Greetings! I’m back, with a tutorial this time. For this particular blog, I think this is a first, since the mix up with my first blog.
I love to express myself, and for people to see what I like and what I’m passionate about, without me having to say anything. One of the many ways I can do this is through my clothes, and accessories. A bit trivial, but I still like to do it.
Cell phone charms are really cute. I’ve bought three, but none of them have lasted for more than a month. Either the actual charm broke, or the chord broke. Either I’m waaaaayyyy too harsh on my phone (which could be the case) or the materials suck. So I’ve acquired the materials to make my own.
You’ll need :
1. Shrink plastic (brand name shrink dinks)
2. Drawing materials, pencils, pens, markers, whatever you want to draw with
3. Scissors or exacto knife.
4. Method for attaching, a chain, or strong chord.
I chose a design of one of my current obsessions. I’m obsessed with University of Nevada, Reno right now. I’ve been accepted as a transfer student and start in the fall. So I copied one of the logos on to a piece of paper. Choose any design you like.
Shrink plastic can be found in almost any craft store, and sometimes Wal-Mart. It’s often known by the brand name Shrinky Dinks. I’ve heard it called Shrinkles, and shrink plastic too. I spent $5.99 for six sheets. Make sure to read the directions on the back, not all of these cook at the same temperature. Trace your design onto the shrink plastic. The instructions for mine state that if I’m using colored pencils to sand one side.
I trace the design lightly on top of the plastic using a sharpie, then go over the lines again a little firmer, and color in the wolf. There’s really no limit with color, you can be as creative as you like. I colored in the blue twice to make sure I got everywhere and the color was even.
Cut you’re design out. If you’re using scissors, please be aware of your plastic. This is the type of plastic that if bent will turn white, or completely break. Cut the design out as you see fit, and be sure to punch a hole in the place you later intend to thread the chord. I used a hole punch.
Now preheat your oven according to your instructions. I preheated mine to 325. You can place your plastic on tin foil or cardboard, I don’t recommend anything metal, or anything you intend to cook on again. I try to have cardboard on hand for such occasions.
You’re plastic will curl while shrinking, so to prevent it from sticking to itself and remain flat, I put a piece of tin foil over it and tucked the edges under the cardboard to stay in place. Place in the oven for the time instructed. Remove from oven and let cool.
The method of attachment is up to you. At first I used a strong chord found in my mom’s craft box. It could be a thin twine. But I wasn’t happy with the result.
After some thought, I decided to go with a different attachment. I attached an overly large jump ring to my phone. I attached a smaller jump ring to each end of a scrap piece of chain. I attached one end to the shrink, and the other to a lobster claw closure, then the lobster claw to the oversized jump ring on the phone.
There you have it. Pretty simple, and you now have a customizable phone charm.
So, have you tried this? Even done a project with shrink plastic before?
I’ve been joining link parties, slowly but surely, after watching them for ages on the blogs I follow. Today I’m linking up with Night Owl Crafting in the most recent Hoos Got Talent post. To find out more, or find more cool tutorials, go here
If you haven’t yet, check out my etsy shop. www.etsy.com/shop/ButterflyDark.
I’m hoping to have more jewelry up. I’m venturing into shrink jewelry, among other things.
If time finds favor with me I’ll be posting again before Valentine’s Day, so until we meet again, Love Music and Feathers People!!!!!!
