Sunday, May 23, 2010

The Shrinky Dinks Experiment

Last night I was on the phone with my friend Scraparazzi and I told her I was going to experiment with the Shrinky Dink oven I found in the guest room closet at Christmas time. I had gotten it for my daughter for Christmas when she was around 8 years old and she did use it for a little while, but like many toys it was stored away after the novelty wore off.

I was posting progress on Facebook as I experimented. Let me tell you, if you don't follow me on Facebook and already know this, I have a bunch of smart azz friends!! *okie cracks up laughin*.
While on the phone with Razzi I was trying to figure out how the dang oven worked. Razzi soon got off the phone with me, she said her husband called. I think she just didn't want to hear the bad train wreck *okie thinks Razzi might be a pretty smart cookie*.

My first post on Facebook said:

How can anyone break a Shrinky Dink oven? Well I will let you know when I figure out what I did to it!!

For some odd reason I couldn't get the stupid little cooling drawer to come out of the oven. After I found the directions I found out that the timer has to run and then it won't open until after the cooling period *okie thinks instructions are nice sometimes*. So at least I figured that part out.

Here are the replies I received...

ScrapperDelighted - WTH?
Rhonda - didnt know they even still made them
My daughter - Omg! You broke my shrinky dink oven! Mom!!! How could you???!!! Haha. Jk. I forgot we had it. :p
Mollie - Hmmm that's interesting..
ME -Guess I am impatient...just wasn't waiting long enough for it to cool! LOL
Capadia - You - impatient? Never!!! What are you shrinking?
ME - Cap right now I am shrinking anything I can get my hands on and try! ROTFLMAO
Robin - Lucy better run! *little did Robin know Lucy would soon high tail it to the other room*
Camille - A heat gun will work also if you don't get the oven to work.

I picked out a ladybug to color, using my seldom used Prism pencils, and try in the oven. It turned out okay but the little antenna didn't lay flat. Taking Camille's advise I used a slight blast of the heat embossing gun and flattened it out some.

If you look between the two top ladybugs there is a notch. I tried using an eyelet setter punch to punch the hole *okie now knows why they said use a hole punch* and the plastic split. I thought it would melt together during the oven process....it didn't *okie sighs*.


So my next question on Facebook:

Anyone know if Stazon ink and Bick Markers are Shrinky Dink oven safe?

Renay - is that what blew up the oven?
Jen - Are you talking about sharpies? Yes they are BUT the color gets really dark. I use the pastel sharpies.
ME - Thank you for the answers!

My next question was:

Is it safe to use Cricut Cartrige packaging in a Shrinky Dink oven...or other thin acetate product.

Jen - You have a shrinky dink oven?? You know I'd try it!! LOL!!
Maggie - Okie, I love that you're testing all this out at your house. Later (if you don't do too much damage) you can put out the official shrinky dink handbook! LOL
ME - Okay answer to the question about the packaging from Cricut cartridges........

NNNOOOOOO

Do not try this at home. ...
Maggie -
Call the Fire Dept, they'll put it out AND they have cute firemen...
Jen - Well I am the same person who caught glitter on fire! Yeah.. never listen to me!! *okie thinks Jen and okie should never craft together as that might be a lethal combination*

Here is the result of the Cricut packaging in the oven.....
A very bad truck wreck!! It did start to curl and I thought shrink, but instead it just curled. I then tried the heat embossing gun and it made it resemble a Volkswagen beetle that had gone through a car smasher! Oh and about Lucy running to the other room...well she did that when there started to be a bit of an obnoxious odor coming from the oven as the truck started to curl.

In order to keep Razzi updated on the experiment I posted on her wall : Shrinky Dink experiments continue. Do not use Cricut packaging in the oven....it doesn't work. Okay going to find my fire extinguisher. Will keep you posted!

And then I got a post from Razzi, what a dear and caring friend she is, on my Facebook wall. Razzi said "Only Okie would nearly catch her house on fire using a Shrinking Dink Oven that runs on a single light bulb...."

So the end result of my experiement was...I do like the oven and I will use the oven. But I better try and find some REAL Shrinky Dink plastic before I use the darn thing again!

23 comments:

  1. If you can't find it we have a ton of it at work! I know the owner would be happy to sell it to you. It's not on the new site, she decided not to carry it. If you contact her and tell her Noelle sent you she will give you a deal! http://www.creativecutsandmore.com/

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  2. I think they sell the shrinky dink material @ M's some where near the window catchers and "stain glass" paint but I could be wrong. Just a thought.

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  3. I just recently got into the shrinky dinks again! Forgot how fun they were. Haven't tried it yet but I hear plastic number 6 will work.

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  5. Okie, you are hilarious! I also like to experiment. I have caught stuff on fire as well.

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  6. Ok you make me laugh. I got a stomach ace from it. lol. I would have done the same thing. I so love shrinky dinks. very fun.

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  7. Okie, you are Hilarious! I could not stop laughing while reading your post... I'm glad the house is OK! :) And its good to experiment new things....:) I hope you find the right products and I can't wait to see what you make when you do! :)

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  8. Okie, I just learned how to do them again. My LSS sold me some shrink plastic film. I stamped it with StazOn ink, punched a hole in them, held it with my tweeserB's and used the heat gun, they curl all up but straighten back out. Then I used the wood back of a rubber stamp and made it perfectly flat. They are very quick and easy, I've been using them on Mini books and cards. Check one out on my blog. Shariscreationswiththecricut.blogspot.com. I'd love it if you'd follow me. Shari (cricutrookie)

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  9. This was so fun and hilarious to read. I love cutting shrinky dink with my cricut and I recently got selected for my shrinky dink project on the cricut spotlight. your story is totally hilarious though and I especially LOVE that you shared your mistake. Not enough people do that, including me. This was an awesome post.

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  10. okie, you always make me smile! Can't waittosee what you come up with next.

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  11. Thanks for the laugh!! I am glad you didn't burn the house (or shrinky dink oven) down!

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  12. LOL Okie I was watching the progress via fb yesterday and just had me ROTFL! I knew better than to post! he he he....hey is a shrinkydink oven like the lil Easy Bake ovens??? We have one of those but never saw a shrinky dink one.

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  13. I love the running dialog on the experiments. You can get shrinky dink items including pre-printed things @ J's in the kids crafts dept. M's carries shrinky dink sheets in 8 1/2 x 11 in the stamping area. You can use it in your cricut with the markers, just cut a 2x the size you want it.

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  14. I haven't heard of shrinky dinks since i was a little girl lol I loved reading about your experiment :) Cant wait to see how you use these shrinky dinks!

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  15. haha Oky you made me laugh so hard, the cats woke up LOL. Yes all 4 of them were sleeping and now they look at me like i'm the crazy one here. O maybe I am HIHIHI.
    Have a lot of fun with your shrinky dink oven and pleas don't set your house on fire.

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  16. OMG Okie!! I'm still laughing..I'm crying...I think I also wet myself a little...Only you...Thanks for all the useful info though..going to finish peeing now.

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  17. Okie,

    Do you know how much laughter you bring to others?!? This was the funniest stinkin' thing ever! I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. I'm glad we have you to provide such hilarious and educational blog posts....

    ScatteredScrapper

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  18. Geez ya'll are mean here too! Laughing at my pain! HA HA HA

    The Shrinky Dink oven does remind me of an Easy Bake Oven. I think once I get the hang of these I will either use the heat embossing gun or the big oven so I can do more than one image at once.

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  19. Maybe that Cricut pkg doesn't work, but check out your recyclable plastics for #6, I'm pretty sure it is #6 anyway. I don't have that right here at my fingertips. I find the containers that are clear take home containers from restaurants or grocery stores are sometimes #6. Also if you have Tim Hortons in your area, their glasses are the right ones too. I haven't done them in the oven, but I have used this plastic with my heat gun and it works great.

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  20. Okie, have to admit I haven't been bloghopping on on my fbp in a while. Forgot how freakin' funny you are!!!!!!
    Wendy

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  21. Okie, you crack me up, because I would've done the same thing. At this moment, my hubby is not liking you, since I'm commenting that I might need to get a Shrinking Dink oven like you!

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  22. Okie...I just wanted to thank you for always making me laugh! When ever I am having a bad day I know that I can visit your blog and will leave with a smile on my face! Oh and don't forget all the wonderful ideas and inspiration too!!

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  23. My stomach just got a great workout! You are hilarious!!! Thanks for sharing your story!!

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