Shrinky Dinks Father’s Day Key Chains
I currently have two children in school who always make something fun for us on these special days in class, and two children at home who feel a little left out of the gift giving.
So this year, I set out to make something that the kids could still be artistic and feel involved in, and a keepsake that Daddy could actually use.
The best part about this is that there are no set rules here! I don’t have a printable for you, and the Shrinky Dinks you purchase even come with all the instructions you need, to make what you’d like! You and your kids will be making your own art! Really, you don’t need me at all! Just trace the hands anyway you’d like, and let your child/children do the coloring. It’s that simple! Because of the shrinking, these do not remain the same size as the actual hand. They shrink to about 1/3 of the size, which makes them perfect danglers for key chains!
If your children are old enough that you trust them with permanent markers, by all means, go for it. If not, just trace their hands on paper with colored pencils and let them draw on them. Maybe they’re even old enough to write their own names. Maybe your children have more vision than mine, or aren’t distracted by Daniel Tiger. But let them go to town!
Part way through the photographing of these pictures you’ll notice Isaac’s hand changed. That is because he changed his mind and wanted to add more, so he added to it, and I traced again. Easy Peasy!
Shrinky Dinks 10-Sheet Crystal Clear Pack, found on Amazon (affiliate link)
Sharpie Permanent Markers, in color, found on Amazon (affiliate link)
Paper and crayons or colored pencils, to create the drawing
Key ring (I just took one off an old key chain!)
6mm jump rings, found on Amazon (affiliate link) (any larger, and they might not fit through the hole punched. It shrinks, remember!)
Sharp pair of scissors
Standard, 1/8 inch hole punch
Parchment paper or aluminum foil
Oven
Needle nose pliers, for prying the jump rings open and closing again.
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1. Here are the items you need to begin with!
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2. On paper, trace your child’s hand in the color of their choice. Notice the pencil thief who only wanted to do their own thing…
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3. Then let them draw and color it however they would like to for Daddy. If they are new to writing their name, it’s always fun to have keepsakes with that little handwriting on it! Only photograph the cooperative child…
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4. When your child is finished (or so they think, you can add to it right up to baking!) place the shrinky dinks sheet over their drawing.
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5. With the permanent colored markers, trace your child’s drawing onto the shrinky dinks sheet.
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6. For more vibrant colors, go over it more than once. Then cut it out. Do NOT cut between the fingers. Just gently round over their tops.
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7. Don’t forget to punch your hole before baking! Then bake on parchment or aluminum foil, on a cookie sheet, color side up.
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Bake your Shrinky Dinks at 325 degrees F, for about 3 minutes, maybe less. Keep peeking, and you can watch it curl up and flatten back out. After flattening, allow to bake for an additional 30 seconds to complete the process.
Use your pliers to pull the jump rings open. I used 4 on each hand charm. Just pinch them back together around each ring until you have the length you’d like, and close that ring around your large key ring. It’s so easy!
We also learned that the larger the picture, the more time it needs in the oven. This needed about a minute longer than the two smaller hands.