Whether your kids outgrew them or are simply too hard on them, families often find themselves in possession of an alarming number of broken and unused crayons. If your family is included in this, consider yourselves lucky because this article has a variety of different ways to make use of them. You can melt down all those odd bits to simply make new crayons, just like the Crazy Crayons started their recycling journey in 1993 with a simple collection box in a grocery store in Troutdale, Oregon. Fast forward to 2023, and their Crayon Recycle Program is now a national success! Today, however, we are aiming to move beyond that recycling/donation step, finding out how to make use of them on our own. Decorate your home or spice up your gift-giving season with these unique projects made out of crayons! 

Candles: This tutorial walks you through the best ways to sort, melt, layer, and craft useless bits of crayon into cute, functional candles. While crayons are the most important material, you will also need any variety of glass votives (could be mason jars, juice cups, candy dishes, or more), wicks, some paper cups and popsicle sticks for stirring the wax mixtures, and a microwave. For an extra layer of flair, stir in a few drops of your favorite essential oil, like lavender or citrus, to the melted wax before pouring it into the glass votive. 

Silicone Molds: There are many creative, flexible, multi-purpose molds for almost everything these days—dishes, pendants, letter shapes, and much more! Microwave old crayons down to make them more functional! They could become a new rainbow jewelry box, puzzle pieces, or even cake decorations. Because silicone molds have become a keen product of interest in the last decade, avoid opening the Amazon app and choose to browse local Oregon-based stores like Kitchen Kaboodle or Willamette Valley Kitchen Co instead. 

In a Glue Gun: Longer bits of standard-width crayon will fit in a classic glue gun, making it extremely easy to apply melted wax in portions. This can be useful for things like a fancy seal on party envelopes or creating larger “drip pictures” on different surfaces using a technique called pointillism. Because this is not a glue gun’s original intended purpose, it is highly recommended to purchase a cheap and basic gun to use exclusively with the crayons, not the same one you will also use for glue. 

Silhouette Art: Cut out and paste any desired shape to a canvas, melt crayons over the top of it with a hairdryer, and you will soon have a unique and beautiful piece of artwork! Personalize it with your family’s favorite sports mascot, cartoon character, motto, or the shape of our amazing state and hang it proudly. Hot Tip: Hairdryers are commonly found in the average home, but they do not always get hot enough to easily and efficiently melt crayon wax. If your project is intricate and needs fine detail, consider using an embossing heat gun (which can reach temps over 1000° and therefore requires careful handling and supervision).

Letter Displays: Melting is not the only thing crayons are good for! All those odd shapes and sizes of abandoned wax can be pieced together in a colorful crayon mosaic to create larger shapes, such as a letter of the alphabet. Utilize those interesting hues and crafting glue to stick all the little bits into the first letter of a name. Have fun purposefully breaking bigger pieces to fit exactly the shapes you need! This is an excellent custom teacher gift or kid’s room decor.

Spread the Shavings: Even those itty-bitty crayon flecks can be useful in new crafting projects! Did you know that you can add shredded wax to homemade slime to make it more vibrant, textured, and colorful? All you need for this project is an airtight container, clear glue, water, baking soda, contact solution, a mixing bowl, and whatever colored crayon flecks you desire. Have a full crayon of the color you like best? Use an old cheese grater or small scissors to build up a generous pile of crayon shavings. Follow this tutorial for a step-by-step picture guide to success!

Wax Paper Lanterns: With shorter daylight hours this time of year, cozy indoor lighting is a quick and easy source of cheer. DIY some decorative wax paper lanterns in whatever array of colors you like best! Use this simple tutorial and basic crafting supply list of crayon shavings, wax paper, popsicle sticks, and scrap paper. Simple does not always mean safe! Be aware that this process involves using an iron, so young ones will need supervision. Also, as these are made from flammable materials, it would be best to use an LED flameless candle to light the inside.