hard. Repeat procedure for other piece.
4. ASSEMBLE - To assemble basket, glue the handle to the inside of the basket. Decorate basket with moss, flowers, ribbon, etc. by gluing place. For ribbon basket, lace ribbon through holes and glue at ends. NOTE: If basket doesn't sit straight, shrink a small rectangle of shrink plastic and glue to bottom of basket.