Shrink Plastic Tutorial

Morning Peeps,

Now I know everyone has started off by saying how nervous they are doing tutorials, and I'm no exception, so take it easy on me.

I thought I'd show you how I stamp with shrink plastic.  You should always use stazon ink when stamping on shiny or slippery surfaces so this is a must for shrink plastic.

Above is what you will need. StazOn ink, your stamp, some shrink plastic, hole punch if fixing as a charm, file and your heat gun and of course whatever colouring medium you are using. I have previously used copics, chalks and pencils. I have also shrunk it without using colours and added different colour glitters, which worked well with shrunk christmas baubles. Will you look at my heat gun, I decided it looked boring in white so I added some alcohol ink to make it more exciting. Although it's starting to wear off on the handle, that's down to how much I use it, lol.

Using your StazOn ink stamp your image onto the shrink plastic

Cut the image out or into the shape you require.  I then flipped over to the back and gave it a little file.  This just helps the colour medium grip onto the surface, so on the back where you file is where you will colour.

I wanted my shrinkie to match my main image of the card.  When you heat the shrink plastic the heat intensifies the colour so you can see here I have had to colour the shrink plastic a few shades lighter.  I used copics and prismas to colour.

I am going to add her as a charm so if you are doing this don't forget to punch a hole somewhere so you can add your jump ring to afix to your chain.

I used some tweezers to try and keep her on the mat as once you start the heatgun if your image is small it may want to blow away.

Move the heat gun around and you will notice that your image will curl up.  This is correct.  It will probably curl right up into a ball and then it will then start to uncurl.

As soon as it straightens again I usually put something heavy onto it to make it completely flat as it cools very quickly and becomes hard and you don't want a banana shaped image, well I don't think you do, lol.  I used my acrylic block, but it could be whatever you have handy, a wooden stamp etc.

I know my photo is a little organey, please tell my husband I neet an ott light or daylight saving lamp, lol.  Anyhow you can now see that after heating the colour intensified and it now matches my main image.

And here's a reminder of the finished card, Skater Girl and mini Skater Girl.

I hope this tutorial has been of help.

See you Saturday.