Crafted Decorations Made from Melting Plastic Cups
Melting Plastic Cups for Creative Christmas Ornaments
In a fun and festive crafting activity, plastic cups are transformed into decorative ornaments reminiscent of the famous Kadinsky circles. This creative project, featuring Kadinsky Circle Plastic Cup Mobiles, is detailed in the book "50 Christmas Crafts for Little Kids."
To begin, cheap plastic cups made from #6 were purchased for the experiment. The cups were first cut at the rim, and the modified and original cups were baked as before. Plastic cups made from #1 plastic, however, were found to be unsuitable for this craft, as they did not melt properly.
The plastic cups were placed on a silicone baking mat before being baked at 350F. A non-stick flat spatula was used to prevent the cups from curling up after baking. In the first few seconds, the cups collapsed slightly but took a few minutes to melt completely flat. One of the baked cups curled over and was unable to be salvaged.
The Kadinsky circles were emulated using permanent markers to draw bands of color around the plastic cups before baking. The success of this craft can depend on the child's ability, as careful handling is required to avoid cracking the melted cups.
Once cooled, the remaining baked cups were fun to handle and could be easily shaped into various forms. Ribbon loops were attached to some of the best baked cups using a hot glue gun, creating a mobile effect.
If you're looking for eco-friendly options or alternatives, consider using biodegradable or compostable plastics, though these may not always be suitable for melting and forming due to their composition and properties.
For crafts that involve shrinking or forming, such as Shrinky Dinks, polystyrene is often preferred because it retains its shape and decorates well when heated. It is also commonly used in Shrinky Dinks projects due to its ability to shrink when heated, creating a dense, compact form that can be decorative.
So, if you're looking for a unique and enjoyable craft to do with your little ones this holiday season, give the Kadinsky Circle Plastic Cup Mobiles a try! The book "50 Christmas Crafts for Little Kids" provides more festive inspiration and can be purchased for further details.
- Instead of focusing on traditional home-and-garden projects this holiday season, engage in a lifestyle activity that involves science, as you and your family experiment with melting plastic cups to create Kadinsky Circle Plastic Cup Mobiles, a health-and-wellness project that fosters creativity and bonding during parenting moments.
- As you continue to nurture family-dynamics through shared experiences during the holiday season, consider branching out beyond the norm and try crafting unique ornaments reminiscent of the famous Kadinsky circles, a creative endeavor that could potentially improve relationships within your family.
- To expand your creative horizons, explore various crafting projects beyond the realm of home-and-garden, such as Kadinsky Circle Plastic Cup Mobiles, which could also serve as a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the properties and transformation of plastic in health-and-wellness and science lessons, benefiting both you and your little ones.
