The sheer amount of plastic we get through is truly horrifying.  So much of our food is sold in clear plastic containers.  Some of that plastic can be diverted from the landfills if they can be recycled into something else. The ones labelled #6  like those used for salads and for baked goods, can be used for shrink plastic projects. 

Not into shrink plastic?  Here is a good alternative idea. These mandala earrings were made from cut circles of clear plastic and printed paper. The tutorial is by Patty Thurlby of Whimsiville. She is a mixed media artist.

Mod Podge is used to glue the printed mandala to the plastic. Epoxy resin is an alternative to the nail polish she used for the backing. 

She provides the free printable mandala design. But you can also use any printable design you might have.  There are also free ones online but many are black and white for coloring.  

Consider digital designs which are specially designed for pendants (or earrings). You can get many designs in a single sheet. You might find you have to adjust the size (print slightly larger) to fit a punch cutter which can be used on thin plastic if you get white patches at the edges. 

Consider getting the really good "bright" quality paper like this one for better printing results. (Note : Printing with photo paper results in sharper images than on paper but then you don't need the recycled plastic. You can just dome both sides with epoxy resin).

Serbian graphic designer, Maria of Rosenart has many gorgeous digital sheets. Shown below are just a few examples. She also offers to resize if the given measurements are not to your liking. You are allowed to sell completed projects using her designs.




Before You Go :

Disclosure 

This blog may contain affiliate links. I do receive a small fee for any products purchased through affiliate links. This goes towards the support of this blog and to provide resource information to readers. The opinions expressed are solely my own. They would be the same whether or not I receive any compensation. 
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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM