How to Make Shrinky Dink Plastic Charms or Earrings

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6:00 AM

How to Make Shrinky Dink Plastic Charms or Earrings!

There is something so fun about turning a simple drawing into a tiny wearable piece of art! These adorable goldfish in a bag earrings started with a hand-drawn design, a sheet of shrink plastic, and a little bit of creativity.

Shrink plastic (also known as shrinky dinks) is one of those nostalgic craft supplies that never gets old. Watching a flat piece of plastic transform into a tiny, sturdy charm feels like magic every single time.

For this project, I turned my friend’s cute goldfish drawing into the sweetest little pair of dangling earrings. The best part? Because shrink plastic changes as it heats, every piece becomes completely unique.

These little fish charms have the look of a tiny water-filled bag, complete with fun crinkles and texture from the shrinking process. They are the perfect handmade accessory for anyone who loves whimsical jewelry!

(Print off the image above drawn by my friend Angie (no AI here), scaled to fit the print space and use it as a pattern for your own earrings!)

What Is Shrink Plastic?

Shrink plastic is a special type of shrink film that becomes smaller and thicker when heated. You can draw, color, or print designs onto it, cut them out, and then use heat to transform them into durable little charms.

Many people remember shrink plastic from childhood crafts, but today it has become a favorite material for jewelry makers and artists creating detailed homemade charms.

The finished pieces are lightweight, colorful, and surprisingly strong.

Shrinky Dink charms you can create:

earrings
keychains
zipper pulls
pins
ornaments
magnets
charms for bracelets

For this project, the shrink charms became the cutest pair of goldfish earrings!

Supplies Needed for Shrink Plastic Earrings:

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shrink plastic or shrink film
shrinky dinks sheets
permanent marker
colored pencils
scissors
1/4" hole punch
baking sheet
parchment paper
heat gun or oven
jump ring
earring hooks
clear sealant (optional)

You can also use inkjet shrinky-dink sheets if you prefer printing your designs instead of drawing them by hand.

Create Your Goldfish Design

The first step was creating the artwork.

I asked my friend to draw the cutest little goldfish swimming inside a baggy. The hand-drawn style is what makes these earrings so charming.

Once the drawing was complete, I placed the shrink plastic over the design and traced it using a permanent marker.

Permanent marker works beautifully on shrink plastic because it creates crisp outlines that stay bold after shrinking.

After tracing the fish, I colored the design using yellow and orange colored pencils.

The colors become much more intense after shrinking, so keep that in mind when coloring your design. A shade that looks soft before shrinking may become much brighter afterward.

Remember: Your Design Will Shrink!

One of the most important things to remember when working with shrink plastic is that your finished piece will become much smaller.

Depending on the brand of shrink plastic, your design may shrink significantly. A large drawing turns into a tiny charm, which is exactly what makes it perfect for jewelry.

When planning your design, think about the final size you want.

For earrings, a larger original drawing usually creates the perfect smaller charm after heating.

Cut Out the Shrink Plastic Shapes

Once the fish were colored, I carefully cut around each design.

Before shrinking, make sure to punch a hole where you want your jewelry hardware attached.

This step is very important!

Once the plastic shrinks, you will not be able to add a hole afterward. I punched a small hole near the top of each fish so I could attach the earrings later.

Shrinking the Plastic

There are a couple different ways to shrink plastic.

The most common method is baking it in the oven, but I decided to try using a heat gun.

I placed the pieces on parchment paper on a baking sheet to protect the surface and started applying heat.

The heat gun worked, but it did not shrink the plastic as evenly as the oven method. Some areas curled and shrank faster than others.

But honestly?

The uneven shrinking ended up being my favorite part!

The little wrinkles and crinkles made the plastic look even more like a real bag of water. Instead of looking like a mistake, the texture added personality and made the goldfish earrings even more adorable.

Sometimes the unexpected results become the best part of handmade crafts.

Oven Method for Shrink Plastic

If you want a more uniform shrink, the oven method usually works best.

Place your shrink plastic pieces on parchment paper on a baking sheet and follow the instructions for your specific shrink plastic brand.

Most pieces take around 3-5 minutes to shrink.

Watch carefully because the plastic will curl, twist, and then flatten back out as it finishes shrinking.

If your pieces curl and do not flatten completely, you can gently press them flat with heavy books once they come out of the oven.

Always allow them to cool completely before handling.

Turning Shrink Charms Into Earrings

Once the goldfish pieces cooled, they were ready to become jewelry!

I added a jump ring through the hole at the top of each charm and attached an earring hook.

That tiny bit of hardware instantly transformed the shrink plastic pieces into finished earrings.

The dangling fish move beautifully when worn, and the clear plastic gives them the feeling of little floating aquarium bags.

They are playful, lightweight, and completely one-of-a-kind.

Adding a Protective Finish

Depending on the type of shrink plastic and coloring method you use, you may want to add a clear sealant.

A light coat of clear sealant can help protect the artwork and give your charms extra durability.

Make sure your pieces are completely cooled and dry before sealing.

Tips for Your First Time Using Shrink Plastic

If this is your first time working with shrink plastic, here are a few helpful tips:

Test a Small Piece First

Different brands of shrink plastic can shrink differently. Make a tiny test charm before starting a larger project.

Remember Your Hole Size

Holes shrink too! Use a hole punch that creates a slightly larger opening than you think you need.

Use Light Colors Before Shrinking

Colors become more saturated after heating, so lighter coloring often creates beautiful results.

Don’t Panic When It Curls

The curling stage can look alarming, but it is completely normal. Keep heating and allow the piece to finish shrinking.

Embrace Imperfections

The handmade quality is what makes shrink plastic projects special. Every charm has its own personality.

More Shrink Plastic Project Ideas

Once you start making shrink charms, you will want to create all kinds of designs!

Try making:

floral earrings
personalized name charms
tiny animals
holiday ornaments
miniature food charms
illustrated keychains
custom gifts

Shrink plastic is such a fun way to transform drawings and artwork into wearable creations.

That's it!

These goldfish in a bag earrings might be one of my favorite handmade jewelry projects because they combine creativity, nostalgia, and a little bit of happy accident.

Starting with a simple drawing, I was able to create tiny wearable works of art using shrink plastic, colored pencils, and a little heat.

The crinkled texture from using the heat gun actually made them even better, giving them the perfect “fish in a bag” look.

Whether you call them shrinky dinks, shrink charms, or homemade charms, this craft is a reminder that the best projects do not always need to be perfect.

Sometimes the quirks are what make them magical.