Fusing Plastics 101

Caitlin's Comprehensive Craft lesson

Fusing Plastic: The Basics

We’re going to start easy. These directions can be modified to suit more difficult projects later.

You will need:

• Two plastic shopping bags- Wal-Mart, Target, etc

• Two pieces of paper at least as big as the bags flattened out

• A pair of scissors

• An iron

• A flat iron-safe surface

• A well-ventilated working area (Just in case )

1. Lay one of the shopping bags flat on your ironing surface.

2. Cut off the two handles as well as the bottom seem

a. NOTE: If the shopping bag has print on it (and most do!) flip it inside out! The dye will melt and do funky things to your project otherwise.

3. Repeat step 1 & 2 for the second bag

4. Lay bag one on top of bag two, fold in half.

a. NOTE: The decided thickness is eight layers of plastic. Each bag is two, the both folded in half- it all equals eight layers. Eight seems to be strong enough without being too thick.

5. Place one of the pieces of paper on the ironing surface. Place the folded plastic on top and cover with the remaining paper.

a. NOTE: Make sure the plastic is covered completely by the paper! Plastic directly on your iron is NOT.GOOD.

6. Heat your iron. You want it above polyester but below rayon. For my iron, this falls right before the “steam” level.

7. Run the iron over the paper that’s over the plastic for TEN SECONDS. Keep the iron moving and make sure to hit all parts of the plastic.

8. Flip the paper, keeping the plastic in place. An alternate method is to lift the top paper, peel the (hot) plastic off and just flip the plastic over before replacing the top paper.

9. Repeat step 7 after flipping the plastic

You’ll need to flip it-iron it multiple times. For me it takes about seventeen-bazillion flips for a good finish.

You’ll know it’s too early to flip if the plastic is bubbly, or wrinkly; if it crinkles when you touch it, or if the ends separate.

The final product should be smooth and relatively tough. It may still be wrinkly, but they will be flat and sturdy.

This information was gathered by reading/watching:

http://www.tubbybundle.com/blog/plastic-bag-craft/

and

http://etsylabs.blogspot.com/2007/05/long-overdue-fusing-plastic-bag.html

and by a boat load of trial and error!