Another round of Shrink Plastic Holiday Workshops with kids in Melbourne

 This holIdays I have been in Doncaster, Braybrook, Footscray, Ferntree Gully, Armadale and Brighton. If it wasn't for the Google Maps app on my phone, I might still be looking for some of these venues!

The Shrinkibits Shapes holiday program workshops are always very full-on, with group after group of 15 to 20 kids busily making their two shapes each. Most of them have never used shrink plastic before and are very excited. 

Tracing and decorating the shapes

The room quietens as everyone becomes totally absorbed in the activity, but that all changes when I start putting the shapes in the little portable oven for shrinking. 

There are shouts of "it's magic!" and "how does it do that?!" In the last workshop, one l little boy stood there calmly with his arms crossed and said "such amazing technology" 

The kids are delighted when they see their creations start to crinkle up and shrink, and I find myself reassuring the first-timers that their Shrinki shapes aren't ruined - they will sit flat again in just a moment, when the shrinking is complete.

Although I encourage kids to do their own drawings - and some do - most kids prefer to use the tracings (see below). But I love that no two results from the same tracing will turn out the same.

This skull tracing is a favourite with boys, but the results are so different every time

The variations created from one tracing go way beyond anything I could dream up, and the creativity and imagination of the kids always delights me. 

I think that is one of the reasons I enjoy these workshops so much. 

That and seeing how much the kids love it. :)

Shrink Plastic Shapes will entertain kids for hours ... no cutting ... just decorate and shrink in the oven .... a creative activity that's perfect for the holidays!!

These shapes are great fun to do with your kids or when they have friends over.

Suitable for children aged 5 to 10 (and older), they come in a variety of different packs.

(See bottom of this post for info on packs and links for where to buy)

Here you can see the size of the cutout shape before and after shrinking. 

All shapes are sold blank. Print off the tracing sheets below and trace the image of your choice or make up your own. There is so much opportunity to be creative with these shapes!

All shapes are sold blank as shown here, and you decide what they become. 

They are translucent so you can trace onto them, but they become opaque after shrinking.

These Permanent Markers are sold separately or come with the Gift Packs

Keep scrolling for examples of all the available shapes, and the printable tracing sheets

The Heart Cutout Shape:

The hearts tracing sheet

Press here to print this tracing sheet

(Note: when printing, make sure that "Actual size" is selected as the "Paper Size Option" to ensure that tracings match the size of your cutout shape.)

The Ninja/Penguin/Bird/Babushka Cutout Shape:

The babushka-penguin-bird tracing sheet

Press here to print this tracing sheet

(Note: when printing, make sure that "Actual size" is selected as the Paper Size Option to ensure that tracings match the size of your Cutout Shapes.)

The squid-ninja-penguin-bird tracing sheet

Press here to print this tracing sheet

(Note: when printing, make sure that "Actual size" is selected as the Paper Size Option to ensure that tracings match the size of your Cutout Shapes.)

The Skull Cutout Shape:

the skull tracing sheet

Press here to print this tracing sheet

(Note: when printing, make sure that "Actual size" is selected as the Paper Size Option to ensure that tracings match the size of your Cutout Shapes.)

The Owl Cutout Shape:

the owl tracing sheet

Press here to print this tracing sheet

(Note: when printing, make sure that "Actual size" is selected as the Paper Size Option to ensure that tracings match the size of your Cutout Shapes.)

The Elephant Cutout Shape:

 

the elephant tracing sheet

Press here to print this tracing sheet

(Note: when printing, make sure that "Actual size" is selected as the Paper Size Option to ensure that tracings match the size of your Cutout Shapes.)

The Monkey-Bird Cutout Shape:

the monkey-bird tracing sheet

Press here to print this tracing sheet

(Note: when printing, make sure that "Actual size" is selected as the Paper Size Option to ensure that tracings match the size of your Cutout Shapes.)

The Pebble Cutout Shape:

The large pebble tracing sheet

Press here to print this tracing sheet

(Note: when printing, make sure that "Actual size" is selected as the Paper Size Option to ensure that tracings match the size of your Cutout Shapes.)

The Cutout Shapes Packs:

Boys $20 gift pack: 

15 cutout shapes (3 skulls, 3 penguin/bird/ninja, 3 large pebbles, 2 monkey/birds, 2 elephants, 2 owls)

12 Permanent Markers in awesome colours (including one black Sharpie for outlining)

6 Silver Ball Keychains (bag tag attachments) 

12 x 10mm split rings (to attach your finished shapes to anything you like)

2 Zipper Lanyards (to wear around your neck and look cool)

1 Black Stretch Necklace Cord (with a few pony beads)

Girls $20 gift pack: 

15 cutout shapes (3 hearts, 3 babushka/penguin/bird, 3 large pebbles, 2 monkey/birds, 

2 elephants, 2 owls)

12 Permanent Markers in awesome colours (including one black Sharpie for outlining)

6 Silver Ball Keychains (bag tag attachments) 

12 x 10mm split rings (for attaching finished pieces to cord, ribbon, chain, etc)

2 Zipper Lanyards (to wear around your neck and look cool)

1 Black Stretch Necklace Cord (with a few pony beads)

Pack of Assorted Shapes - 25 Shapes for $15:

Girl Assortment: 

5 hearts

5 babushka/penguin/bird/squid

5 large pebbles

4 monkey/owl/bird

3 elephants

3 owls

Boy Assortment: 

5 skulls 

5 penguin/bird/ninja/squid

6 large pebbles

3 monkey/birds

3 elephants

3 owls

.... or choose your own combination of 25 shapes!!

... and of course, Easy Instructions and Useful Tips come with every pack!

Shrink Plastic Workshops in Melbourne this School Holidays (April 2012)

This coming school holidays I will be holding some Shrink Plastic Workshops in a lovely studio space in East Malvern (details below). If you have ever wanted to give shrink plastic (often referred to as Shrinky Dinks) a try, here's your chance. 

Shrink plastic is also the perfect craft to do at home with the kids in the holidays. It's great for rainy days, birthday parties, play dates and sleepovers.

I will have shrink plastic packs, kits and all the attaching bits for sale if you want to buy some to take home. It's a surprisingly clean and inexpensive craft to do using a regular oven.

All ages are welcome at the open workshop mornings - adults too.

I'll supply the plastic, decorating materials and attachments - you just come and enjoy the fun and watch your creations shrink. Bring a friend or two and take your time.

There will be loads of cutout shrink plastic shapes for you to decorate. Trace one of our images or invent your own. Use the materials provided to decorate your shapes, then we'll bake and shrink it.

I though I'd keep the mornings informal with a drop-in, pay-per-piece system for those wanting  to try it out.  $5.00 includes the use of all materials to make and decorate your shrink plastic piece finished off with either a stretch cord necklace, zip lanyard or bag tag attachment.

Bring Mum, Dad, Grandma or whoever if you are too young to stay on your own.

For those kids wishing to stay for up to 1 and a half hours for $20.00, I will keep you busy with fun projects. There's so much you can do with shrink plastic, and boys love it too!

 

For more info, call Dana on 0409 040091

or email me on dana@shrinkibits.com.au 

Shrink Plastic Holiday Workshops         

4 Clarence St, East Malvern 

(at the Academy of Dance)

Wednesday 4th April

Drop-On-By Workshop 10am to 12.30pm       

$5.00 per piece or $20.00 for an hour and a half of shrink plastic projects

Thursday 5th April:

Drop-On-By Workshop 10am to 12.30pm       

$5.00 per piece or $20.00 for an hour and a half of shrink plastic projects

Wednesday 11th April:

Drop-On-By Workshop 10am to 12.30pm       

$5.00 per piece or $20.00 for an hour and a half of shrink plastic projects

Thursday 12th April:

Drop-On-By Workshop 10am to 12.30pm       

$5.00 per piece or $20.00 for an hour and a half of shrink plastic projects

Afternoon workshops available on request 

for groups of  10-15 (ages 8 and up)