Shrinky Dink Handprint Keychains

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There is nothing more precious than a handmade gift for mother’s day, father’s day, Christmas, or grandparent’s day! Anyone would love to receive this Shrinky Dink Handprint Keychain. You can make shrinky dinks in a variety of ways, so check out how we make these!

Everyone loves to keep their child’s handprints for the future. I love how these shrinky dink handprint keychains are tiny so you can keep them close at heart, but they also show you a piece of your child. You can make them into a necklace or hang them on your rearview mirror in the car. They are so darling.

You can make them with footprints as well. Those would be adorable too. And who doesn’t love watching shrinky dinks shrink. It’s pretty neat to see it transform into a much smaller size. You can also make the hand or footprints into something and that’s adorable as well. Or if you wanted to make tiny little charms, you could do thumbprints and then add antennae, feet, and spots or stripes to make a little ladybug or bee. There’s no end to the possibilities once you get your imagination going.

Shrinky Dink Handprint

Supplies:

• Shrinky Dink Plastic Kit (The clear ones look pretty to start with, but have to be sanded anyway in order for your design to adhere well.)
• Ink Pad (Don’t use the washable kid’s ink pads, you need permanent ink. It’s messy and it won’t come off their clothes, so consider this before you choose ink. But it turns out so cute!) or Glossy Acrylic Paint (Don’t use washable paint or the flat acrylics, they will flake off the keychains.)
• Hole Punch
• Key Rings
• Scissors

Shrinky Dink Instructions

1. Placing the shrinky dink plastic on a table that’s covered in newspapers or plastic or something to protect it.
2. Place a child’s hand firmly onto the ink pad. Make sure to press each finger and the palm well into the pad. If you are using paint, use a large paint brush to paint the child’s entire hand with the paint. Cover it well but not gloppy.
3. Press it firmly onto the shrinky dink plastic and make sure each finger and the palm make great contact.
4. Now, take the child and wash their hand before you go onto the next step. This is where an extra adult would come in super handy. One can make sure the project is looking good while the other makes sure the medium doens’t get smeared all over the house. But if you’re doing it alone, it can be done.
5. Allow paint or ink to completely dry.
6. Cut around the edge of the handprint leaving a little space.
7. Use a hole punch to make a hole at the top.
8. Put parchment paper on a cookie sheet or you can use aluminum foil if you don’t have any.
9. Carefully place the project onto the cookie sheet making sure to leave room between each project.
10. Bake according to the package directions. (Mine said 325 degrees for 1-3 minutes)
11. Allow to cool completely.
12. Add your key rings!

*The shrinky dinks will curl! I use a spatula to press them when still warm. Or you can use an oven mitt and press it flat, if it already hardened stick it back in the oven for 2 more minutes.

This shrinky dink handprint keychain gift is so easy to make! Anyone receiving this will surely cherish this sweet keychain for many years!

Shrinky Dink Ideas

For Valentine and gardening patterns for your shrinky dink projects, you can click on the DIY shrinky dinks link at the beginning of the article. The patterns are free printables. Or for more free printable shrinky dink patterns, check these out:

• Christmas Shrinky Dink Ornaments
• St. Patricks day shrinky dink patterns
• 4th of July shrinky dinks
• Halloween Shrinky Dink patterns

DIY Shrinky Dinks

Did you know you can make DIY shrinky dinks with certain types of recyclable plastic? You might have some takeout containers right now that could be used to make your own shrinky dinks. Check out how by clicking the highlighted link in the first paragraph above. And for more homemade art supplies, watch for an article coming up next week!

Best Markers for Shrinky Dinks

If you are going to trace the handprints onto the shrinky dink keychains, check out the best colors and markers to use on shrinky dinks here.

I always loved making shrinky dinks and I still do. It’s magical to watch them shrink and they make cool little keepsakes. It’s amazing how it all works. I love making them with my kids and I think you’ll enjoy it too!

If you’re going to make these handprint keychains for Father’s day or Mother’s day gifts, check out these free printable cards to go with them.

• Butterfly kisses Mother’s Day card free printable
• Father’s Day card free printable