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Do you miss seeing your pet when you are away from your computer? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a miniature version of your pet to carry around in the real world?

With shrinking plastic film (Shrink Art/Film) and an inkjet printer, you can make little plastic charms with your pet’s photo. There are white and clear shrink film. For this project, white is probably better. If you are not old enough to safely use an oven, please ask an adult for help.

Here are some of the things you can make from your pet’s photo and shrinking plastic:

1. Charm bracelet
2. Necklace pendant
3. Earrings
4. Magnets (just glue a magnet to the back)
5. Key ring ornament

To make a plastic charm with your Pet Society pet:

• Take a portrait of your pet.
• Use a graphics software to get the photo to the right size. Different brands of shrink films will have different shrink rates so check your package. (For example: if your film shrinks to 20% and you want a 1 inch pendant, resize your pet’s portrait to 5 inches.)
• Now print your pet’s photo on the plastic with your inkjet printer.
• If you will be needing a hole from which to hang your charm, use a hole punch to make a hole in the plastic above your pet’s head. You can also punch a hole next to your pet’s hand instead if you want him dangling by one hand. The  hole will shrink when the plastic is heated.

• Now cut your pet out of the sheet of plastic, leaving a white border.

• Heat your plastic film in a conventional or toaster oven following the package directions. Never use a microwave oven for this.
• You now have a sturdy pet portrait for crafts, jewelry, or scrapbooking.

To avoid wasting shrink film, fill the sheet with as many images as will fit when you print it. To do this, create a document that is 8.5″ x 11″ and import several portraits of your pet and your friends’ pets. Arrange the images, leaving at least a 1/2″ border. Do a test print on regular paper to make sure no parts of the images get cut off.

With some creativity, there is no limit to what you can make with shrink film. You might like to make a I.D. tag for your pet and wear it with a small cat or dog collar as a bracelet.

Have fun, and be careful around hot appliances!

Related posts:

• How to Make T-Shirts of Your Pet and Photos from Pet Society
• Earn Coins by Petting, Brushing and Washing Pets

Tags: Crafts, pet art, pet society, photos