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One of the things I have been reinforcing with my kids recently is the importance of recycling and repurposing. You know those plastic food containers that restaurants give out when you take food to go? You can actually create adorable plastic charms with them! I know… mind-blowing! Today, I will be sharing with you the easy tutorial to do just that. When it comes to crafting, my kids always enjoy creating stuff with their hands and this project was a big hit with them!

For my kids, the messiest projects are always the best ones! To clean their hands after a craft session, I like to use SoftSoap® Hand Wash Plus Lotion™. It’s a fabulous everyday soap that doesn’t dry out our skin at all. In fact, this unique, non-greasy formula leaves our skin irresistibly soft & smooth.

We made a bunch of these shrink plastic charms. We transformed a few of them into necklace charms and we transformed a few of them into key chains. We are going to give the key chain ones to my mom for Mother’s Day! Is there anything better than a homemade gift made by a child? When it comes to gifts, my mom always prefers handmade creations. It’s always way more precious than anything one could buy at the store.

DIY Shrink Plastic Charms



To get started with this project, you will need to find plastic food storage containers. You can typically find them at bakeries, restaurants and supermarkets.



Collect a few of them and clean them thoroughly.



*IMPORTANT: To make sure that the plastic shrinks properly in the oven, make sure you see the number 6 inside the recycling triangle. This indicates the exact composition of the plastic and is necessary for proper shrinkage in the oven.

Gather the rest of the supplies for the project:

permanent markers

hole punch

jump rings

wire pliers

pair of scissors

Using the scissors, carefully cut out sheets of the plastic so you can draw on them.

*Tip: Be very careful, as this plastic is sharp. It is wise to wear protective gloves during this step.



My daughter had a blast drawing different shapes on the plastic sheets. She drew hearts and stars and fruits.



I made a batch of my own designs, too. After drawing is complete, cut out the individual shapes with the scissors. Again, be very careful since the plastic edges are quite sharp.



Next, use the hole punch to create a hole in each of the cut-out designs.



Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place the designs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for about two minutes. You will see the pieces shrink by about 300% in the oven. Here is what they look like when they come out! Notice how much smaller and shinier they are! They also get much thicker and more 3-dimensional!



We used the pliers to attach jump rings and key chain rings to two of the charms. These have been given to my mom as part of her Mother’s Day gift.



We attached jump rings to a few other charms and strung them on a necklace. My daughter, Sophia, was super excited about wearing these adorable handmade charms to school.



These shrink plastic charms are so adorable. I know my mom will love receiving these hand-crafted gifts!



After a crafting session, it’s always time to clean up. To get the table spotless, I like to use these up&up disinfecting wipes. I shop at Target weekly so I always like to stock up on convenient, effective cleaning solutions like this one.



I also picked up from Target the SoftSoap Hand Wash Plus Lotion in two varieties: Shea & Cocoa Butter and Aloe Water & Lime. While the Aloe Water & Lime variety has a lovely refreshing scent, the Shea & Cocoa Butter variety has a wonderful indulgent scent.



My daughters and I wash our hands several times throughout the day: after crafting, before eating, after playing in the yard, etc. With SoftSoap Hand Wash Plus Lotion, it’s easy to keep our hands looking and feeling clean & soft throughout the day. Did you know that this hand wash is the only one made with a touch of lotion? The formula helps to lock in moisture, so we don’t have to worry about our skin drying out.



When washing hands, getting a great lather is always fun for my daughter. She loves to feel the soap between her fingers. This hand wash cleans skin effectively and is proven to hydrate skin, so I encourage her to wash her hands often.



Keep up with SoftSoap® on social media by checking out their YouTube page here.



Also, be sure to look for SoftSoap® Hand Wash Plus Lotion at your local Target store. Shopping at Target is always a pleasant experience. Everything is so well-organized and the employees are always friendly & helpful.



Experience a caring clean with SoftSoap Hand Wash Plus Lotion and tell me: Have you ever made your own decorative charms? Does your family enjoy crafting together?













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