Recycled Plastic Jewelry

You Will Need

#6 Plastic- Make sure the container says 6 on the bottom as this is the only kind of plastic that will work. Plastic cups are often made from #6 plastic also. Keep in mind that some items may not shrink.
Cookie Sheet covered with Parchment Paper
Scissors
Permanent Markers OR Rubber Stamps with Permanent Ink Pads
Hole Punch (for making a hanging pendent or earrings)

Preheat the oven or toaster oven to 250 degrees F.
Cut out a rectangle, circle or other shape from the plastic. If you cut out a shape with corners, round the corners off or they will become very sharp when shrunk. If you are using a plastic cup, cut the cup into 1 inch or slightly wider rings.
If you want to make a hanging pendant, make a hole in the top center of the shape with a hole-punch before heating.
Decorate your plastic with permanent markers or rubber stamps stamped in permanent ink. You can make random lines all over the plastic shape and fill in with different colored permanent marker. The design will look better and the colors more intense when shrunk! If you don’t trust your drawing skills, you can also place clip art under the plastic and trace.
Before putting the plastic in the oven, make sure your oven fan is on or open a few windows in the kitchen to keep everything well ventilated. The plastic can release unpleasant fumes when heating.
Place the decorated plastic on the parchment-covered cookie sheet and put in the oven.
Watch as the shape shrinks because this will happen quickly. As it shrinks, the plastic will curl up several times but will settle down again.
When the shape has finished shrinking, leave in the oven for another 30 seconds and then remove.
Let cool for a few seconds and you can smooth out any misshape in the still malleable plastic. Be very careful and don’t burn your fingers though!
Hang from a chain or ear wire hooks for earrings.