On October 1, 1973, shoppers at the Brookfield Square Mall in Wisconsin witnessed the debut of a craft that seemed like pure magic. At a small kiosk, two local mothers, Betty Morris and Kate Bloomberg, demonstrated their new invention: Shrinky Dinks. They invited children to color on thin sheets of plastic, which were then placed into a small oven. To the astonishment of onlookers, the plastic curled, shrank, and hardened into a small, durable charm. This simple, live demonstration was the first public test market for the product. The immediate success and excitement generated that day proved the toy's commercial potential, setting the stage for its journey from a local Cub Scout project to an international phenomenon.
What it is
Shrinky Dinks is a creative activity kit centered on a special type of plastic sheet—specifically, polystyrene #6. Children can draw or trace designs onto these sheets using colored pencils or permanent markers. Once the artwork is complete, the plastic is cut out and placed in a conventional or toaster oven. Under the heat, the plastic dramatically shrinks to approximately one-third of its original size while becoming about nine times thicker and more rigid. The kits typically came with pre-printed sheets featuring licensed characters, blank 'Frosted' or 'Ruff-N-Ready' sheets for original creations, a set of colored pencils, and accessories like keychain rings or jewelry findings to turn the finished pieces into wearable art.
How it came to be
The invention of Shrinky Dinks was a classic case of grassroots innovation. In 1973, two Cub Scout den mothers from Brookfield, Wisconsin, Betty Morris and Kate Bloomberg, were searching for a novel craft for their sons. Morris recalled a childhood craft involving warming plastic lids over a stove. They began experimenting with various plastics, eventually discovering that polystyrene sheets from a local company provided the perfect shrinking effect. Realizing they had a unique product, they formed their own company, K. & B. Innovations, and took their creation to the local mall for a test run. The overwhelmingly positive response led them to seek a larger partner, and they soon signed a licensing agreement with toy giant Milton Bradley, launching Shrinky Dinks nationwide.
How many it sold
Following the successful test market and the licensing deal with Milton Bradley, Shrinky Dinks became a commercial sensation. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, sales soared as the craft kit became a household name and a staple on children's wish lists. Millions of kits were sold, supported by national advertising campaigns and tie-ins with popular characters like the Looney Tunes, Spider-Man, and Barbie. While exact lifetime figures are proprietary, the brand's longevity and presence under various manufacturers (including Colorforms, Parker Brothers, and Spin Master) over five decades points to sales well into the tens of millions, making it one of the most successful and enduring craft toys ever created.
Why it resonated
Shrinky Dinks captivated children by blending artistic creativity with a fascinating, almost magical, scientific process. The act of watching one's own drawing curl and shrink into a solid, tangible object was a powerful 'wow' moment. This transformation was the core of its appeal, turning a simple coloring activity into an exciting event. For parents, it was an ideal toy: it was relatively inexpensive, self-contained, and encouraged creativity away from the television screen. It didn't require batteries or complex assembly, and the final product was a durable keepsake—a personalized charm or keychain that the child could be proud of. This combination of creative expression and scientific wonder made it a beloved activity for generations.
Impact today
The legacy of Shrinky Dinks is cemented in its status as a nostalgic icon and a foundational product in the craft kit category. It normalized the idea of 'process art' toys, where the fun was as much in the making and transformation as it was in the final product. Today, the original Shrinky Dinks brand is still available, but its influence extends far beyond. The material itself, printable polystyrene shrink plastic, is widely used by adult crafters, artists, and Etsy sellers to create intricate, professional-quality jewelry, pins, and art pieces. Shrinky Dinks proved that a simple, clever concept born from everyday materials could become a global toy phenomenon, inspiring countless other activity kits that followed.
Historical content researched and generated by Gemini 2.5 Pro.