Whenever crayons break, store pieces in a plastic bag for projects.
Maybe your child's art bucket is filled with broken crayon pieces that you don't want to throw away, or perhaps you're just looking for an affordable and whimsical way to decorate your home. In any case, crayons can be used in plenty of ways, from making art to becoming art themselves. Keep an extra box of crayons hidden away for rainy-day projects.
Make New Crayons
Turn the broken bits of crayons into new creations. Break peeled crayons into 1- inch-long pieces, then put three or four similar-colored crayons in a microwavable cup. Heat the cup in the microwave for three to five minutes, or until the crayons melt. Place a cookie cutter on a piece of waxed paper, then use a pot holder to take the cup out of the microwave. Pour the wax into the cookie cutter. You can pour more layers of wax on top, but let each layer cool before pouring on more wax. Wash the cup immediately so the wax doesn't harden. Pop the new crayon out of the cookie cutter once the wax is hard and cool.
Bouquet
A crayon bouquet makes a cheerful centerpiece for the children's table at Thanksgiving, or can just serve as a new way for your child to store his crayons. Buy a foam ball from a craft store and cut off the bottom third so the ball will stand on a table. Paint the entire ball and let it dry. Stick the flat ends of new crayons into the foam so the pointed ends stick out. Cover the entire ball with crayons. Decorate it further to resemble at turkey if making it for Thanksgiving.
Stained Glass
Use waxed paper and crayons to create window hangings that look like stained glass. Peel labels off of crayons and run them through a pencil sharpener. Collect the shavings. Fold a large piece of waxed paper in half, then open it and spread the shavings out evenly on the paper. Close the paper over the shavings and fold the open edges of the paper together to keep the shavings contained. Place a thin dish towel on either side of the waxed paper, then run a medium-hot iron over the towel a few times until the shavings melt. Let the waxed paper cool, then cut out shapes such as hearts or flowers. Tie the shapes on a string and hang each shape in a window.
Picture Frames
Dress up a plain wooden picture frame by adding a crayon mosaic. Break crayons into small pieces; each piece must be no longer than the edge of the frame. Use glue to attach the pieces of crayon to the wood. You can also use painted frames, but rub the frame first with a piece of sand paper. This will allow the glue and crayons to stick better. When the glue is dry, place a photo in the frame. Set it up on a table or give it as a gift.
