Magic Plastic is one of the hottest materials in the crafting world. Find out why it’s so popular and how you can use it.
Although it is becoming increasingly popular, Magic Plastic is not a new invention. It has been used since the 1970s for crafts at school and for costume jewelry, among other things. It is also called “shrink plastic” and it is available in different sizes and colors.
It is called “magic” because it can shrink up to seven times and increase in thickness at high temperatures. One can use it for making keychains, magnets, scrapbooking ornaments and much more. In this article we will tell you everything about this material.
What is Magic Plastic used for?
Magic Plastic is a popular material for crafts , jewelry making and photo printing. There is even a special version for photo printing. However, it is usually more expensive than the normal version. Magic Plastics are often used to make keychains, earrings, earring holders, pendants, magnets and ornaments for ring jewelry, hairpins and scrapbooking. But this product is so versatile that there are no limits to your imagination.
How to use Magic Plastic?
This plastic is characterized by the fact that it is very easy to process. Below we’ll take a closer look at what materials you need and the steps you need to follow to use it in crafting .
materials
You need the following materials:
- Magic Plastic in the size and color of your choice. If you want to print them, you will have to ask for this option at the store where you buy them.
- Permanent markers, alcohol-based ink, colored pencils, stamps or chalk. What you need generally depends on the plastic wrap you plan to use.
- A small pair of scissors and a hole punch. You need the latter if you want to make a pendant, a keychain or a pair of earrings .
- Drafts. Whether you want to print or trace your Magic Plastic, you need to prepare the designs you want to use.
- Sandpaper, preferably fine. You’ll probably need this if the design has a lot of curves or if small bumps form during cutting.
- Oven, heat gun or hair dryer . In this case you can use one of the three utensils. When crafting with children, remember that this part should always be done by an adult.
recommendations
The process of crafting with shrink plastic can be divided into the areas of design and curing. For the first step, you should draw, trace or print the design on the plate. Then you need to cut, sand and drill a hole (only if necessary, e.g. for keychains, earrings, pendants, etc.).
However, there are some points that you should keep in mind when creating the design . These include, among others, the following:
- You can paint all variants, except the transparent one, with colored pencils.
- Use felt-tip pens, alcohol-based ink and permanent ink stamps to paint the transparent sheets.
- Always draw on the rough surface of the leaves. If you use transparent Magic Plastic, you cannot paint on it with a paint pen or pencil.
- Paint without applying too much pressure. In addition, it is not necessary to make the image completely uniform, as the plastic shrinks up to seven times its size, making the colors even more intense.
- Cut out with a margin of two to three millimeters. In addition, you should not make the shapes too complicated, otherwise the figure could break when it hardens (in the oven or with a hairdryer).
Harden
Before you put the figures in the oven, you should preheat it to a minimum of 140°C and a maximum of 170°C. Once it’s at the right temperature, put the figure in the oven. Remember that it needs to be placed on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
Leave your work in the oven for three minutes. Then you take the piece out, let it cool down and you have created your first piece of art from Magic Plastic. If the piece is not pliable, you will need to leave it in the oven a little longer.
Magic Plastic, a material with endless possibilities
Magic Plastic or shrink plastic has become an integral part of the world of crafts. It is one of the most popular materials for making jewelry and accessories. You can also use it to make gifts for special occasions such as baptisms, communions/confirmations or weddings.
More and more people are choosing this material because it is easy to use and offers endless possibilities. Since you need an oven or a hairdryer to process it, an adult should supervise the process and provide support when children are working with it.
