Shrink plastic sheets:
Which type should I buy?

Hello, I’m Kanahina☆
In this article, I’d like to write about how to choose shrink plastic sheets.

Shrink plastic crafting is easy for anyone to start. It does not require special tools, so it is recommended for handmade beginners and for parents who want to enjoy making something together with their children.
And you can easily buy shrink plastic sheets at 100-yen shops!
But that is exactly why many people wonder which shrink plastic sheet is best and what the differences are.

At the Daiso, Seria, and Can Do stores near my home, every 100-yen shop carried shrink plastic sheets.

At Daiso and Can Do, they were located around the stationery or toy sections, while at Seria they were near the handmade materials section. (This may vary by store. If you cannot find them, ask a staff member.)

Now I’ll compare the shrink plastic sheets available at Daiso, Seria, and Can Do. I’ve also added a link below to the one I usually buy on Amazon. If you plan to use a lot, it is a very good deal!

Amazon is best if you want to buy cheaply! Recommended by Kanahina
Shrink plastic sheets from Nakatoshi Sangyo!

Shrink plastic sheets I found at Daiso

At Daiso, in addition to clear 0.2 mm and 0.3 mm shrink plastic sheets, I also found colored sheets such as black and gold.
I found the colored sheets at a large store, but my nearby regular Daiso did not carry them, so availability seems to vary by location.

Gold is hard to color yourself, so if you use it well, you could make some cute pieces!

Shrink plastic sheets I found at Seria

At Seria, in addition to clear shrink plastic sheets, I also found a frosted type with one rough side that can be colored with colored pencils or pastels.
Personally, I like this frosted type, and I often use it when I ask my children to draw pictures on shrink plastic.
Even if you feel hesitant about giving children permanent markers, colored pencils feel much safer.

If you buy shrink plastic sheets online, Amazon is recommended

A pack of 10 can sometimes be cheaper than buying at a 100-yen shop, so I often purchase mine on Amazon. They arrive quickly, and if you have Amazon Prime, shipping is often free.

Please click below and take a look if you’re interested😊

Amazon is best if you want to buy cheaply! Recommended by Kanahina
Shrink plastic sheets from Nakatoshi Sangyo!

At Seria, I also found a shrink plastic kit supervised by Saori Shiba.
It lets you make three-dimensional shrink plastic pieces such as tulips and butterflies. Since the shrink plastic is already cut, it is a good choice for trying 3D shrink plastic for the first time.
You can color it in any colors you like♪

Shrink plastic sheets I found at Can Do

At Can Do, I found black shrink plastic sheets in addition to clear 0.2 mm sheets.
The Can Do store I visited did not have many varieties this time, but I remember seeing more types before, so they may have been out of stock.
At Can Do, I also found the same Saori Shiba shrink plastic sheets as at Seria.

Size comparison

This time, I baked and compared eight shrink plastic sheets purchased from three stores.
I cut the sheets into 3 cm circles and baked them in a toaster at the same temperature.

Here is how they looked before baking.

The result was...

There did not seem to be a major difference in the finished pieces, but Daiso’s colored sheet and Seria’s 0.3 mm sheet seemed to keep a relatively clean circular shape.
The 0.2 mm sheets became slightly distorted in shape.
By the way, here is the difference in thickness after baking between the 0.2 mm and 0.3 mm sheets.

In the photo, the difference may not look very large, but when you touch them, the 0.3 mm sheet definitely feels sturdier.

I use 0.3 mm when I want strength for larger items such as keychains, and 0.2 mm for small, lightweight pieces such as earrings.

Summary

This time, I comparedthree types ofshrink plastic sheets sold at 100-yen shops. What did you think?

Shrink plastic comes in many types, not only different thicknesses but also clear, colored, and frosted versions, so it is best to choose according to the item you want to make.

If you want to make three-dimensional accessories, it may be a good idea to start with a kit like the one by Saori Shiba.
I was able to find shrink plastic sheets at all three 100-yen shops this time!
It’s nice that you can start easily whenever you feel like making something.

I hope you enjoy starting a fun handmade life♡

Related articles on 100-yen shop shrink plastic

There are also follow-up articles and articles about how to bake shrink plastic and what temperature to use, so please check them out as well!

• [100-Yen Shop Shrink Plastic Test: Follow-Up] Baking Daiso and Seria Shrink Plastic by Thickness
• [Question Solved!] Testing How to Bake 100-Yen Shop Shrink Plastic and the Best Temperature
• [Nakatoshi Sangyo Shrink Plastic Is Wonderful] Make Handmade Crafting More Accessible with a Hidden 100-Yen Shop Gem!

If you’re interested, please also take a look at the shrink plastic pieces we made.