Melting Cups

3/14/2013

These were fun to make because you get quick results.
You'll need cups like this, they are soft whitish plastic. We tried the clear plastic cups - FAIL, they don't melt. These were from the dollar store.

Preheat your oven to 350f, they didn't have any smell to them while melting

Draw designs on your cups with PERMANENT marker, we used Sharpies. Then I placed them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment,
I didn't want them to stick and they never did. We spinkled a little glitter on the top of a few of them, some of the glitter stuck as it melted but some also came off when we touched them, but a girls gotta have a little bling.
I have to mention, I did have a 13 year old boy make a couple of these before he became too cool and left to go hang with his friends :)

You can't do anything wrong, I think they all looked great!

15 seconds in the oven and they look like this.

They were done in under 1 minute and could be handled within 15 seconds. Cup cools down fast but remember the cookie sheet remains hot. While still warm from oven you can press down on them to make them a little more flat if you wish - we liked them a little wonky, like us!

Aren't they pretty? I thik the more detail the prettier
they are but anything works.

Now, you could easily punch holes in them, hang them
use them as gift tags or decorations
but these girls wanted to keep them like this to give to friends.

Have fun !

69 Comments

Allison

3/14/2013 12:48:37 pm

Do the colors run off after it's melted?

Julie D

4/7/2019 12:34:56 am

Has anyone tried this in the microwave? Did they come out good? If so how long do you suggest? I’d like to make them with the kids at work, but only have access to a microwave.

Bethan

5/27/2019 07:33:53 am

Have you tried in the microwave? I'd also like to try at work but same problem we only have a microwave

Añn maxim.

11/8/2022 09:00:12 am

Can you do it in the microwave we don’t have an oven in club

Karen

11/9/2022 11:22:40 pm

I wouldn’t think the microwave would work because the cups are dry and empty with nothing to heat.

Jay

11/27/2022 03:14:18 pm

No the colours don't run.

Michelle - Day to Day Dreams

3/14/2013 12:53:44 pm

They don't smudge at all after melting but we do have marker coloured finger tips from decorating the cups. There were a few smudges prior to melting but I think that's what makes them 'crafty'.

Rebecca

12/12/2013 03:44:20 am

Do you know what # for recycling they are?

12/12/2013 01:54:05 pm

Hi Rebecca,
I have no idea what # they are but I will check it out and let you know within a couple day. Thanks!

Gramma

10/30/2019 12:33:51 pm

I have been told recycling #6 is the same as shrinky dink plastic that you purchase. YAY

3/6/2019 06:02:11 pm

They are #6.

Sandra

1/23/2022 05:51:02 pm

Kelly

11/13/2022 08:50:29 pm

Ashley

12/13/2022 10:16:19 pm

I tryed the number 6 and they don't melt all the way and did your colors burn my red and green came out brown.

Kathy Peterson

12/21/2022 04:31:17 pm

#5 cups

12/16/2013 02:06:36 am

I just checked some in the store and they are #6 recycling, hope this helps.

Lisa

5/3/2016 01:50:46 am

Is the temperature in fahrenheit or celsius?

5/3/2016 03:44:32 pm

Hi Lisa, that temp is 350f , I've fixed that in the directions.
Thank so much for visiting!

Barb Basten

8/4/2018 02:54:54 pm

Do they fade in the sun?

2/9/2019 02:27:20 pm

Yes

Michelle - day to Day Dreams

2/11/2019 04:37:22 am

I guess it would depend on the type of markers you used. When made with sharpies we had them 2 years outside with very little fading.

Denise Abrams

12/29/2018 07:00:15 pm

This is a GREAT idea. I teach small easy craft classes at a community center in mexico. We are using all natural and recycled goods in our garden which is a work in progress. This is a great use of an often thrown out plastic that ends up on our beaches. Our classes teach our community to have fun with things rather than tossing it into the garbage .. make ART not GARBAGE.. thanks can't wait to see the kids do this.. I love super simple crafts that are multifaceted as in recycled garbage into fun homemade colorful whimsical personal art pieces.. so excited !!

Siobhan link

7/8/2020 12:24:27 am

That sounds fantastuc. I make mainly sewn things from recycled fabric and other items. I even use the innerctubes from bicycles...

Tracy

1/17/2019 11:20:37 pm

These would be great for Dot day projects!

Sarah

1/26/2019 07:50:51 am

Do these have any danger with chemical fumes while heating in the oven? Would you need to do these in a toaster oven dedicated to crafting?

1/26/2019 09:10:57 pm

You can do these on a cookie sheet on the bbq on low or in a toaster oven outside. There are some fumes but we have a wall of patio doors and windows near the oven.

Martha

8/6/2019 12:14:34 pm

“When plastic waste and food waste are burned, they produce dioxin and furan. ... If dioxin is inhaled, it can instantly cause coughing, shortness of breath and dizziness. Long-term exposure to dioxin can also cause cancer. Another harmful effect of burning waste is pollution, as it can damage the ozone layer.

Katie

2/12/2020 11:08:08 am

Finally somebody pointed that out...

Emrick

4/30/2020 09:39:08 am

Dioxin is not formed at the melting temperature of 350 F...it is formed at 350 Celsius, not Fahrenheit...350 C = 662 F. Melting is not the same as burning (incinerating). Be careful of your "facts."

1/23/2023 02:12:35 pm

You’re melting, not burning the cups. Geesh ppl.

1/31/2019 10:36:52 pm

Do they maintain any of their translucence or does the melting down/condensing make it too thick for any light to get through?

2/11/2019 04:39:04 am

They aren't as transparent as they were when they were cups, you are right, they become thicker.

mylene

2/12/2019 07:24:08 am

I've tried these and my cups don't keep their shape. What am i doing wrong.

2/12/2019 12:22:24 pm

Hmmm, I don't know they've always worked for me. Are you using the right cups?

Dharma

3/12/2019 09:20:24 pm

I did these in a church art group. One oven produced round discs, and the other produced oval discs. Maybe it has to do with the air flow/ hot spots in the oven.
My home oven made oval discs.

Kelli

6/10/2019 08:53:11 pm

It’s probably the levelness of your oven or the pan you are using. If it isn’t level the would slump to one side or another instead of melting straight down.

Erin

2/15/2019 09:57:41 am

How bad does it smell? When they are melting

Mary Walling

9/15/2019 01:46:45 pm

There is no smell or smoke. Its similar to melting the shrinky-dinks

Barbara

3/3/2019 10:49:30 am

I think you could use a hole punch near the top to get a hole before they melt. Have you tried that?

Jennifer

6/30/2019 10:56:20 pm

We just made these at 4H camp used small white plastic Dixie cups punched a hole and added dental floss so we could add names of who made and then also hang a heat gun would take a while and probably not be even?

Becky

3/4/2019 07:21:43 pm

Can a heat gun be used instead of the oven?

Jessica link

6/21/2019 09:30:43 am

What is to be done with them after they are melted? I'm having trouble imagining a purpose for these cute discs.

Mary

6/24/2019 09:16:37 am

I am going to do these for plant markers in my garden! String them to make a cute all weather garland. Since they're translucent, but not transparent, they'd make a cute window privacy cover if tied together in a grid. How about a coaster, perhaps? Glue it to some cork or felt so it doesn't slip. Large necklace charms for kids. Play medals! Like pretend Olympic medals, maybe!

Deb

5/29/2022 08:51:36 am

Perhaps drink coasters?

Remedymom

6/24/2022 08:43:05 am

Make them into a mobile or wind chime, write funny sayings & make coasters, name-markers or assigned seating, use as labels glued onto kids craft or toy bins.

Desertmom

4/9/2022 11:37:05 pm

I made re-usable christmas present tags. I wrote the grandkids name on the tag (as well as the decorating) and punched a hole in the cup before melting it. Then I tied it to their present with ribbon.

Shirley

12/2/2022 02:39:55 pm

Christmas tree ornaments.

Kathleen Peel

8/7/2019 10:01:24 pm

I'm thinking they could be cut Halloween decorations to make with my grandkids!

Allison Kellenberger

2/14/2020 03:46:14 pm

I am worried about the toxic fumes put off by the melting plastic. I have read some reports about that with plastics in the dishwasher. Especially doing this around children.

Joy

11/12/2022 10:53:37 pm

They do not leave a smell.

Velma A Wilson

11/13/2022 07:16:35 pm

Toxic fumes only occur when plastic is burning not melting. No fumes when melting.

LSpencer link

6/6/2020 07:10:19 pm

I have made these the last couple years with my Girl Scout troop. They love making them and watching them melt. We use the 3oz. white cups. I have made them in an electric oven and gas oven with much success. I tried a convection oven and that was not successful. I am curious if anyone has tried them in a microwave?

De Knutseljuf Ede link

11/2/2020 06:34:08 pm

We tried it too and it worked out perfect!
https://y.is/vlMO6

Dana Procise link

12/15/2021 08:11:35 pm

What size cups? And not clear,right?

Loretta

6/21/2022 02:03:35 pm

Do NOT do this in your oven! Melted plastic outgas is dioxin a VERY CARCINOGENIC toxin! Buy a cheap garage sale toaster oven and melt the plastic out of doors. Never use the oven again for people food.

Susan

11/25/2022 11:02:17 pm

I'm a materials engineer.
This craft doesn't involve either melting or burning. You are using the glass transition temperature of the polystyrene- that's the temperature when a thermoplastic begins to flow which is not the same as melting or burning. No fumes are released as long as you stay at the glass transition temperature.

Joanne

11/27/2022 08:40:55 am

Thank you for this information! What is considered glass transition temperature?

11/27/2022 09:00:53 am

Sorry... I misread. 6 is polypropylene. And this is not Tg. It is just a softening temperature such as used in thermo forming.

Neo

7/4/2022 10:58:13 pm

Which type of plastic is used her

Lena

7/29/2022 08:40:13 am

Where do you punch the hole in the cup prior to melting that it does not melt closed?

Carli

11/19/2022 08:20:51 pm

We didn’t have any sharpie markers so used acrylic paints. They turned out way cute!

Kathy

11/23/2022 08:11:41 am

Did you cut the brim of the cup off at all?

Julie

11/25/2022 09:21:18 pm

What is the best size cup to use? In ounces. I have 9 ounce and wonder if I should get smaller.

Ginny

11/27/2022 08:58:33 am

Remember your middle school chemistry. Melting is a phase change. Phase changes are physical changes meaning that the composition of the material does not change. (Ice and water are both H2O.) Only a chemical change could result in the release of the dangerous toxins that some people are cautioning against. Burning (combustion), for example, is a chemical change. So keep the oven temperature as low as possible to let the plastic soften.

Kayla

11/27/2022 02:50:09 pm

We tried clear plastic first. It did not work 😅😅

Alex

12/25/2022 04:58:01 am

I used clear plastic shot glasses and other clear plastic and it works fine. Takes 3 mins at 250 F, has some smell

11/28/2022 10:39:40 pm

Why do some of mine end up ovals?

Tanya

12/8/2022 01:45:34 am

I’ve seen some videos where they keep door to oven a bit open??? How high is the rack from top of oven?

Julie JOY

3/14/2023 10:50:54 am

I used the small white 3 oz. (bathroom) cups. They took over 10 minutes to melt, and still never got flat. I'm guessing one would need to melt a hole thru them vs. trying to punch a hole before melting since the shape changes so dramatically.

Going to see the grandkids soon and I've got my stash of cups and Sharpies ready. I'm also going to look for the cups you've used/recommend.

Melting Cups

Have fun !

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