DIY Shrinky Dinks are the perfect pen pal gift!
Oh, how I LOVED these as a child! This is a unique gift idea that your Love Mail recipients will love! You can trace or draw a picture with sharpies or colored pencil, cut it out and send it to your pen pal or Love Mail recipient with instructions on how to bake it for a cute little charm! Check out my printable to the right that you can trace for a fun little charms, keychains, a ring template, and instructions for baking that you can include in your Love Mail. Remember that your DIY shrinky dink is going to shrink to 1/3 the size. They can be added to a bracelet, attach a dangle-y charm to a bookmark, a keychain, zipper pull, or my personal favorite- a ring! Check out these brooches from https://cooandcothink.blogspot.com/
Shrinky Dinks are so easy to make!
All that you need is some Shrinky Dink plastic, or #6 recycled plastic, scissors, hole punch, and either permanent markers or colored pencils. I used to make mine out of recycled plastic, but it seems that it is getting harder to find the right kind of plastic. It seems like many companies are switching to #1 plastic instead. And because shrink plastic is so inexpensive, I like having the full sheet of plastic so I can just trace and cut a full sheet at a time.
A great tutorial on how to make them can be found at thediynuts.com
Here is a great idea for a keychain! Trace over a favorite photo like this one pictured at: whatmomslove.com
Remember, you can not send the keychain part in with your Love Mail letter because it will not be flat enough and bulky things like that will tear your envelope in the mail sorting machine at the post office. You might be able to get away with sending a teeny-tiny little metal ring that they can use to attach as a charm by taping it to your letter.
DIY Shrinky Dink Rings For Pen Pals And Love Mail!
I think that one of the very best flat things that you can send to a pen pal or in a Love Mail are DIY shrinky dink rings, because you can personalize them with their name, a special phrase, or a favorite character.
Check out these rings from planetjune.com
She has the best details on getting your rings just perfect, and if you need more help, she has a very detailed 3 page shrinky dink rings tutorial that you can get for a $2 donation, and that also includes any email help from her, which could come in handy for those serious about making these beautiful rings!
Happy Creating!
