A paper-plane charm with a dotted flight line looping behind itBlue pen on clear plastic. Hole inside the loop. Thicken the plane's folds and make each dot bold.
A charm-bracelet set of sea creatures: whale, crab, starfish, shell and seahorseBlues, orange and pink pencil, black pen. Hole at each top. Thicken the outlines evenly.
A sneaker in side view with its laces drawn as thick crossesTwo pencil colors, black pen. Hole at the heel tab. Thicken the sole line and the lace crosses.
A bag charm of a two-armed cactus in a striped pot, its spines drawn as short bold dashesGreen pencil, two pot colors, black pen. Hole at the tip of the tallest arm. Thicken the spines into short dashes.
A handheld game console charm with a pixel heart on its screenGray and red pen. Hole in the top corner. Thicken the screen's frame; draw the buttons as solid dots.
A keyring frog crouched on a lily pad, with the keyring hole punched through the padTwo greens, black pen. Hole through the pad, away from the edge. Thicken the frog's mouth and eyelids.
A keyring of your own house drawn front-on, with the door in your door's colorColored pencil, black pen. Hole in the roof ridge. Thicken the roof line and the window frames.
A name-tag keyring: your name in block capitals inside a ticket shapeOne bright pen and black. Hole at the left end. Thicken every letter to twice the width you think it needs.
A paper-plane charm with a dotted flight line looping behind itBlue pen on clear plastic. Hole inside the loop. Thicken the plane's folds and make each dot bold.
A pencil-stub charm with a chewed end and a sharp pointYellow and pink pencil, black pen. Hole in the eraser end. Thicken the band between eraser and wood.
A pet portrait keyring, head and shoulders inside a thick black outlinePencil in the pet's own colors, black pen. Hole above one ear. Thicken the eyes and the nose.
A puffy cloud charm with six bold color bands streaming from one sideSix pencil colors, blue pen outline. Hole in the top of the cloud. Thicken the lines between the bands.
A shrink-plastic avocado half with a brown pit and a tiny smileTwo greens and brown pencil, black pen. Hole at the narrow top. Thicken the outline and the rim of the pit.
A slice of toast charm with a pat of butter melting on itTan and yellow pencil, brown pen. Hole in the top crust. Thicken the crust all the way round.
A sneaker in side view with its laces drawn as thick crossesTwo pencil colors, black pen. Hole at the heel tab. Thicken the sole line and the lace crosses.
Earrings and pins 12
A book pin with a ribbon marker hanging out of its pagesTwo pencil colors, black pen. No hole: an adult glues a pin back on. Thicken the spine and the ribbon.
A lightning-bolt pin in yellow with an orange edgeYellow pencil, orange pen. No hole: an adult glues a pin back on. Thicken the edge on the lower side only.
A paint-palette pin with five blobs of colorFive pen colors, brown outline. No hole: an adult glues a pin back on. Thicken the thumb hole's rim.
A pair of lemon-slice earrings with segments drawn as bold spokesYellow pencil, orange pen. Hole near the rind. Thicken the spokes and leave the flesh pale.
A pair of tiny ghost earrings, each with a different faceBlack pen on white plastic. Hole at the top of the head. Thicken the eyes into solid ovals.
A shrink-plastic pin of a planet with one ring drawn bold where it crosses the frontPurple and orange pencil, black pen. No hole: an adult glues a pin back on. Thicken the ring where it crosses in front.
A speech-bubble pin holding one word in capitalsOne pen color on white plastic. No hole: an adult glues a pin back on. Thicken the letters and the bubble's tail.
Dangling earrings shaped like single fern fronds, colored in a pale and a dark greenTwo green pencils, dark green pen. Hole at the stalk end. Thicken the middle rib; leave the leaflets as plain shapes.
Mismatched shrink earrings: a sun for one ear and a moon for the otherYellow and pale blue pencil, black pen. Hole at the top of each. Thicken the sun's rays into wedges.
Mushroom earrings with red caps and spots left as bare plasticRed pencil, black pen on white plastic. Hole in the cap's top. Thicken the line under the cap.
Strawberry earrings with their seeds drawn as bold dotsRed and green pencil, black pen. Hole through the leafy top. Thicken each seed into a dot you can count.
Two goldfish earrings drawn as mirror twins, nose to noseOrange pencil, black pen. Hole in the back fin. Thicken the fin edges. Flip the sheet and trace the twin.
Zipper pulls and bookmarks 12
A bookmark charm of a cat that peeks over the top of the pagePencil in any cat color, black pen. Hole between the ears, for a ribbon. Thicken the paws and the eyes.
A bookmark charm of a dormouse asleep in a ringBrown and pink pencil, dark brown pen. Hole in the middle of the ring. Thicken the tail and the closed eye.
A bookmark charm of an owl wearing reading glassesBrown and yellow pencil, black pen. Hole between the ear tufts. Thicken the glasses into bold rings.
A hot-air balloon bookmark charm on a long ribbonThree stripe colors, black pen. Hole at the top of the balloon. Thicken the ropes and the basket's rim.
A kite zipper pull with a bow-tie tailFour pencil colors, black pen. Hole at the top point. Thicken the cross sticks; draw three bows, not ten.
A paper-clip bookmark topped with a snail whose shell is one bold spiralGreen and orange pencil, black pen. Hole in the snail's foot for the clip. Thicken the spiral.
A pizza-slice zipper pull with three big toppingsYellow, red and green pencil, brown pen. Hole in the crust. Thicken the crust's inner line; keep toppings large.
A rocket zipper pull with its flame at the hole endRed and gray pencil, black pen. Hole in the flame. Thicken the window's rim and the fin edges.
A small open-book charm to tie on a bookmark ribbonCream pencil, brown pen. Hole in the top of the spine. Thicken the cover edge; three lines stand for text.
A zipper pull of a single feather with thick barbsTeal and purple pencil, black pen. Hole at the quill end. Thicken the shaft; draw only eight or so barbs a side.
A zipper pull of your initial inside a thick circleOne bright pen. Hole in the circle's rim at the top. Thicken the letter until the gaps inside it are wide.
An ice-pop zipper pull with one bite drawn out of its cornerTwo pencil colors, black pen. Hole in the stick. Thicken the bite line and the drip.
Ornaments and gift tags 12
A bauble-shaped gift tag with a name in capitalsOne bright pencil, black pen. Hole in the bauble's cap. Thicken the letters and the stripe above them.
A candle ornament with a halo of dots round its flameCream and orange pencil, gold pen. Hole above the flame. Thicken the wick and make each halo dot bold.
A crescent-moon ornament with a small star hung from its tipYellow pencil, black pen. Two holes: one at the top, one at the lower tip for the star. Thicken both outlines.
A five-point star ornament with this year's numerals drawn bold in the middleYellow pencil, black pen. Hole in the top point. Thicken the numerals and outline the star twice.
A gingerbread-house ornament with its icing lines left thickBrown pencil, white paint pen. Hole in the chimney. Thicken every icing line; skip tiny candies.
A heart-shaped gift tag with a border of dashes like stitchesOne pencil color, darker pen. Hole in the dip of the heart. Thicken each dash; space them widely.
A pair of mitten ornaments joined by string through two holesRed and white pencil, black pen. One hole in each cuff. Thicken the cuff ribs into bold stripes.
A parcel-shaped shrink tag with a bold ribbon cross and room for two namesTwo pencil colors, black pen. Hole in the bow's knot. Thicken the ribbon lines and the lettering.
A pine-tree gift tag striped in three greensThree green pencils, dark pen. Hole in the top tier. Thicken the lines between the tiers.
A round red-breasted bird ornament with a hole in its tailBrown and red pencil, black pen. Hole in the tail feathers. Thicken the beak and the edge of the breast.
A ruled snowflake ornament in white and silver pen on frosted plasticWhite and silver paint pen. Hole in one arm's tip. Thicken all six arms; keep side branches to two each.
An autumn-leaf ornament for a window in red, orange and yellowThree pencils blended, brown pen. Hole in the stalk. Thicken the main veins; leave out the small ones.
Sets 12
A breakfast set: an egg, toast, a stack of pancakes and a glass of juiceYellow, tan and orange pencil, brown pen. Hole at the top of each. Thicken the edges where foods overlap.
A charm for each letter of a name, strung in order on one cordOne pen color, or one per letter. Hole at the top of each. Thicken every stroke and use block capitals.
A charm-bracelet set of sea creatures: whale, crab, starfish, shell and seahorseBlues, orange and pink pencil, black pen. Hole at each top. Thicken the outlines evenly.
A family of cats in four sizes, all with the same curl of tailOne pencil color for the whole family, black pen. Hole between the ears. Thicken the tail curl on each.
A fruit-salad set of five fruits, each with one bold highlightA pencil color per fruit, black pen. Hole in each stalk or leaf. Thicken the outline; leave the highlight bare.
A garden set of five small creatures: bee, ladybug, snail, butterfly and beetleBright pencils, black pen. Hole in a wing or shell. Thicken legs and feelers, or leave them out.
A row of invented planets, each with its own pattern: stripes, spots, rings, swirlsA different pencil pair for each. Hole at the top of every one. Thicken the patterns so they survive shrinking.
A set of five weather charms: sun, cloud, rain, snow and stormYellow, gray and blue pencil, black pen. Hole at the top. Thicken raindrops and flakes into bold marks.
Five narrow houses that make a street when lined upFive pencil colors, black pen. Hole in each roof. Thicken doors and window frames; vary the roof shapes.
The four seasons as four trees on four charmsGreens, orange, white and pink pencil, brown pen. Hole in each treetop. Thicken the trunks and main branches.
Matching star charms for a group of friends, each in a different colorOne pencil color per friend, black pen. Hole in the top point. Thicken the outline and add an initial.
Six round faces showing six different feelingsYellow pencil, black pen. Hole at the top. Thicken the eyebrows and mouths, since they carry the feeling.
How it works
These 60 shrink art ideas are drawn large on shrink plastic and baked small. Each gives the colors, where the hole goes and which lines to thicken. Baking is an adult's job and follows the sheet's packet.
Read the full guide
Why the hints say thicken
When heated, the sheet shrinks to about one-third of its length and width and becomes about nine times thicker. Fine detail closes up, so every hint names the lines to draw bolder than looks right.
Choose by what it becomes
Keyrings, zipper pulls, ornaments and tags need a hole, and each hint says where it goes. Five pins have no hole: an adult glues a pin back on. Sets holds charms that belong together.
Baking is an adult's job, done as the sheet's own packet says. This list gives no oven setting or time.
Colored pencils and felt-tip pens work on the sheet. Crayons do not: wax melts or burns in the heat.
Questions and answers
How much does shrink plastic shrink?
To about one-third of its original length and width, while it becomes about nine times thicker. The color and the shape stay. The sheet's packet gives the oven instructions, and that step is an adult's.
What can you make with shrink plastic?
Charms, pins and zipper pulls are the usual uses. The five groups here add earrings, bookmark charms, ornaments, gift tags and sets such as a row of invented planets.
What do you color shrink plastic with?
Colored pencils, felt-tip pens or acrylic paint, before heating. Oily or waxy materials such as crayons will not do: high heat melts or burns them. Every hint starts with its colors.
What are easy shrink art ideas for kids?
A charm for each letter of a name, a slice of toast with a thick crust, or matching stars for a group of friends: bold shapes with few inside lines. An adult does the baking.