“I do not use the water method, but use a toaster oven to melt the plastic. I first cut what I call a ‘blank’ ... out of plain black or white Friendly Plastic. Next, I decide what features it should have and if those features need to go on before the animal is cooked or after it comes out of the oven. Then, I put the various colors on randomly. (I use up a lot of scraps from other projects this way.) When the piece is ready, I put it on a tray and into the toaster oven. I set it on a toast setting and, when it snaps up, I take it out and add the bead for the eye with tweezers, put on the ears (if needed) and use a metal dental tool to score or stretch the plastic while it’s hot. I plunge it into cold water when I want it to stop cooking.

“It takes anywhere from one-half hour to an hour to make a pin, depending on how many pieces it has. The cooking is the fastest part. I do not glue the small pieces on, so if my arm bumps on the way into the oven, I have to construct it all over again. I have found that Joyce Chan scissors are the best for cutting Friendly Plastic, if anyone is interested in getting started." - Rosanna M Detering

Polly’s Picks are designs our editor especially liked despite the fact that they did not win a formal prize. These designs are often simple, practical and/or whimsical examples of how to use Rings & Things components well. Review the 2008 contest details to see what this contestant was up against. And remember, it’s never too early to start planning for the 2009 contest!