Shrinky Dinks

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Shrinky Dinks
Surel'sPlaceShrinkyDinksButterflies.jpg
butterflies created with Shrinky Dinks
Other namesShrinkles
TypeToy and activity kit
Inventor(s)Kate Bloomberg and Betty Morris
CountryUnited States
MaterialsPolystyrene plastic

Shrink art, Shrinky Dinks, or Shrinkles is a toy and activity kit consisting of sheets of polystyrene which can be cut with standard household scissors. When heated, the cut shapes become about nine times thicker while their horizontal and vertical dimensions reduce to about one-third the original size, resulting in hard, flat forms which retain their initial color and shape. They reached the height of their popularity in the 1980s and are still available from retailers. They can be used for a variety of things like charms and pins. Most sets are pre-printed with outline images of popular children's characters or other subjects, which are then colored in before baking. [1]

Contents

History

Shrinky Dinks were invented in 1973 by Betty Morris and Kate Bloomberg, two housewives in Brookfield, Wisconsin, as a Cub Scout project with their sons. [2] The first kits were sold at a local shopping mall and became very popular. Shrinky Dinks were soon licensed to be manufactured by the major toy companies of the time such as Milton Bradley, Colorforms, Western Publishing and Skyline Toys.

Alex Brands acquired Shrinky Dinks in 2014. [3] As of 2020, the original brand Shrinky Dinks is owned by Just Play Products. [4]

Usage

The base material consists of thin, flexible polystyrene plastic (#6) sheets. [5] Prior to heating, the plastic sheets can be colored with felt-tip pens, acrylic paint, colored pencils, etc. and cut into shapes. However, oily or waxy substances (such as cheap colored pencils,[ clarification needed ] crayons or oil paint) are not suitable because they melt or burn in high heat. When heated with the Easy-Bake Oven, a conventional oven, or a heat gun, the plastic shrinks and becomes thicker and more rigid, while retaining the colored design.

Although Shrinky Dinks are primarily an arts and crafts product marketed for children, adult crafters and artists also use the product for jewelry making and other projects. Blank sheets are available in bulk for this purpose. [6]

Applications

In 2008, University of California, Irvine Professor Michelle Khine applied Shrinky Dinks to create tiny structures for the application of microfluidics to topics such as stem cell research. [7] In 2022, Michelle Khine researched the use of Shrinky Dinks for microscale diagnostics and wearable biosensors for monitoring health. [8]

In 2009, an art therapy supervision class at Emporia State University explored the use of Shrinky Dinks in art therapy. [9] In 2014, Shrinky Dinks were presented as an art therapy medium in a workshop at the American Art Therapy Association Conference. [10]

In 2014, a team from Harvard University and MIT used Shrinky Dinks to create self-assembling robots. [11]

In 1992, the California rock band Sugar Ray formed with the name "Shrinky Dinx", but later changed it upon threat of lawsuit from the Milton Bradley Company. [12]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crayola</span> American corporation

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polystyrene</span> Polymer resin widely used in packaging

Polystyrene (PS) is a synthetic polymer made from monomers of the aromatic hydrocarbon styrene. Polystyrene can be solid or foamed. General-purpose polystyrene is clear, hard, and brittle. It is an inexpensive resin per unit weight. It is a poor barrier to air and water vapor and has a relatively low melting point. Polystyrene is one of the most widely used plastics, with the scale of its production being several million tonnes per year. Polystyrene is naturally transparent, but can be colored with colorants. Uses include protective packaging, containers, lids, bottles, trays, tumblers, disposable cutlery, in the making of models, and as an alternative material for phonograph records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thermoplastic</span> Plastic that softens with heat and hardens on cooling

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sculpey</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorforms</span> Brand of toy (1951-present)

Colorforms is a creative toy named for the simple shapes and forms cut from colored vinyl sheeting that cling to a smooth backing surface without adhesives. These pieces are used to create picture graphics and designs, which can then be changed countless times by repositioning the removable color forms. The name also refers to the specific registered trademark brand these products are produced under, as well as the company that manufactures the toys, Colorforms Brand, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Andrew Romanoff</span> Russian artist and author (1923–2021)

Prince Andrew Romanoff was a Russian American artist and author. He was a grand-nephew of Russia's last Tsar, Nicholas II. He was a great-great-grandson in the male line of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia and since the death of Prince Dimitri Romanov in 2016 was claimant to the headship of the House of Romanov until his own death in 2021.

The Vac-u-form, was a toy invented by Eddy Goldfarb and released by Mattel in the 1960s around 1961 with the trademark filed on October 8, 1962.

Resin casting is a method of plastic casting where a mold is filled with a liquid synthetic resin, which then hardens. It is primarily used for small-scale production like industrial prototypes and dentistry. It can be done by amateur hobbyists with little initial investment, and is used in the production of collectible toys, models and figures, as well as small-scale jewellery production.

Michelle Khine is an American bioengineer who is a distinguished scientist and innovator at the University of California, Irvine, co-founder of Fluxion Biosciences Inc., the scientific founder of the Shrink nano-technology platform, as well as the Assistant and Founding Professor of the School of Engineering at UC Merced. Khine, an associate biomedical engineering professor in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering, is responsible for experimenting with childhood toys Shrinky Dinks to build microfluidic channels. Her research has enabled technological advances in industries including biological research and medical diagnostics.

References

  1. University, Carnegie Mellon. "Shrinky Dinks - Gelfand Center - Carnegie Mellon University". www.cmu.edu. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  2. Doris Hajewski, "Shrinky Dinks founder hopes to sell toy business", The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 27, 2008.
  3. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20141217006226/en/ALEX-BRANDS%C2%AE-Acquires-Shrinky-Dinks%C2%AE [ bare URL ]
  4. "Just Play Acquires the Slinky and Shrinky Dinks Brands | License Global".
  5. Ceceri, Kathy (2008-05-23). "Shrinky Dink Science Creates Tiny Dark Evil Creatures". Wired .
  6. Shrinky Dinks becomes a serious art medium. Who knew?
  7. Anthony Grimes; David N. Breslauer; Maureen Long; Jonathan Pegan; Luke P. Lee & Michelle Khine (2008). "Shrinky-Dink microfluidics: rapid generation of deep and rounded patterns". Lab Chip. 8 (1): 170–172. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.462.3406 . doi:10.1039/b711622e. PMID   18094775.
    See also "Shrinky Dink Microfluidics". Chemical Technology. 2008 (1). 2007-12-05. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  8. Stephanie DeMarco, Ph.d, "Shrinking Toys Inspire Diagnostics of the Future", Drug Discovery News, May 8, 2022.
  9. Wolf Bordonaro, G.; Blake, A.; Corrington, D.; Fanders, T.; & Morley, L. (2009). Exploring media processes and products: Rediscovering Shrinky Dinks. Arts and Activities. June 2009.
  10. Wolf Bordonaro, G.; Stallings, J.; Miller, K.; Schreiner, L. (2014). Trailblazing with non-traditional media: The use of shrinky dinks in art therapy. American Art Therapy Association Conference 45th Annual Conference.
  11. Anthony, Sebastian. "Harvard & MIT create first self-assembling robots" . Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  12. Huey, Steve. "Sugar Ray - Biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 28 January 2013.