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Cost
$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • •
Time
20 mins

save money by turning regular shrink film into inkjet shrink film
Inkjet Shrink film is costly! You can use the regular fives time cheaper kind to create your own inkjet shrink film.

NOTE: This will not work on laser printers

Posted by Shayla F. from Terre Haute, Indiana, United States • Published See Shayla F.'s 21 projects »
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  • How to make a techniques. Turn Cheap Shrink Plastic Into Printable Inkjet Shrink Plastic - Step 1
    Step 1

    You will need to start with any regular ole' shrink film. The knock offs work as well. Actual shrinky dink brand paper is more costly.

  • Step 2

    You will need an image. I made this fast in photo shop just for this example.

  • How to make a techniques. Turn Cheap Shrink Plastic Into Printable Inkjet Shrink Plastic - Step 3
    Step 3

    You're going to have to sand that shrink film. I used 400 grit because that is what I use on my Blythe doll's faces and it's oh so delicate. Run it vertically and horizontally, all over the shrink film. You're going to need to make some texture for your printer to place ink into it.

  • Step 4

    Shake and blow off any excess plastic shavings. They could ruin your image and printer. Make sure you are printing with an inkjet printer. If you have a laser printer don't even try this. This shrink film will get too hot for your printer and you will ruin it.

  • How to make a techniques. Turn Cheap Shrink Plastic Into Printable Inkjet Shrink Plastic - Step 5
    Step 5

    Print your image. Let it dry for a few hours, maybe even a day. I touched mine the second it printed and it smeared the ink and mucked it up. This is fixable for the most part. If you do this use a soft paintbrush and blend it back (I did mine after I cooked it...because I didn't wait for it to dry anyways).

  • Step 6

    Cut your image out

  • How to make a techniques. Turn Cheap Shrink Plastic Into Printable Inkjet Shrink Plastic - Step 7
    Step 7

    Cook it. Follow the regular directions you would normally do with shrink film. Be careful not to smear the ink still.

    EXTRA STEP Mine looked too wavy ^ (even after placing a book over it) because I'm impatient.
    The cool thing about this is that if yours looks like this above. Put it back in the oven for less than 30 seconds. Place a heavy book back over it.

  • How to make a techniques. Turn Cheap Shrink Plastic Into Printable Inkjet Shrink Plastic - Step 8
    Step 8

    The end result: beautiful. I blended in the smeared red area at this moment. And now I'll let it dry. To finish these guys you can use a clear acrylic spray, then maybe a thin coat of mod podge...or even resin. Imagine the possibilities.

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Comments

Patricia B.
Patricia B. · Suisun City, California, US
Great to know and cheaper too! Adorable image too!Happy
Reply
yvette h.
yvette h. · Camuy, Camuy, PR
love it Love
Reply
yvette h.
yvette h. · Camuy, Camuy, PR
Love
Reply
Anja R.
Anja R. · Redcliffe, Queensland, AU · 1 project
Happy so brilliant
Reply
Cat Morley
Cat Morley · London, GB · 1432 projects
Oh my gosh, what a genius idea! I can't wait to try it Shock
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