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    Home » Crafts » Kids Crafts

    How To Make Rainbow Shrinky Dink Earrings Craft

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    DIY Shrinky Dinks Earrings

    We're sharing the magic of shrinking plastic crafts and making rainbow DIY Shrinky Dink Earrings crafts for kids of all ages.

    cool shrinky dink earrings

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    These Shrinky Dink Earrings are such a fun craft. Turning shrinky dinks into plastic earrings with a few supplies will remain one of our most fun crafts any time of year!

    We're sharing our fun step-by-step tutorial to make your very own shrinky dink earrings. The fun part is, that after you make the rainbow earrings, you can easily change the rainbows out for flower shapes or any free cool designs to make whatever earring shape you want.

    shrinky dink earring ideas

    Rainbow Earrings

    If you are a parent of little girls, this craft is for you!

    We know how girls love everything glittery, colorful, and glitzy; therefore, why not turn their favorite things into a fun craft? Today I will teach you how to make shrinky dink craft rainbow earrings.

    These pretty little dangle earrings are so easy to make, plus your girls are gonna love ‘em! I know because my kids went crazy over them and went on to make several more different designs using the same technique. You won't want to miss our other DIY earrings craft, tassel earrings.

    Making Rainbow Earrings

    Making DIY Shrink Dink Earrings

    Most of the supplies required to make these shrinky dink rainbow earrings are everyday items readily available at home. However, there are several items for which you’ll have to make a run to the nearest craft shop. But for your ease and convenience, I have also included links to purchase them online.

    So, the base of the earrings is made using a large sheet of plastic. I’m saying “large” because the plastic shrinks to quite a small size once in the oven. Therefore, we’ll make large-sized rainbows so that when they shrink, they’re perfectly sized for those little ears.

    We need different colored permanent markers to draw the rainbow on the plastic sheet and a rainbow template to trace perfect rainbows. To give the rainbows the look of an earring, we’ll use a single-hole puncher to make a hole for the jump rings and earring hooks. And, of course, we also require round and needle nose pliers to secure the jump rings and earring hooks in place.

    Once you have drawn the rainbow on the plastic sheet, cut it out with scissors and fill in the colors. With all the basic stuff sorted, it’s time to place them on a cookie sheet or parchment paper on a baking tray and bake for 5 minutes.

    rainbow shrinky dink earrings supplies

    Supplies for Rainbow Earrings

    • Shrinky Dink Paper (*You can use a plastic take-out container, check for the number 6 symbol in a triangle to ensure it's the right kind of plastic.
    • Scissors
    • Permanent markers in assorted colors
    • Rainbow Template (download free template below)
    • Single hole puncher
    • Parchment paper
    • (2) silver earring hooks and (4) silver jump rings
    • Round nose and needle nose pliers
    • Cookie sheet

    How to Make Shrinky Dink Earrings

    Preheat oven to 350℉.

    cut out take out containers for rainbow shrinky dink earrings

    Begin by cutting the takeout container into two separate flat sheets, but be careful not to tear it, as it is thin and tears easily.

    large plastic sheets for shrinky dink earrings

    If you are using shrinky dink sheets, shrink film, or shrink paper, make sure you use the heating instructions according to the package directions.

    Coloring Shrinkable Plastic

    trace over rainbow template with permanent markers

    Place the first sheet on top of your template, and begin tracing the rainbow with the different color permanent markers. You can place a small piece of painter’s tape on the plastic sheet to help hold it in place.

    color in plastic earrings with markers

    There are a lot of coloring methods, but I outlined each part of the rainbow first and then colored it in. Once you have traced and colored the rainbow, move the plastic over the circle template. Leave plenty of room between the rainbow and the circle, as you will need excess plastic around the rainbow—Trace and color in the circle.

    trace second earring and color in

    Repeat step 1 with your second of the plastic sheets.

    cut each rainbow and circle

    Cut out the circles, staying close to the outer edge. Cut out the rainbows, but leave about ¼” around the outer edge, and cut flat across the bottom.

    punch a hole at the top of rainbow

    Using the hole puncher, punch a hole at the top center of each rainbow in the excess clear plastic portion.

    hole at tope of rainbow

    Remember the shrink plastic is why it’s important to leave a little room an extra ¼”.

    punch tow holes at top and bottom in center of circle

    Next, make a hole at the top and bottom center of each circle.

    Heating Instructions

    place rainbow earrings on parchment paper

    Place the rainbows and circles on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Make sure to leave plenty of space between each object, as they move quite a bit when baking, and you don’t want them to stick together.

    place plastic earrings in oven

    Place the baking sheet in the oven, and bake for 2-3 minutes. Keep the oven light on, and watch them as they bake.

    watch plastic shrink earrings

    They will curl up, and some of the sides almost look like they are going to touch, but then they will start to flatten back out, and shrink in size. For best results continue baking until all pieces are completely flat, which usually takes 4-5 minutes.

    remove shrinky dink earrings parts

    Remove from the oven, and let cool. *You can use a heat gun in replace of the oven.

    open a silver jump ring for DIY Earrings

    Once cooled, open a jump ring with a pair of round and needle nose pliers.

    slip jump ring through top of rainbow and bottom of pink circle

    Place the jump ring through the top of a rainbow, and one hole in the pink circle.

    using the pliers close the jump ring

    Close the jump ring with the needle nose pliers.

    add earring hook to top circle hole with second jump ring

    Open another jump ring, and place it through the other hole in the pink circle, and through one of the earring hooks.

    First Rainbow Earring Made

    Close the jump ring with needle nose pliers.

    put second earring together same process

    Repeat step 7 with the other rainbow and circle. Earring backs are optional. Your earrings are ready to wear!

    Notes:

    • The plastic will shrink considerably smaller than the original size, so it may seem like you are cutting and coloring a very large rainbow, but it will shrink to the perfect size for earrings.
    • If you don't have markers, you can use acrylic paint or paint markers too.
    • The color of the markers will turn much darker once baked, so make sure to pick lighter colors for any shrinky dink projects.
    • This craft project is so versatile. You could make this into a keychain or necklace too. 
    shrinky dink earrings

    How Do We Know the Earrings Are Done?

    As you start baking, the plastic sheet will curl up and then go flat again. Once the earrings have flattened back to their original place, their size will shrink considerably. That’s when they are ready to be removed from the oven and given the finishing touches.

    The whole process takes hardly 4 to 5 minutes; therefore, you need to keep an eye on the earrings while they bake.

    101 Kids Crafts

    Looking for More Fun DIY Crafts?

    Did you and your girls have fun trying out this fun and exciting shrinky-dink rainbow earrings craft? If yes, then I have good news for you!

    My website features plenty of other DIY crafts that you can enjoy with your kids or at school. This includes several popsicle sticks crafts, ornaments for different occasions, and animal crafts as well.

    And, if your kids are into coloring and games, you’ll find an impressive collection of printable coloring pages, games, animal life cycles, and how-to crafts. All the crafts on my website are free of cost and offer hours of endless fun and learning!

    We highlighted this Rainbow Craft along with some other fun kid's crafts in our March Crafts along with our 101+ Easy Kids Crafts.

    You also do not want to miss our 101+ Printable Coloring Pages For Kids and 101+ Printables For Kids full of Crafts and Coloring Pages.

    Rainbow Crafts

    Other Rainbow Crafts You'll Love

    • Rainbow Drawing
    • Rainbow Mini Pinatas
    • Macrame Rainbow
    • 3D Rainbow
    • Color By Number Rainbow

    Download Free Rainbow Earring Template

    Enter your email address in the form below and you'll be taken directly to the free rainbow earring template pdf file.

    *For personal use only

    cute shrinky dink earrings
    Print

    Rainbow Shrinky Dink Earrings Craft

    We're sharing the magic of shrinking plastic crafts and making rainbow DIY Shrinky Dink Earrings crafts for kids of all ages.
    Course Kids Crafts
    Cook Time 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes minutes
    Servings 1 Set of Rainbow Earrings
    Author Alli Ward

    Equipment

    • Scissors
    • Single hole puncher
    • Round nose and needle nose pliers

    Ingredients

    • Shrinky Dink Paper *You can use a plastic take-out container, check for the number 6 symbol in a triangle to ensure it's the right kind of plastic.
    • Permanent markers in assorted colors
    • Rainbow Template
    • Parchment paper
    • 2 silver earring hooks and (4) silver jump rings
    • Cookie sheet

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350℉. Begin by cutting the takeout container into two separate flat sheets, but be careful not to tear it, as it is thin and tears easily.
      cut out take out containers for rainbow shrinky dink earrings
    • If you are using shrinky dink sheets, shrink film, or shrink paper, make sure you use the heating instructions according to the package directions.
      large plastic sheets for shrinky dink earrings
    • Place the first sheet on top of your template, and begin tracing the rainbow with the different color permanent markers. You can place a small piece of painter’s tape on the plastic sheet to help hold it in place.
      trace over rainbow template with permanent markers
    • There are a lot of coloring methods, but I outlined each part of the rainbow first and then colored it in. Once you have traced and colored the rainbow, move the plastic over the circle template. Leave plenty of room between the rainbow and the circle, as you will need excess plastic around the rainbow—Trace and color in the circle.
      color in plastic earrings with markers
    • Repeat step 1 with your second of the plastic sheets.
      trace second earring and color in
    • Cut out the circles, staying close to the outer edge. Cut out the rainbows, but leave about ¼” around the outer edge, and cut flat across the bottom.
      cut each rainbow and circle
    • Using the hole puncher, punch a hole at the top center of each rainbow in the excess clear plastic portion.
      punch a hole at the top of rainbow
    • Remember the shrink plastic is why it’s important to leave a little room an extra ¼”.
      hole at tope of rainbow
    • Next, make a hole at the top and bottom center of each circle.
      punch tow holes at top and bottom in center of circle
    • Place the rainbows and circles on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Make sure to leave plenty of space between each object, as they move quite a bit when baking, and you don’t want them to stick together.
      place rainbow earrings on parchment paper
    • Place the baking sheet in the oven, and bake for 2-3 minutes. Keep the oven light on, and watch them as they bake.
      place plastic earrings in oven
    • They will curl up, and some of the sides almost look like they are going to touch, but then they will start to flatten back out, and shrink in size. For best results continue baking until all pieces are completely flat, which usually takes 4-5 minutes.
      watch plastic shrink earrings
    • Remove from the oven, and let cool. *You can use a heat gun in replace of the oven.
      remove shrinky dink earrings parts
    • Once cooled, open a jump ring with a pair of round and needle nose pliers.
      open a silver jump ring for DIY Earrings
    • Place the jump ring through the top of a rainbow, and one hole in the pink circle.
      slip jump ring through top of rainbow and bottom of pink circle
    • Close the jump ring with the needle nose pliers.
      using the pliers close the jump ring
    • Open another jump ring, and place it through the other hole in the pink circle, and through one of the earring hooks.
      add earring hook to top circle hole with second jump ring
    • Close the jump ring with needle nose pliers.
      First Rainbow Earring Made
    • Repeat step 7 with the other rainbow and circle. Earring backs are optional. Your earrings are ready to wear!
      put second earring together same process

    Video

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    rainbow earrings craft

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    About Alli

    Discover a world of creativity and joy with Alli Ward, the creative mind behind Made with Happy. From DIY crafts to delicious recipes, Alli brings happiness to every project!

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    DIY Shrinky Dinks Earrings

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    alli ward

    Hi, I'm Alli Ward, the Maker behind Made with Happy. I'm a color-obsessed creative mom of two sharing easy crafts, printables, and home DIY projects that the whole family will love! 

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