tutorials

1) Measure then cut out two 11cm by 4cm pieces of shrinky dinks paper.

2) Draw/paint a black line a little over a 1/2cm thick on the bottom and top of each of the rectangular shrinky dinks pieces. Make sure to carry the designs over to the backsides of each piece (the design is symmetrical and double-sided).

3) Using blue paint/a blue sharpie, draw/paint an arc measuring about 4cm tall (starting from the top of the bottom black line) at its peak. Then, fill in the empty space below the arc to the black line with the same blue paint/sharpie. Do this for both of the shrinky dinks pieces, on both sides.

4) Using dark red paint/a dark red sharpie, draw/paint a circle about 2.7cm in diameter (the circle should be grazing the bottom of the top black line), and fill it in. Again, do this for both of the shrinky dinks pieces, on both sides.

5) Take out a fine-point sharpie, then, following the reference image, draw each of the different lines, going two at a time, then flipping each of the shrinky dinks over to do the same for the other sides (the sharpie line should show through the other side of the shrinky dinks paper if held up to the light, so don't worry about the lines not being symmetrical). Remember, omitting the first four of the lines drawn, every line has a thick triangle on the end of it (see the reference photo).

6) Now, along the edge of the blue arc you've painted/drawn, follow the curve with the fine-point sharpie. Next, you're going to outline the edges of the shrinky dinks pieces. Use the fine-point sharpie to go around the edges and create a thin border around the entire earring design.

7) At this point, if you haven't already, preheat your oven to 325 degrees, then, when ready, set a timer and put your shrinky dinks in the oven for around 1 to 3 minutes. Don't be alarmed if they curve a bit when baking, as the pieces will eventually sink down and become mostly flat.

8) Allowing time for the shrinky dinks to cool (about a minute or so), get out your black foam and cut two 1.5cm by 0.25cm pieces. Next, take out your dangly earring backings and pliers. With the pliers, slowly untighten the ends of each earring backing (the bottom part, right beneath the the spherical bead shown in the image), then fasten and re-tighten them onto the centers of each of the little black foam pieces.

9) Take the black foam pieces with the earring backings above them and with tacky glue, glue down the bottom of each foam piece to one of the tops of the shrinky dinks pieces (see image). Hold for several minutes, or until dry.

10) Finally, to finish off the project, now that the shrinky dinks have shrunken, both of the sides should need touch-ups. So, go in with your fine-point sharpie and fix up the earrings' edges, then you're done!

(NOTE: If you're going to use paint instead of sharpies to draw on the shrinky dinks, be warned that after baking the paint will appear bubbly and textured, like in the reference image, so if you prefer a cleaner finish, the sharpies would be the better option.)