Styro Foam Shrinkies
Clean styrofoam trays
Acrylic paint
When Styrofoam is heated in the oven it will shrink a little and become hard like a plastic. Put your oven at about 170 degrees and increase the temperature if no shrinkage is occurring until it begins to start shrinking. Paint your design with the paint on to the styro. Then cut out the ornament shape to the size you want. If you are going to be hanging it then now is the time to place a small hole in the top before you shrink it. Place the styro onto a oven tray and then stick it in the oven. The shrinkage time will be based on the size of the piece and the heat of your oven. These can be used for gift tags, name tags, necklace charms and heaps more. This Project should be supervised at ALL times and only done in a well ventilated area.
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I thought heated styrofoam was toxic...am I wrong? Someone please respond as this seems to be a fun craft...lots of possibilities!
heating up styrofoam is toxic. even just breaking a styrofoam tray like the one pictured in half releases toxins that deplete the ozone layer - and you want that floating around your house? if you care about your kids, and your future grand kids, don't do this craft or anything that has to do with altering styrofoam. this stuff is honestly dangerous, and it doesnt matter that "a billion people" aren't doing the craft - every single use of it adds up.
to put things in perspective : in a landfill, a glass jar takes about 10,000 years to biodegrade. styrofoam on the other hand, WILL NEVER decompose. dont mess with this stuff!!!
the guest that is worried about the ozone should not worry too much concidering theree aren't a billion people doind this project so there's really not much fumes from this project. great idea!(the project) this is great for people who used to have shrinky dinks
You really may want to reconsider doing this craft as the production as well as heating of styrofoam will emit fumes that deplete the ozone. I see this is under the recycled area but not sure a cute craft is worth adding to the problem of global warming. Just a thought but good thing you have other ideas to do instead.
Like some other guests on here, I too thoght this was a poisonous substance when heated, which is why we have to "remove all packaging" when cooking!!!!!
COOL!!!!!! LUV IT!!
weird!
It is my understanding it will only work on thin styrene trays. But I have not tried it on anything thick (as yet)
anyone know if this will work on thicker styrofoam ?
great idea thanks
cute :)
the shouldn't be toxic if you heat it at a low temperature. And it does say a well ventilated area ;)
cool
i thought that was toxic when heated too...? any info?
Doesn't styrofoam give off toxic gases when it is heated?
Perfection is sweet