How to Make Custom Shrink Plastic Enamel Lapel Pins


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How to Make Custom Shrink Plastic Enamel Lapel Pins

How to Make Custom Shrink Plastic Enamel Lapel Pins


Learn how to make your own enamel pins with this fun faux shrink plastic enamel pin technique!


Make a collection of full color pin badges in various shapes.


I'll show you how to make them every step of the way!


Learn how to make your own enamel pins with this fun faux shrink plastic enamel pin technique! Make a collection of full color pin badges in various shapes. I'll show you how to make them every step of the way!

What are Enamel Pins?


Enamel pins are small, decorative pins typically made from metal and enamel. 


They come in various shapes, sizes, and designs, often featuring colorful enamel coatings that are baked onto the metal surface. 


These pins can depict anything from pop culture references to original artwork, and they're often collected and traded by geeked-out enthusiasts.


Enamel pins are commonly worn on clothing, such as jackets, hats, or bags, using a butterfly clutch or rubber backing to secure them in place. 


They've gained popularity as a form of personal expression and as collectible items due to their affordability, versatility, and ability to showcase unique designs.


What are Enamel Pins? Enamel pins are small, decorative pins typically made from metal and enamel. They come in various shapes, sizes, and designs, often featuring colorful enamel coatings that are baked onto the metal surface. These pins can depict anything from pop culture references to original artwork, and they're often collected and traded by geeked-out enthusiasts. Enamel pins are commonly worn on clothing, such as jackets, hats, or bags, using a butterfly clutch or rubber backing to secure them in place. They've gained popularity as a form of personal expression and as collectible items due to their affordability, versatility, and ability to showcase unique designs.

Hard enamel pins have always been my favorite collectable--with their shiny finish.


Let me show you how to create your own custom lapel pins using your favorite images or even a hand drawing.


These fun pins make a great handmade gift--or a side hustle or small businesses if you are looking to make a little extra on the side.


Have a fun pin idea?


The perfect pin is just a few supplies away.


These images are some of my favorites, although copyrighted, images; so I would not sell them.


This technique is a great option for turning your own art into enamel pins without the minimum order quantity or the additional charge of enamel pin makers.


This faux enamel pin post is a great choice for kids art too!



Cram, Nuka Cola Quantum, Handsome Squidward and Nuka Bottle Cap Enamel pins

Supplies for Enamel Lapel Pins:



Supplies for Enamel Lapel Pins: Canon Pixma Printer iP8720 Printable Shrink Plastic Pin Backs Lightwish UV Resin UV Lamp Heat Pen Gold Paint Pen E6000 Glue Scissors Fun Images Painters tape roll Weeding tools Small glass

Step 1: Print on Shrink Plastic


Begin by designing your custom art or images on a full sheet.


The images should be around 2-3 inches, as they will shrink down to about 1/3 of their size for final pin size.


There's a rougher side of the shrink plastic and that is the side you print on.


The shrink plastic has some texture and the ink can bleed a little bit, but the shrink plastic listed is what I use and it works really well.


Draw your own pin design art work directly on the shrink plastic with permanent markers too!


Step 1: Print on Shrink Plastic

Step 2: Cut out Images


Once the image is printed out, cut out all the shapes.


I'm guessing if you are going to make a bunch of enamel pins, you could upload the images into Cricut as a print and cut, then arrange them in Cricut Design Space.


The print out would be printed with registration marks, so you could put it on the Cricut mat and have the Cricut cut out each shape effortlessly.


Or get a pair of detail scissors and cut the shapes out.


Step 2: Cut out Images

Step 3: Shrinky Dink Time


When I did shrinky dinks as a kid, we baked them in the oven, and you can totally do that.


However if you have a heat pen, it's an easy starting point to do right on your desk--on a heat resistant surface.


Place the shrink plastic image in the center of the painters tape roll, this just helps keep it from blowing away.


Aim the heat pen at the shrink plastic and watch it curl up.


Be cautious of the high temperature, keep moving the heat pen around so one place does not get too hot.


Step 3: Shrinky Dink Time When I did shrinky dinks as a kid, we baked them in the oven, and you can totally do that. However if you have a heat pen, it's an easy starting point to do right on your desk--on a heat resistant surface. Place the shrink plastic image in the center of the painters tape roll, this just helps keep it from blowing away. Aim the heat pen at the shrink plastic and watch it curl up.

Once it is evenly shrunk down, place a shot glass on top of the shrink plastic while it's still warm to form the flat enamel pin.


The default thickness becomes about 9 times thicker and a very sturdy final product.


Once it is evenly shrunk down, place a shot glass on top of the shrink plastic while it's still warm to form the flat enamel pin. The default thickness becomes about 9 times thicker and a very sturdy final product.

It just takes a few minutes to cool down to touch it.


Repeat the shrinking process for each of the shrink plastic images.


It just takes a few minutes to cool down to touch it. Repeat the shrinking process for each of the shrink plastic images.

The plastic shrinks down to a thick finish, but it's not done yet.


**Did you do shrinky dinks as a kid? I loved them. I wished I could do them every day...lol, now I can!


The plastic shrinks down to a thick finish, but it's not done yet. **Did you do shrinky dinks as a kid? I loved them. I wished I could do them every day...lol, now I can!

Step 4: UV Resin


Now let's add the super shiny finish that gives custom pins their distinct look.


Store bought enamel pins are metal with a layer of enamel paint.


Squeeze some UV resin right on top of the shrink plastic.


Use a craft stick to move the resin around to the edges carefully.


Step 4: UV Resin Now let's add the super shiny finish that gives custom pins their distinct look. Store bought enamel pins are metal with a layer of enamel paint. Squeeze some UV resin right on top of the shrink plastic. Use a craft stick to move the resin around to the edges carefully.

Place the resin pin under the UV light and let it run.


It takes just a minute and a half of UV light production time to get a hard resin finish on my enamel pins.


Place the resin pin under the UV light and let it run. It takes just a minute and a half of UV light production time to get a hard resin finish on my enamel pins.

Once removed from the UV lamp, the pin is shiny with a ridged finish.


Because enamel pins are typically metal, next I use a gold marker pen to color on the edges of the shrink plastic for a metallic finish. 


I used gold but you can use silver for a stunning silver finish too.


Once removed from the UV lamp, the pin is shiny with a ridged finish. Because enamel pins are typically metal, next I use a gold marker pen to color on the edges of the shrink plastic for a metallic finish. I used gold but you can use silver for a stunning silver finish too.

Step 5: Pin Backs


The final step is to turn all the shrink plastic face down and use the E6000 glue to adhere a pin back to the backside.


I place the pin back on the upper half of the shrink plastic so they will hang down instead of spinning around.


Step 5: Pin Backs The final step is to turn all the shrink plastic face down and use the E6000 glue to adhere a pin back to the backside. I place the pin back on the upper half of the shrink plastic so they will hang down instead of spinning around.

Let the pinbacks dry for at least 4 hours if you need them in a timely manner...but I leave them overnight for extra stuck-ness.


Let the pinbacks dry for at least 4 hours if you need them in a timely manner...but I leave them overnight for extra stuck-ness.

That's it--no polishing process needed!


The final result is awesome--I love how the fine details show up perfect!


The perfect custom lapel pins that don't take a long time at all!


Of course I had to make my favorite Fallout themed pins!


That's it--no polishing process needed! The final result is awesome--I love how the fine details show up perfect! The perfect custom lapel pins that don't take a long time at all! Of course I had to make my favorite Fallout themed pins!

Now you have an easy way to turn your custom design into your own pin.


Make simple designs or find free design templates for making a fun custom product!


You can become a designer of enamel pins with this fun, yet high quality technique.


Now you have an easy way to turn your custom design into your own pin. Make simple designs or find free design templates for making a fun custom product! You can become a designer of enamel pins with this fun, yet high quality technique.

Awesome, right!?


These faux enamel pins are easy to make and so much fun!


Of course I had to make a handsome Squidward pin for my jacket--I'm in love with it!


What kind of enamel pin will you make?


Turn your art into wearable art with this fun DIY!


Like, Pin and Save!



These faux enamel pins are easy to make and so much fun! Of course I had to make a handsome Squidward pin for my jacket--I'm in love with it! What kind of enamel pin will you make? Turn your art into wearable art with this fun DIY!



Check out these fun Shrinky Dink posts too!




Faux Enamel Pins with High Gloss Resin DIY







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