Shrink! Shrank! Shrunk! Review

I guess I still am a little amazing that the calendar is now saying that it is NOVEMBER!  Where did this whole Summer and Fall go to?  Wasn't it just yesterday when I was complaining about the temperatures over 100? And now I'm scraping frost off my car windows in the morning and bundling up to take Fiona out for her nightly walks.  Well, November mean two things to me. Time to starting thinking about Thanksgiving and who is going to fed me a feast (okay so I'm not really begging but since I work most Thanksgivings, I'm pretty sure that the feast will be had earlier or later with family and I'll have that awful pressed turkey and reconstituted potatoes at the hospital cafeteria).  And two, start making my list for Christmas gifts for family and friends.  If I had the time, I'd make home made gifts for everyone on my list, but since I work full time still, I have to limit my time and most people just get the traditional candy (notice I didn't say fruitcake even though I LOVE fruitcake) or store bought gift.  I remember sitting in my bedroom while living at home with my parents still with scissors, glue, needle and thread helping my younger brother and sister make gifts for everyone.  I still have a few of them stashed away that they in secret made for me.  Home made gifts are the best, and they mean so much.

With that said, I think Lark Craft's book which came out last month, will answer all the questions on what to give the teacher, or the post man, or the neighbors.  AND this is the perfect book for anyone with teenagers who want to spend some time with them making things that are easy to make but so much fun.  Plus the best thing is that all the techniques and ideas in this book can be used for the serious crafter who is looking for things to make for the Holiday Craft shows as anyone who sees one of these pieces will absolutely want them.  Now that I have your attention and curiosity, let me tell you that Kathy Sheldon's latest book Shrink! Shrank! Shrunk! Making Sylish Shrink Plastic Jewelry is one book that you'll enjoy just as much as I have.  Now what is Shrink Plastic?  Kathy explains that the big technical word for it is thermoplastic polystyrene but for those of us at a certain age who helped their siblings or parents created funky little things with this product in the 70s and 80s , you'll remember the name Shrinky Dinks.  I think I still have a few of those little colorful blobs of shrunk plastic floating around in my desk somewhere after being gifted with a medallion colored with magic markers by my younger brother and sister. 

They DO shrink and here is the proof

Kathy takes us through the basics of working with Shrinky Dinks giving samples of all the different kinds of Shrink Plastic (who would have known) along with places to purchase the items.  Then she gives ideas and clues on how to take this simple product and turn it into some pretty amazing pieces of jewelry with inks, paints, markers, images, and just about everything except the kitchen sink.  Each project from the 17  different craft artist is well written with clear instructions.  And nothing is left unexplored from earrings, to brooches, to necklaces, to rings.  Every project would be a delight to make and with adult supervision an exciting evening with your favorite younger craft person to be.  So, why not Get your SHRINK ON! and join in creating, sharing, and just laughing your way through a throw back in time product that will make your imagination burst out of its box.

One of my favorite projects.  Dots for Dot.

 And if you'd like to visit Lark's blog and see more about this adorable book and download a free pdf file to entice you even more to buy this book then please click here.

Disclosure...As a reviewer of  products from Lark Books, I receive the book above free of charge. I have been asked to review these products and give my honest opinion of the products...positive or negative. I am not being compensated by Lark Books for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received and reviewed.