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Plastic Fantastic Think plastic is simply utilitarian? Think again! From "Creative Juice" episode DCRJ-601

(Continued from page 1)

Shrink-Plastic Link Bracelet and Backpack Charms

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Here’s a hot idea: an incredible shrinking craft! Just add heat, and these plastic charms shrink to the perfect size for hanging.

Materials (backpack charms):

white shrink plastic paper
markers
scissors
hole punch
embossing heat gun or oven
bamboo skewer
jump rings
keychain ring or lanyard clip
round-nose pliers
small bits of ribbon
small jingle bells and beads

1. Draw fun images, such as sports equipment or other kid-friendly designs, on the paper (figure A); because the paper is translucent, you can also trace an image, if you prefer. Remember, shrink paper shrinks approximately 75 percent when heated, so make sure the image can accommodate this change.

2. Cut out image (figure B).

3. Punch a hole at one end (figure C).

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

4. Shrink by applying heat from an embossing gun. Hold the charm in place by inserting a bamboo skewer in the punched hole (figure D). Following manufacturer's directions, the charm can be shrunk in an oven; press with a glass or other flat surface to flatten the charm, if necessary.

5. Thread a ribbon through the hole, add bells or beads and tie to a lanyard clip or keyring (figure E).

Figure D

Figure E

Materials (link bracelet):

shrink plastic paper (black and white)
large circle punch
hole punch
large jump rings
embossing heat gun
bamboo skewer
bracelet clasp
round-nose pliers
scissors

1. Using a circle punch, punch large circles in the shrink paper (figure F).

2. Punch two holes opposite each other on each circle (figure G).

3. Draw designs on the circles with metallic pens (for the black shrink paper) and colored pens (on the white paper) (figure H).

Figure F

Figure G

Figure H

4. Shrink with heat from an embossing gun (figure I). Hold the charm in place by inserting a bamboo skewer in the punched hole. Following manufacturer's directions, the charm can be shrunk in an oven; press with a glass or other flat surface to flatten the charm, if necessary.

5. Using round-nose pliers, link the circles together with large jump rings (figure J) and attach clasps at each end.

Figure I

Figure J

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