DIY: Recycle Broken Crayons
Today, I will show you a way to recycle broken crayons!
If you find yourself having a hard time throwing broken crayons away then this tutorial is for you!
A couple of weeks ago, I found a tutorial to melt crayons in cookie cutters. I wanted to make new crayons and put them in Coral’s Christmas stocking. It was a major fail!
Melted crayons went all over the pan and cookie cutters. I used my fingernails to remove the melted crayons off the pan. My fingernails were colorful for two days. I threw all melted crayons parts on a plate and left it there for a couple of weeks. I couldn’t bring myself to throw these away because I was determined to make the melted crayons useful again.
After a couple of weeks, I realized I had a mini cupcake/muffin pan
-For this project, you will need broken crayons, non-stick spray, a mini cupcake/muffin pan
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So, I preheated the oven at 300 degrees, sprayed the pan with non-stick oil and broke apart the melted crayons into smaller parts. I tried my best to put similar colors in each spot so they would not become a brown mess.
From a failed melting crayon project. You can see the half of a green Christmas tree.
I tried my best to put similar colors, but you can see there are different colors mixed in as well. Now, I think the mixed colors are worth it! You will see why!
Leave it in the oven for about 5-8 minutes. Mine melted completely in 6 minutes. Carefully, take the pan out of the oven and place it on the kitchen counter to cool off.
I left it to cool off for about 20 minutes and moved the pan to the freezer for about an hour. Once the melted crayons are frozen, they will be easier to pop off from the pan.
Examine your brand new colorful crayons in awe! Some of the recycled melted crayons looked ugly, but most of the new crayons were vibrant and gorgeous.
Which one is your favorite?! Mine is the swirly orange, pink & white one in the last picture, top left.
Wow! That is the coolest idea ever. Thanks for the step by step. I’m going to do this. My kids are old enough that they’ll have fun participating as well. Can’t wait!!
You’re welcome! I hope you and your kids enjoyed this!
Wow this is an awesome idea. Being a gramma I do happen to have leftover crayons hanging around….will have to remember to do this.
Hope you will make this because it is super fun. Thanks!
How clever and easy I must try this were the queens of broken crayons lol
Haha, hope you tried this! Thanks.
thanks for the step by step directions! I’ve kept all my kids small crayon pieces and will now try this out.
Hope you have tried this tutorial! Thanks!
Lol, if only I knew about upcycling as a kid. In middle school we had one of those old school heaters and we would melt our crayons so we could have circle crayons. We got in trouble eventually but that’s only because our teacher didn’t know about the hype.
LOL! That sounded like fun!
What a fun day! I’ll have to try this with my summer camp kids!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
It is super fun! Hope you have tried this! Thanks!
What a great idea! I could see kids loving these! They are so colorful – kind of like a tie-dye!
Exactly! Tie dye or marbled effect. Thanks!
When I was growing up, I had a crayola crayon maker that allowed you to melt old crayons into molds that would shape them like crayons. It was sometimes messy and only partially successful.. This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing
That is interesting! This tutorial is not messy at all, except for breaking the crayon pieces. Thanks!
I LOVE this idea! I’ve always felt so sad whenever I’ve had throw away any of my daughter’s crayon stubs. I can’t wait to use this craft technique! xoxoxo
I know! Why do we feel bad throwing crayons away? Hope you have tried this! Thanks.
What a fun idea! I love the look of some of the swirly, colorful crayons. Those would be really fun for kids to use.
I love the marbled effect of the crayons! Thanks!
I remember doing this all the time when I was little!
Yes, it was super fun. Thanks!
clever idea and a great way to reduce waste
I agree! Thank you.
Cool idea. You could turn them into any shape with the right pan.
I agree and thanks!
This is SUCH a great idea! And it looks so easy! Thank you for sharing!
Hope you will give this a try! Thanks!
Nice one!! Crayons don’t go waste!! Love the colors!!
That’s right! Thanks!
what a cool diy post. loved it.
Thanks!
Love this! Such a great idea 🙂
Thanks!
That look like water marble gorgeous !
Right?! Love how these came out!
I LOVE blue so of course I am really liking the blue one! This is super cool! Glad you were able to make it work. I’ve seen something like this before on pinterest but never really stopped and checked out how they were done. Love that it actually seems so simple and doable! Thanks for sharing! How did Coral enjoy them! Have they been used!?
https://curlycaroline.wordpress.com/
I am so glad I didn’t throw the broken crayons out and decided to give them a second chance. Coral loves to break them apart and treat them like a puzzle, lol. Not so much for coloring. Hopefully, she will use them for coloring soon!