I can remember playing with shrink plastic when I was a kid in the ’70s …drawing and coloring on a sheet of clear plastic, not quite believing my mom when she said we would put it in the oven and it would magically shrink down several sizes. I was always thrilled and amazed when it turned out to be true…although I am still skeptical that babies are found in cabbage patches… Fast forward to 2002 where I was asked to do some design work for a book on shrink art with rubber stamps…I made tiny jointed dolls and found that my fascination for shrink plastic had not diminished (get it?) during those intervening years! Presently, there is an opaque white shrink plastic that you can print on with an inkjet printer. Mind. Blown. I feel it is an amazing art material that can be substituted in for many projects that have been fashioned from only paper in the past. Now, you can produce small plastic pieces that have a strength and durability that make them easy to manipulate in assemblage projects like this one! It never gets old watching the plastic pieces shrink in the oven, even after forty (ahem.) years! The process really is magical…let the kid running wild inside yourself come out and play! I usually say the opposite, but I want you to think INSIDE the box for this workshop and create tiny whimsical worlds that will make everyone (yourself included!) smile when they see them!
In this class you will learn:
- -ways to prep your images for ideal shrinking results
- -how to cut the plastic to achieve a nice finished product
- -how to add color with pastels, inks, and paints aided by rubber stamps and stencils
- -tips on successful shrinking methods
- -how to line boxes with paper and fabric
- -how to design and build environments within the boxes
- -nifty ways to decorate the outside of your boxes
- -how to pull it all together and finish it out.
Supply list (hover over a word to activate the link): A full supply list will be provided with class registration, but I want you to know that there are a few tools and supplies that are essential for completion of this project so that you may budget accordingly. You will learn how to use these tools and supplies in class and I believe they are a good investment for future projects…you won’t use them just this once!
Grafix White INKJET Shrink Film (I do not recommend Shrinky Dinks Inkjet…I never could get it to print correctly, pieces stuck to themselves as they baked, the plastic didn’t flatten completely, and it smelled bad during baking.)
Toaster Oven (although you can shrink the plastic in your regular oven…I just like having dedicated craft appliances)
Access to an INKJET Printer (a laser printer will NOT work because it uses heat to set the ink and this heat might warp your shrink plastic)
Small boxes (I love the box shrine kits from RetroCafe!)
Chalks or Pastels (these can be stick, Pan, or my favorite CarbOthello)
Small Paintbrushes
Small Ceramic Tile
Spatula
Would you like to get some inspiration from the wonderful work created by past workshop participants? Take a peek at the video below…
Testimonials:
“The results are fabulous and so easy! Just gotta say thank you, Stephanie, for all of this awesomeness!”
“These little boxes are just too much fun!!”
“I made gifts for my aunts and cousins…everyone loved these when I handed them out at my family reunion!”
“I believe these can become addictive.”
“I can’t stop making these! What to do with all of the boxes piling up?! I’ve given away three so far!”
“Oh my god, shrink ALL THE THINGS!”
*By clicking on purchase link, you are agreeing to Studio Rubiano Workshops Policy…so you might wanna read it first.
You will receive a confirmation email after payment with more information on the workshop!
Hope to see you in the classroom!
