If you had walked into my classroom this year, you would have noticed one thing immediately:
Kandi beads. Everywhere.
My middle schoolers are obsessed. And honestly? I’m not mad about it.
In past years, we’ve explored bead-based projects like clay bead bracelets and candy bead bracelets. But this year? This year has officially been the year of the Shrinky Dink and the Shrink Dink Keychains!
From Art Club Idea to Best-Seller
Earlier this year, we experimented with Shrinky Dink keychains in art club as a fun, independent project. Students loved the process—designing, shrinking, and watching their artwork transform into something durable and usable.
So when it came time to brainstorm products for our school’s Night of the Arts sale, the decision was easy:
Keychains with Shrinky Dink charms. Done.
And let me tell you… they were all in.
Students came to art club, showed up during lunch, and used any extra moment they could find to work on their keychains. That’s when you know you’ve hit on something special.
The Trick That Changed Everything
The biggest game-changer for us was how we assembled the keychains.
Instead of dealing with frustrating knots and loose strands, we used a simple method:
- Cut a piece of string
- Fold it in half to “catch” the Shrinky Dink charm
- Thread the beads through both strands at the same time
- Tie the ends onto the keychain hook
This made the keychains:
- More secure
- Faster to assemble
- Way less frustrating for students
And most importantly—it kept the focus on creating, not fixing knots.
Organized Chaos (That Actually Works)
With this many tiny materials, organization is everything.
I keep all supplies—beads, string, hooks, and charms—in a small plastic drawer system. It’s:
- Easy to move around the room
- Accessible for students
- Simple to keep organized
Students can grab what they need and get right to work, which makes a huge difference during shorter work times like lunch or club.
Finally… A Display That Works
If you’ve ever tried to display small items for a school art sale, you know the struggle.
This year, I think we finally figured it out.
We used magnetic clips with a small hole in them, and they worked perfectly:
- The keychain clasp hooked right on
- Everything stayed visible and untangled
- It looked clean and inviting
Sometimes it’s the simplest solutions that end up being the best.
The Best Part: Watching Them Sell
We priced the keychains at $3 each, and they flew off the display.
Students were so proud seeing their work purchased and carried out into the world. We also sold handmade buttons for $2, which paired perfectly as a lower-cost option.
But more than anything, this project gave students:
- Ownership
- Motivation
- Real-world experience creating for an audience
Final Thoughts
Projects like this remind me why I love teaching middle school art.
When you tap into what students are already excited about—like beads, personalization, and wearable art—you don’t have to force engagement. It just happens.
And sometimes the most meaningful projects aren’t the biggest or most complex…
They’re the ones students can clip onto their backpack and carry with them every day.
All the materials needed to create your own Shrinky Dink keychains are linked below!
The following are affiliate links, thanks for your support!
