Frustrated and Discouraged

[iJenny]

Ok, girls. I need to vent, so bare with me....

I decided that I was going to do the Shrinky-Dink hybrid project that was featured on Dani's GirlTalk blog a couple weeks ago.
So, yesterday I went to HobbyLobby and got what I needed. The shrinky-dink paper (for printers) was $10 for a pack of 6 sheets. Expensive, but I figured I was use a few sheets and then save the rest for a rainy day.
So I get into my PSE program and make the cutest little set of three keychain layouts (of my boys for my mom for mother's day) and I do everything that it says to do and I print them out and go bake them.
Except that they curled up really bad and got stuck and were a total waste. So I go back and read what Angie wrote on the blog post and she said to try to lay a few sheets of regular paper on top before you bake them.
So, at this point I have three sheets left which is just enough to make my mom's three keychains, two for a friend and one extra one for me.
So, I print them out, put mine and my friend's two in the oven together with the paper on top and VOILA!! They come out perfectly. Then suddenly I realize that I forgot to punch the holes in them to hang from the keychain. Great. Total waste. Again.
So I punch the holes in my mom's three keychain pieces and pop them in the oven with the exact same paper on top and everything. A few minutes later I pull them out and..... ARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!! They're all curled up and totally ruined!!! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? I didn't change anything the second time around. I'm so frustrated and discouraged. I really want to do this for my mom and friend for mother's day, but I've already thrown $10 in the trash and I'm afraid if I try again the same thing will happen again.
So, I guess thats it. I'm just frustrated.

:::ETA:::: I just realized that this might come off sounding as though this was somehow Angie's fault at the GirlTalk Blog. Thats not what I'm saying at all. She did a wonderful tutorial with excellent instructions. Somehow its ME that is getting it wrong along the way.
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Club Royal Condo Pattaya

[jene]

I'm sorry Hun that must stink.....I would try it too but would mess it up somehow as well

[ColleenSwerb]

Oh that's totally sucks Jenny, I'm so sorry!

[uptowngirl]

Oh man... why don't you give it one more try?? I know it's another $10 but they would be realy cute and probably worth it all at the end!

[Amber1279]

I can't find the dang paper so I haven't even been able to try this project Maybe the oven got hotter between the batches???

[Sarah8914]

how frustrating! I'm so sorry! I'm pretty sure they accept michael's and joann's coupons.. can you get one and get a discount? Also, my michael's carries this stuff too!

[Amber1279]

where at Michael's is it?? I have looked all over the employees are NO help

[DawnMarch]

I think with Shrinky Dinks, that they curl up, but then if you leave them in a little longer, they flatten out? Did the Shrinky Dink instructions say anything about that?

[meems]

aww, sorry it's not working out for you.

[SaraAmarie]

I have worked some with Shinky-dinks and it is normal for them to curl as they are shrinking but they just need heated longer then they will uncurl and flatten out.

[iJenny]

I know that they are supposed to curl up a little, but these are curling up so much that they touch together and get stuck. But I just talked to Angie who did the tutorial and she gave me a few helpful hints. I just got back from the store with more paper and I'm going to give it one more shot!

Wish me luck!!!

Oh, and thanks for all the kind words and encouragement and ideas.
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Bubbler Pipe

[Sarah8914]

Originally Posted by Amber1279

where at Michael's is it?? I have looked all over the employees are NO help

It was on the stamping isle for me!

[mmbstaley]

Originally Posted by Sarah8914

It was on the stamping isle for me!

I saw them at my Michael's in the aisle with the stickers. I found them at Hobby Lobby with the kids crafts.

and if you see them curling up too much, just pull the pan out and use a spatula to flatten them a bit. Then stick the pan back in and finish heating. The hotter the oven and pan are the faster the shrinking goes.

[newfiemountiewife]

I'm so sorry Jenny! I haven't even attempted anything yet, I'm too scared!

[Heather Roselli]

I'm sorry Jenny. The ones you forgot to punch holes in - just use a drill to put holes in them now. They aren't a waste!

[FeeJardine]

Oh I hear you...I can't seem to get them to work either but I put it down to me being a complete doofus when it comes to using our oven and craft products. Hopefully this next batch is more successful. Good luck chickie

Fee