Do your little ones have a bunch of broken crayons lying around at home? Instead of throwing them away, here’s a cool idea: let’s recycle them into something brand new and colorful! Recycling broken crayons isn’t just good for the environment, it’s also a super fun and creative way to make sure we’re not making more waste.
Did you know that most crayons are made from a type of material called paraffin, which comes from petroleum? This makes crayons not very eco-friendly and they’re a bit like plastic, which can stick around in landfills for thousands of years.
In this blog post, I’ll guide you through easy steps to turn those broken crayons into something absolutely cute!
Materials Needed:
- Broken Crayons
- Silicone Molds
- Metal Baking Sheet
Step 1: Gather Your Broken Crayons and Silicone Molds
To start, gather all your old crayons that are broken. Search in drawers, pencil cases, or anywhere else your kids keep these colorful crayons. Don’t worry about the sizes or shapes; all crayon pieces can be repurposed. Also, choose some cool silicone molds to reshape the recycled crayons. You can get molds in fun shapes like animals, stars, hearts, or even your beloved cartoon characters from craft stores or online.
Step 2: Peel off Wrappers (if needed)
If your crayons still have paper wrappers on them, take them off! You can do this easily by gently peeling the wrappers or by soaking the crayons in warm water to help loosen the wrappers. Doing this will make it easier for the crayons to melt smoothly.
Step 3: Making Smaller Pieces
If you want tinier crayons, you can break the big ones into smaller pieces. It might be tough to do by hand, so I used a butter knife. But for kids, it’s safer to have an adult around when using a butter knife. These knives are safer than sharp ones. Always make sure a grown-up is there to help and remind kids to be careful.
Step 4: Turning Crayons into Liquid
Now for the fun part – turning crayons into liquid! First, heat your oven to a low temperature, like 250°F or 120°C. Next, put the broken crayon bits into silicone molds. Ensure the molds are placed on a metal baking sheet for easy handling. Once filled, place the molds in the oven. Keep an eye on them as they melt; it usually takes around 10-15 minutes. When the crayons have completely melted, remove the molds from the oven and let them cool and solidify.
Step 5: Unmold and Enjoy!
After the crayons have cooled down and solidified, gently pop them out of the molds. Voila! You’ve just created your own recycled crayons. These newly formed crayons are now ready to be used for coloring and drawing.
Fun Ways to Use Recycled Crayons
When you recycle crayons, there are cool things you can do! Imagine making crayons in fun shapes and mixing colors to create cool rainbow designs. These special crayons aren’t just for coloring; you can wrap them up nicely and give them as awesome gifts or cool party favors. Think of pretty boxes or colorful ribbons to make them look extra nice! But wait, there’s more! You can also use these crayons for arts and crafts. Their unique shapes and colors can make your art projects look super cool and creative. Plus, these crayons can even help kids learn. You can make crayons that teach about shapes and colors, which can be super helpful for little kids learning new things. So, by putting all these ideas together, recycled crayons can be used in many fun ways: as great gifts, for making awesome art, and even for helping kids learn cool stuff!
Changing those broken crayons into something new isn’t just good for the Earth; it’s also a lot of fun for kids! So, gather your broken crayons, follow these easy steps, and let the fun begin! Remember to share this idea with your friends and family so they can enjoy making cool stuff from old crayons too!
Your words have resonated with us and we can’t wait to read more of your amazing content. Thank you for sharing your expertise and passion with the world.