Forum reader Trish Latimer sent us the following information about Shrink Plastic.

Please note Shrink Plastic is not available from Card Inspirations.

Shrink Plastic Tips

The basic thing to keep in mind is whatever you write, draw or stamp on the plastic will shrink to 1/7th of the original size so don't do anything too small. Colours also intensify, so go easy on the shading and colouring.

You can use any permanent pens: Identipens, OHP markers, etc. Just try different things and see what happens.

For stamping the ink pads can be anything suitable for heat setting: Brilliance pads, Stazon pads, Fabrico pads, Crafters ink pads.

Draw or stamp your image, colour if you want. I use normal Crayola pencils and they work just fine.

If you want to cut the Shrink Plastic into shapes, or punch holes through the Shrink Plastic in order to attach things etc, this needs to be done before shrinking. It is impossible to cut afterwards because the plastic becomes too thick!!

Then it's shrinking time.

Some use the oven, I use my heat gun as I feel I can control it better. I point the heat gun, not too close, and just watch what happens. The Shrink Plastic will all curl up and you will get all panicked, but be patient and it will flatten itself out again. You can always tease apart little bits that do stick to each other but mind your fingers, as it is very hot. When its flattened out, put something heavy and flat over it for a minute, to make sure it stays flat. Don't use anything that has print on as it will come off on the Shrink Plastic. Or anything textured, as the pattern will transfer itself to the Shrink Plastic. I use the back of a large background stamp.

That's about it.

PS. There are a few cards with Shrink Plastic in my trail if you want a look.

http://www.picturetrail.com/startrishcards

Illustration above by Trish Latimer.

Trish Latimer, March 2003

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