Craft Throwback: Valentine’s Day Shrinky Dinks 3 Ways

Skip the chocolates and roses and make cute handmade gifts with this retro craft by The Crafty Lumberjacks.

Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money off these affiliate links. Learn more.


Remember Shrinky Dinks? This Valentine’s Day, The Crafty Lumberjacks are throwing it back to those lovable, magical shrinking plastics with three adorable crafts. And you don’t even need official Shrinky Dinks shrinking paper for these projects. Andrew and Dennis have figured out an upcycling hack using plastic takeout boxes that you probably already have in your recycling bin. Watch the video and read on to learn how to make these great gifts for loved ones or just cute decor for yourself.

3 Shrinky Dink Valentines
Loading Video...

Cat Emoji String Lights Garland

Materials Needed:

  • baking tray
  • mini LED battery operated lights
  • low-temp hot glue gun
  • hot glue sticks

Find a picture of a cat emoji online. Enlarge the design and print out to use as a template. Note: Shrinkable plastic paper will shrink down to about one third the original design size after it’s baked.

Lay the plastic sheet shiny side up over the printed template. Trace the outline and details with a black, alcohol-based permanent marker. Flip the plastic sheet over to the rough side and color inside the traced lines with colorful alcohol-based permanent markers. Using scissors, cut around the design as smoothly as possible.


Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F or as directed on the Shrinky Dinks package. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place Shrinky Dinks on cookie sheet, colored-side up, leaving space between the pieces so that they don't overlap. Put the cookie sheet in the preheated oven and bake for one to three minutes or as directed on the Shrinky Dinks package. Watch them as they bake; the shapes will first soften, curl up at the edges and then settle back down as they shrink. Once the pieces flatten out again, let them bake for another 30 seconds. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven, and carefully lift off parchment paper lining with your Shrinky Dinks. Press each shape with a spoon for 30 seconds or until they are cool enough to handle. Using a low-temp hot glue gun, glue a cat Shrinky Dinks design in front of every LED light until the strand is complete. Meow!

Valentine’s Day Pun Magnets

Materials Needed:

  • scissors
  • parchment paper
  • baking sheet
  • low-temp hot glue gun
  • hot glue sticks


If you don’t want to freehand a design, find a picture online of your favorite food and add a “punny” phrase that goes along with the image. Enlarge the design and print out to make a template.


Lay the plastic sheet on top of the image. Roughly color in the image with colorful, alcohol-based permanent markers. Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol into a small dish. Slowly and carefully paint over the marker to create a watercolor effect. Let dry completely. Using a black permanent marker, trace the outline, additional details and any text. Using scissors, cut around the image and the phrase as smoothly as possible.


Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F or as directed on the Shrinky Dinks package. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place Shrinky Dinks on cookie sheet, colored-side up, leaving space between the pieces so that they don't overlap. Put the cookie sheet in the preheated oven and bake for one to three minutes or as directed on the Shrinky Dinks package. Watch them as they bake; the shapes will first soften, curl up at the edges and then settle back down as they shrink. Once the pieces flatten out again, let them bake for another 30 seconds. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven, and carefully lift off parchment paper lining with your Shrinky Dinks. Press each shape with a spoon for 30 seconds or until they are cool enough to handle. Using a low-temp hot glue gun, glue a small magnet to the back of the Shrinky Dinks design.

Upcycled Handmade Heart Keychain

Materials Needed:

  • #6 plastic takeout container 
  • alcohol-based permanent markers
  • hole punch
  • scissors
  • parchment paper
  • baking sheet
  • jump ring
  • key ring


Using scissors, cut out the flat surface of a #6 plastic take-out container to use as a shrinkable plastic sheet. Note: The number of the plastic is usually found on the bottom of most plastic containers.


If you don’t want to freehand a design, find a picture online. Enlarge the design and print out to use as a template. #6 plastic will shrink down to about one fourth the size after baked. Lay the plastic sheet on top of the image template. Color in the image with colorful alcohol-based permanent markers. Trace the outline and details with a black alcohol-based permanent marker. Using scissors, cut around the image as smoothly as possible leaving an area large enough at the top for a hole punch. Punch a hole at the top using a standard size hole punch for the jump ring.


Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a regular cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place #6 plastic on cookie sheet, colored-side up. Put the cookie sheet in the preheated oven and bake for one to three minutes. Watch it bake; the shape will first soften, curl up at the edges and then settle back down as it shrinks. Once the piece flattens out again, bake for another 30 seconds. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and carefully lift off the parchment paper. Press the shapes with a spoon for 30 seconds or until they are cool enough to handle. Slide a jump ring into the hole and add a key ring to the jump ring to make a keychain.

Next Up

DIY Valentine's Day Conversation Heart Keychain

The iconic candy now comes in keychain form. Make this adorable accessory for your BFF, special someone or yourself.

Valentine's Day Kids' Craft: White-Chocolate-Dipped Fortune Cookies

Delight your valentine with white-chocolate-dipped fortune cookies in a crafty (and cute!) Chinese takeout box. Basic cooking skills and craft supplies are all you need, making this a great Valentine's Day craft project for kids.

Kids' Craft: Candy Necklace Valentines

Kids will love making these fun and easy edible valentines for their friends using licorice laces and gummy ring candy.

Cupid's Arrow Wreath

Love is in the air, and you can let everyone know by embellishing your front door or mantel with a gold and sequined wreath caught by Cupid's arrow.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cookie Truffles Recipe

Original chocolate truffles have graced birthday, potluck and holiday parties for years. These truffles provide a little twist on the classic recipe and combine everyone's favorite duo: chocolate and strawberries.

Make Valentine's Day Conversation Heart Cookies

This Valentine's Day, swap chalky conversation heart candies for colorful (and delicious!) vanilla sandwich cookies stamped with custom messages.

Etched Heart Wineglasses

Surprise your sweetheart with a home-cooked meal and custom-made wineglasses this Valentine's Day. A few simple steps are all it takes to turn basic stemware into heart-accented pieces you'll use for every romantic occasion.

Make Homemade Play Dough Valentines

Ditch the store-bought valentines and try something new this year. The kids will love helping you make homemade, heart-shaped play dough to hand out to friends and classmates.

Kids' Craft: Handmade Turtle Valentine

Let that special someone know exactly how you feel with this sweet turtle card that reads, "You really bring me out of my shell."

Kids' Craft: Biggest Fan Valentine

Nothing sends a heartwarming message to loved ones like a handmade valentine. This year, show the object of your affection that you're their "biggest fan" with this clever, easy-to-make card.

More from:

Valentine's Day

Go Shopping

Get product recommendations from HGTV editors, plus can’t-miss sales and deals.

On TV

Follow Us Everywhere

Join the party! Don't miss HGTV in your favorite social media feeds.