Upcycle A Party Cup

Here’s a unique way to remember all the awesome parties your going to this summer. Because a party cup dramatically shrinks when heated you can use one to make high fashion jewelry. I made a seashell pendant and sea star earrings to go with it.

Step 1: Preparing your heat shrink design

Cut a smooth section out of the side wall of a party cup and take it to your computer desk. Find a design you like and paste it into Microsoft word or the program of your choice. You’ll paste the image 5 times. Four times stacking the image on top of itself and once with the image next to the stack. See the picture.

Stretch the image height until it is 4 times taller than it should be (now you see why your stacked 4 high). Delete the everything but the stretched image and print it.

Take your smooth piece of party cup and tape it to the computer paper. Make sure it’s taped directly over your reference image. Place the paper back through the printer. Now you should have a stretched printed image on the piece of cup.

Comments

[PuzzleJenn]

Is it possible to do these in the oven, like shrinky dinks? Or does it require a heat gun for some reason in particular?

[Mrballeng]

I tried once to see what a cup would do in the oven but it started to stick up the house. So I never found out.

[Erratic.Chromatic]

I stunk up my house the same way so I started melting recycled plastics in a toaster oven that I use outside. That took care of the toxic smell.

[roccopeterbilt]

I've done other <6> plastic in a toaster over after cutting the shape. They will curl, then fatten back out and that's when you want to take them out. I think I was using a temp around 300 and it only took maybe 15 seconds but YMMV.

Love the idea of using the cups. Didn't think about being able to retain the color>

Great 'ible!

[emilyvanleemput]

I can't find plastic cups, only paper ones :(

[RollerScrapper]

I could be wrong, but wouldn't it be easier to trim it to shape before melting? Like a shrinky dink? This way you wouldn't necessarily need a dremel tool for smoothing

[emilyvanleemput]

I HAVE TO try this :)

[black hole]

'Be mindful of anything that may melt or burn including yourself' For some reason, that cracks me up. =D

[mr.mountaineer]

the song Red Solo Cup (all y'all country music fans know what I'm talkin' 'bout) is the first thing that came to mind when i seen this. anyway great instructable as always now i got a use for the fancy hot air blower that came with my torch. who would have thought that you could make jewelry out of a plastic cup ;-)

[canida]

This is awesome! I had no idea you could make such great-looking things from a plastic cup. Will have to try it ASAP.

[Mrballeng]

Thanks!

[electfire]

Do you know what type of plastic you need?
Not all plastic (cups) are made of the same plastics.

[Mrballeng]

This plastic has "6" in the recycling symbol. I think it's polyethylene.

[dchall8]

Are these Solo cups or another brand?

[Mrballeng]

This is the Walmart brand but solo cups do the same exact thing.

[Penolopy Bulnick]

That is amazing! I never would have guess those pieces of jewelry were made of a plastic cup :)

[mgalyean]

Simply brilliant!

[kondzio29]

OMG!
You still suprise me :D five stars!

[canucksgirl]

WOW. Yet another creative idea from you... and one I will be sure to try this summer. Thanks so much for sharing. ;-)