Take N' Bake Week #6

Enjoy nine weeks of Shrink Charms this summer! Each week the kit will feature a new design.  Pick up your kit at the Information Desk inside the Dundee Library; availability is on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last.  We have clear and matte shrink film.  The clear stays clear, unless you sand it.  The matte comes out translucent white. Manufacturer’s baking instructions are included and can be downloaded. You must supply your own markers or pencils and scissors. For my samples, I used sharpie permanent markers and caryola colored pencils.  

Tips and tricks:

• Only use permanent (alcohol based) markers.  Water based markers WILL NOT work.  I've tried.  It never dries on the plastic, even after baking.  No sanding is needed when using permanent markers. I used Sharpie brand for my samples.  Use the colors first and add the black line last, otherwise the colors might smear the black line.
• If using colored pencil on the clear film, you need to lightly sand the surface to make sure the pencils havesomething to cling to.  I used 3M brand sandpaper in 320 grit on my sample.  You do not need to use sandpaper on the matte film, but it could help. If you are using colored pencil to make the black line, do those first.  It is really hard to color over another color with the pencils.  You can use a fine black sharpie to make the lines before or after the colored pencils.  I used the black sharpie liner after the colored pencils on my clear sample.  I used black pencil to do the lines on my matte sample with colored pencils and it was difficult to add the black at the end. 
• When baking.  Put parchment paper on the baking tray to prevent sticking.  Once the shrinking has stopped, you can flatted the charm when you pull the tray out, but you have to work quickly.  Make sure to wear and oven mitts and use another sheet of parchment paper on top to prevent sticking.  
• The colors will intensify / darken when they condense (shrink).
• DO NOT USE CRAYONS.