Reuse Broken Crayons

After many uses, crayons break, get blunt, or just get used down to their stubs. Save money and recycle them for second round of coloring. Use your old, broken crayons to make new crayons in a variety of fun shapes and mixed colors.

Steps

Baked Crayons Method

  1. Preheat your oven to 275ºF / 140ºC.
  2. Gather your broken crayons and peel the paper off of them. Break any large crayon pieces so that none are the same color in each pile.
  3. Line the cups of a muffin tin with aluminum foil or baking cups, whichever you prefer. Place crayon pieces in each cup of the muffin tin. You can use one color per cup or combine colors.
  4. Place the muffin tin in the oven and bake it for approximately 10 minutes. Remove the tin from the oven and allow it to cool completely.
  5. Take each cup out and remove the paper or foil from your new crayons.

Coffee Can Method

  1. Prepare the crayons and tins as described above.
  2. Bring a pot of water to boil.
  3. Using a clean, empty coffee can (or other can), put crayon pieces inside.
  4. Using an oven mitt or other protective covering, lower the can into the boiling water. This will create a "double boiler" effect.
    • It may help to give the can a few swirls occasionally to evenly distribute the heat.
    • If you do several batches of crayons, the can will get hotter and melt crayons faster.
  5. When crayon pieces are melted, pour into shapes.
  6. When you are completed, recycle or discard can. You didn't need to ruin any of your good cookware!
  7. Finished.

Tips

  • Special crayon shaped molds can be bought to make easy to use crayons.
  • This is a great activity for students to appreciate recycling--it also makes great gifts for friends, and fundraising items.
  • Try to use fun color combinations like rainbows, patriotic colors, or holiday themed crayons.
  • The stovetop/coffee can method can be used to make layered crayons if different batches are used.
  • If you're using paper cupcake liners, it helps to double-line each tin. This will help protect your bakeware.
  • Experiment by using different sizes of muffin tins or by using small tart pans or mini-ice-cube trays of different novelty shapes for varied shapes.
  • You can also buy a machine that will do this for you at your local toy store.
  • If possible and to make melting easier, try to go find Crayola's crayon maker, which will make crayon making a lot easier and safer for kids.

Warnings

  • Cool the crayons completely before you remove them from the muffin tins.
  • Remove the wrapper from the crayon before melting it!
  • Children will need the assistance of an adult for using the oven.

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