polystyrene
The sheets of plastic you get in a Shrinky Dinks kit is polystyrene—the same stuff as recycled plastic #6, which is commonly used for those clear clamshell containers you see in cafeterias. When manufactured, raw polystyrene is heated, rolled out into thin sheets and then rapidly cooled so that it can retain its shape.

Can you make Shrinky Dinks with 5 plastic?

Shrinky Dinks are made of #6 plastic, or polystyrene. In fact, you can use ordinary #6 plastic packaging to make your own DIY Shrinky Dinks! If you’re wondering can you use #5 plastic for making shrink plastic, unfortunately the answer is no. #6 plastic is the only plastic you can use.

What can I do with number 6 plastic?

Number 6 plastic stands for polystyrene (PS) or styrofoam….So PS 6 plastic can be found in:

  • Disposable drinking cups.
  • CD, DVD cases.
  • Egg cartons.
  • Food containers to-go and disposable cutlery.
  • Insulation, including building insulation.

What happens if you use number 1 plastic for Shrinky Dinks?

The #1 didn’t flatten out as well, but it did shrink, so experiment with #1 if that’s all you have (The large heart in my photos was made with #1).

Can 1 plastic be used for Shrinky Dinks?

Number 1 plastic shrinks a little, but not much and also sometimes just turns white and curls – it’s not a good material for DIY shrinky dinks. The #6 plastic with the ridges has a pretty neat effect when made into a shrinky dink.

Can you shrink number 6 plastic?

A few years ago I read on several craft sites, that shrink plastic is made from clear polystyrene, with the recycling symbol #6 and that you can actually use plastic packaging with the #6 symbol as shrink plastic. The shrink plastic geek in me got really excited! It was certainly starting to look like shrink plastic.

Can number 6 plastic be microwaved?

Plastic #6 Polystyrene (PS) Polystyrene, also known as Styrofoam™, is not safe for the microwave. Styrofoam used to be one of the most common materials for takeout packaging and cups. However, in certain areas, recent regulations have banned the use of foam forcing operators to select other container materials.

What’s the best way to make a Shrinky Dink?

If you are wanting to attach your shape to something don’t forget to punch a hole before placing in the oven. Place the plastic on a thin cookie sheet (not the insulated type) covered with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Bake plastic at 350 degrees for 2- 3 minutes. Each oven is different so watch closely.

Can You reuse plastic containers for Shrinky Dinks?

But what if I told you there is an environmentally friendly way to reuse plastic containers to make your next DIY shrinky dinks! Yep – plain old #6 containers make the perfect shrinky dink art. You can reuse plastic you may have got from ordering take out – or you can purchase some at your dollar store.

How do you recycle a Shrinky Dink cookie sheet?

Locate, wash, and dry #6 plastic containers. You will be able to see a 6 in the recycle arrows, if you’ve got the right plastic. Preheat oven to 300 degrees, and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Trace or freehand draw anything using permanent markers.

How big does a Shrinky Dink toy get?

Remember your shrinky dink will shrink to about 1/3 of the size of the original plastic. You can be creative with this – do circles, squares, lightning bolts – whatever your imagination can come up with. Because you will need very sharp scissors to cut this plastic, we recommend the parents do the cutting for younger kids!