Cricut hints for SHRINK PLASTIC CRAFTS

Cricut Hints

I'm playing with Shrink plastic right now, and I made up a tip list: ***1: Make sure you are using “shrink grade plastic”.  While other plastic might shrink – they can release toxins that can be harmful for breathing.*** 2:  Reverse action tweezers (a pair that opens when they are pinched) are VERY, VERY helpful!  A second pair of tweezers is nice to have on hand as well – the plastic can be very hot! 3: When using your heat gun – which is what I’ve been using – keep in mind that the heat tool MAY be running longer then when you use it to melt embossing powder and can get VERY HOT!!!! 4: After cutting out your shape – if you take fine grade sand paper and lightly sand the plastic on the back of your shape – the color will go into the plastic instead of sitting on top of the plastic, and the color is much nicer. 5: Speaking of color – the Alcohol inks ROCK for shrink plastic!!!  They have wonderful color, but keep in mind if you color your shape first then shrink the color gets darker.  I found that I like the look of shrinking the plastic first then coloring.  Sharpie ink pens work well too, but they get really dark when shrunk. 6: Rubber gloves are a MUST!!  Especially if you are planning to color with the alcohol inks AND then go to work!  Gloves keep you from explaining to your boss why your fingers/hands look like a rainbow threw up on them! 7: Cutting – I have one brand of shrink plastic, but two kinds.  The first is clear.  I have found to get a clean cut – one without having to use a Xacto knife - is to have blade on depth 6, max pressure, and multi-cut three times!  A pain!  I also have translucent – blade on 6, max pressure, cut once!  Much better! 8: Keep in mind that the shapes you are cutting at 4-8 inches, on most shrink plastic will shrink to half that size.  This is important, because if you cut out a beach umbrella (which I can show you a photo of) then shrink it – that umbrella pole is a PAIN!!!!!  And can break once shrunk as the plastic gets very hard once the heat is applied to it. 9: if you want a hole in your cut, punch one first and to keep it a good size set an eyelet in it.  The plastic will shrink around the eyelet, but still keep the hole large enough so a wire or key chain will fit through later. 10: After shrinking, while the plastic is still warm, and IF you want your item to lay flat - take an acrylic block (used in stamping) and apply pressure on the warm plastic to flatten it out.  This has worked for me and, so far anyway, it does not stick to your block!