Its not like I don’t have enough buttons already, but sometimes you just need something special. These shrink plastic buttons are perfect for all kinds of craft projects, and as they use permanent inks can even be used on clothing*.
You will need:
-Clear shrink plastic sheet
-Heat Tool or domestic oven
-Circle punch, I’m using a 1.5" by Dovecraft
-Standard size hole punch
-Permanent markers, like Sharpies
or
-Permanent ink pad, like StazOn and stamps
-Old plate or heatproof surface
How to:
1.Use the punch to create a circle out of the shrink plastic sheet. It can take quite a bit of force to cut through the plastic, compared to paper. If you don’t have a large punch, draw a circle onto the plastic and carefully cut out. A 1.5inch/3.8cm circle will shrink down to approx 0.6inch/1.5cm
2. Use the standard hole punch to make two holes in the middle of the circle
3.Draw your design onto the circle, remembering that the image will shrink down, colours will become more intense and solid.
4.Alternatively, use rubber stamps and permanent ink to create your design. Be careful though, as the stamps slide around on the shrink plastic a lot more than they do when used on paper!
5.Once the ink has dried, place your button onto an old plate and shrink down using a heat tool. If using your oven to shrink the button, be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions.
6.The button will twist and move as it shrinks, but keep going until the piece flattens out. I like to to flip the button over to ensure an even shrink.
7.Give your button a minute to cool down and it ready to use!
Let me know if you use this tutorial to make your own Shrink Plastic Buttons, by commenting with a link, or message me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook! Happy Making!
*I have found that as long as you use permanent ink the image is pretty durable and doesn’t wash off or chip. However, I would recommend testing thoroughly before using on clothing that you intend to regularly put in a machine wash.
No comments:
Post a Comment