Turn adorable shrink plastic charms into a sweet DIY mason jar necklace—perfect for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion! Whether you’re celebrating a birthday or just want to make something thoughtful, this mason jar charm necklace is a fun and meaningful gift. The best part? You can customize it with any jar design you can imagine, using just colored pencils and a little creativity. Don’t worry — it’s easy, I promise!
Each day this week, I am posting a tutorial that takes 15 minutes or less to complete! Then, each afternoon, I will post a round-up of quick and easy Valentine's Day crafts. These crafts include Valentine's Day-themed wall decor, papercraft, home decor, printables, and more from our blog partners for this series, as well as from my friend Carolina over at 30 Minute Crafts!
How To Make Shrink Plastic Charms
Shrink plastic charms are great on their own, but when they are mason jars, they are even better!
Learn how easy it is to make your own custom shrink plastic mason jar charms that can be used to create necklaces, keychains, and so much more!
Supplies Needed To Make Shrink Plastic Charms
- White Shrink Plastic
- Colored pencils
- Scissors
- Oven
- Hole Punch
- Mason Jar Printable (download below) (sorry about the one size being cut off y'all, I could not get it fixed on the Google doc-just freehand in the bottom!)
- 2 pack of 18-inch Nylon Cord Necklace 2 pack
- Sliver Jump Rings
- Pilers
Free Mason Jar Template
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Step 1: Trace Around Your Jar
Lay your shrink plastic on top of your printable and trace around your jar. The smallest jar on the Google doc is the one I used for the necklaces. You can make the charms larger if you wish.
Step 2: Color Mason Jar
Then color in any areas you wish. Add a name if you'd like, or even draw some hearts or anything else you feel your gift recipient will love. See how I added a bottom to this jar even though the silly Google doc looks cut off.
Step 3: Cut Out Mason Jars
Using scissors, cut the shrink plastic around all of the jars.
Step 4: Hole Punch Mason Jars
Add holes with a standard paper hole punch. Be sure to do this BEFORE you start shrinking the plastic.
Step 5: Put Shrink Plastic Mason Jars Into Oven
Put them in the oven according to the package directions. These literally take 3-5 minutes to shrink up to awesomeness. You can see how much each one will shrink in the picture below. See how light the colors are in the pictures above, but how vibrant they are once that plastic shrinks like magic.
Step 6: Attach Shrink Plastic Charms To Nylon Cord
Just use pliers to attach the mason jar charm to the nylon cord with a jump ring. So simple. I love that little rainbow jar, y'all!
You can also attach these shrink-plastic charms to key rings. Really, anywhere that you want to add a cute mason jar embellishment.
String them with a cord to make gifts or hang tags.
The possibilities are endless with this project! The kids will love drawing on the shrink plastic and adding items to the mason jars. Watching the shrink process is magic for kids and adults alike. Just be sure to follow all package directions and be careful, as they will be HOT!
So grab that shrink plastic and colored pencils and get started today! Your Valentine will thank you for the wonderful gift. My DIY mason jar necklace is sure to put a smile on their face.
Also, don't forget to check out our roundup of quick and easy-to-make Valentine's Day crafts! Here is a picture of all the mason jar gifts I made with just one sheet of shrink plastic.
Tips and Tricks for Shrink Plastic Charms
Now that you’ve seen these shrink plastic charms, are you ready to make your own? Here are a few tips and tricks to help!
- Skip The Colored Pencils – If you don't have colored pencils on hand, you can always use markers instead!
- Follow The Instructions On Your Shrink Plastic – I can't state this enough, but to get the best results for your shrink plastic charms, follow the directions on the shrink plastic that you are using! This is because different shrink plastic brands may require different temperatures, baking times, etc.
- Use Jewelry Chain – If you don't like the look of the nylon cord, you can use jewelry chain to make more traditional necklaces or bracelets.
- Create Earrings – Another idea you can make with these shrink plastic charms is earrings! To make them, simply add the charms to a jump ring, then attach them to some earring hooks.
4 More Shrink Plastic Crafts
Did you love these shrink-plastic charms and want more shrink-plastic crafts? Then check out the projects below!
- How to Cut Shrink Plastic With A Cricut Machine
- Geometric Lace Jewelry with Shrink Plastic!
- DIY Glitter Deer Shrink Plastic Ornaments
- DIY Shrinky Dinks Flower Rings
Cute! Cute! Cute! Thanks for the idea!
Awesome and adorable all at once, love all the ideas I’ve seen. So much to be inspired by. Happy weekend
I LOVE this idea! Time to pin:)
This is the cutest project! Thanks for sharing. Hugs and blessings, Cindy