A pile of broken crayons.

Crayon Craziness (Crayons & Candles)

Whether in the classroom or at home, we've all experienced the inevitable pile (or drawer, or plastic baggie) of broken crayon ends. The brand-new box that was once a gleaming symbol of creativity and potential eventually degrades into a handful of half-inch chunks. No one wants to use them, but they can't be recycled. What are you to do but toss them into the trash?

We at the Marine Debris Program have a solution for you! To keep those broken crayon pieces from filling up landfills (or ending up as schoolyard litter), try one of these upcycling projects to give them a whole new life. 

Crayons to Candles

Supplies: 

  • Broken crayons
  • Old white candle or tea light (Note: You can use crayons alone, but the candle won't burn as well)
  • Candle wick
  • Small jars or votives
  • Optional: Essential oils to add fragrance
Clockwise from top-left. 1, red crayon pieces. 2, grated crayon and white candle wax. Step 3, melted wax poured in votive. Step 4, lit candle.
This craft is lit! Here are the four steps to a crayon candle: Start with your crayon pieces, grate them into the smallest possible pieces and mix with white candle wax, melt and pour into votive, and presto! Light your candle safely (Credit: NOAA).

Steps: 

  1. Peel off and recycle any paper wrappings on your crayons. 
  2. Chop or grate the crayons and candle into the smallest pieces possible. 
  3. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt a mixture of crayon and candle wax for 30-second intervals, stirring between each.
  4.  While your wax is melting, prepare your container by placing the wick into the center, holding it straight with popsicle sticks or pencils across the top. 
  5. Carefully pour the melted wax into your container, adding any fragrance.
  6. Allow the candle to set completely before using. This will take several hours. 
  7. Once set, trim the wick down to 1/4-inch above the candle's surface. 

Note: This activity should only be conducted with adult supervision. Exercise caution when using the stove or microwave, handling hot wax, or lighting your candle.

Tie-Dye Crayons

Supplies: 

  • Broken crayons in different colors
  • Muffin tin
Collage: Left, final tie-dye crayon; Top-Right, broken crayons in muffin tin; Middle-Right, melted crayons; Bottom-Right, cooled tie-dye crayons.
Voila! Tie-Dye Crayons: Step 1 (top-right), broken pieces in muffin tin. Step 2 (middle-right), crayons melted completely. Step 3 (bottom-right), let cool and pop out of tins. Step 4 (left), draw your heart out! (Credit: NOAA).

Steps: 

  1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Peel and recycle the paper wrapping of your crayons.
  3. Ensure crayons are broken into small pieces, around 1/2-inch or smaller.
  4. One color at a time, layer a few crayon pieces into each space of the muffin tin. Aim for 2-3 colors each. (The more pieces you add, the thicker the new crayons will be.)
  5. Bake at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes, or until the crayons have melted completely.
  6. Carefully remove the muffin tin from the oven. Allow to cool on a counter or table, then put them in the fridge for 30 minutes. 
  7. Once cooled, remove the crayons from the tin by gently tapping the tin out onto a hard surface. 

Note: This activity should only be conducted with adult supervision. Make sure you are using oven mitts to remove your new crayons, and avoid touching any hot surfaces. 

 

For citation purposes, unless otherwise noted, this article was authored by the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

Last updated Tue, 08/06/2024 - 01:37 pm EDT