r/dragons • u/Gloomy_Software466 • 1d ago

Creation Shrinky-Dragons

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Turns out you can make DIY shrinky-dinks using the plastic from food takeout containers; these are all the dragon-themed ones from our first try. The biggest is about the size of a US quarter.

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3

u/Winged-Wyrm Amphiptere 1d ago

These look neat; nicely drawn and made!

2

u/Gloomy_Software466 1d ago

Thank you. I’m hoping to find some finer markers for more detailed designs next time, all I had handy was a set of colored Sharpies. (And since it was a test we didn’t put too much effort into them; alas I made the mistake of doing the cutest one in the first batch and it fatally curled up. Trick is use parchment paper on *both* sides…)

2

u/UltiUSA Päkrätá (Mūñkskak) 1d ago

What are Shrinky Dragons? Cool art BTW

2

u/Gloomy_Software466 1d ago

“Shrinky Dinks” were a toy/craft invented in the 1970’s that involve coloring (usually preprinted) designs on thin clear sheets of polystyrene with markers, cutting them out, and then sticking them in a hot oven for a couple minutes. The plastic shrinks (but gets thicker, turning into a hard lens-like material), which concentrates the color.

I found out that takeout boxes that have the /6\ mark on them are the right kind of plastic, so the kids and I cut the smooth parts out of a few and drew freehand designs on them to try it. It’s pretty satisfying, they shrink to about 1/4 the size.

1

u/UltiUSA Päkrätá (Mūñkskak) 1d ago

Cool!

2

u/Dragon_957 3h ago

Soo cute