Don't know what to do with a kid's broken crayons? Here are 10 colorful DIY craft ideas

Trying to find new fun activities to do with your child every week can be challenging. If your child loves colors, you are sure to have quite a few crayon sets at home, some broken and some not. So, dig into your stash, because we have some creative craft ideas for you to do with those old broken and unused crayons.

What to do with old broken and unused crayons

Let your imagination run wild and make new and interesting art pieces. Here we have some exciting ideas like crayon candles, rainbow slime, crayon play dough, wreaths, rock art and much more.

1. Crayon candles

If you want to create something pretty as well as useful, this is the project for you!

Method

Step 1: Melt a part of an old white candle in the microwave for a minute.

Step 2: Keep stirring it with a popsicle stick in order to get rid of the lumps.

Step 3: Keep repeating this till the wax is completely melted.

Step 4: Place the candle wick in each votive holder and pour a small amount of wax at the bottom, and wait for it to harden.

Step 5: Repeat the method of melting wax in the microwave but this time with a colored crayon of your choice and for a slightly longer duration.

Step 6: Let it cool for around 30 seconds before pouring the liquid. You can either do this with a single color or multiple ones. If you are choosing two to three colors, wait for half an hour for each layer to cool. You will have a gorgeous candle that can light up your home.

How can kids help: Placing the candle wick in the votive holder. They can also pick the color combinations to fire their creativity.

2. Fun shapes

Repurposing your broken crayons into fun shapes is sure to be fun for your kids!

Method

Step 1: Peel the cover off the broken crayons, and sort them.

Step 2: Set your oven to preheat at 180°C.

Step 3: Carefully place small broken crayon bits around half an inch, in the molds and make sure not to fill them up too high.

Step 4: Bake at 180°C for around 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 5: Remove the tray from the oven and leave to cool for an hour. If you want to speed up the cooling process, place them in the freezer after the melted crayons have firmed up.

Step 5: The crayons pop out effortlessly from the mold after half an hour. Start coloring with them right away.

How can kids help: Peeling the crayon paper off the crayons, will help your kids develop their fine motor skills. They can choose their favorite fun molds. Once the wax has cooled, kids can enjoy popping the shaped crayons out and color with them.

3. Alphabet monogram

Creating a monogram with the first alphabet of your child's name can be a fun activity. Once completed it can be framed and hung in a place of pride in their room.

Method

Step 1: Draw the required alphabet on a paper/card.

Step 2: Stick different colored crayons along the shape of the alphabet.

Step 3: Make sure you trim the crayons evenly to form the perfect alphabet.

Voila! You have a colorful addition to display.

How can kids help: They can help trace the alphabet as well as stick the crayons, once the project is complete it will give them an immense sense of satisfaction.

4. Playdough

Tired of store-bought play dough? Then why not make your own colorful and non-toxic ones at home?

Method

Step 1: Chop up two and a half crayons in the color of your choice.

Step 2: Mix three cups of flour, one and a half cups salt, and two tablespoons of cream of tartar together.

Step 3: Heat two tablespoons of oil in an old pan and add your broken crayons.

Step 4: Stir till they melt completely.

Step 5: Slowly add two cups of water to the mixture and keep stirring.

Step 6: Add in the dry ingredients and mix them, a ball of dough will form over the heat.

Step 7: Once it combines together to place the ball on a cutting board, wait for it to cool before you knead the dough into a smooth texture.

How can kids help: Make your child mix the dry ingredients, once the mixture cools they can also help knead the dough.

5. Suncatchers

Method

Step 1: Start by grating the crayons over the wax paper.

Step 2: You can choose any shape of your choice if you want to incorporate nature into your activity pick leaves as your design - shades of green, red or yellow are ideal to reflect the different seasons.

Step 3: Once you are done grating the crayons, place another wax paper on top of them. Iron the wax paper on gentle heat so that the crayons and wax paper melts together.

Step 4: Once the paper has cooled, trace the shape of the different leaves and cut them out. You can either string the leaves together and hang them or stick them individually on the windowpane to have a slice of nature in your room.

How can kids help: Have your child collect different shaped leaves from the garden to create their suncatcher.

6. Rainbow slime

Children love playing with slime and you can make your own variant at home with some basic ingredients.

Method

Step 1: Use a variety of crayons as that will make your slime more attractive. Peel the crayons, grate them into fine little bits and keep them aside.

Step 2: To create the slime, mix 150 ml of clear glue, half a teaspoon baking soda and half a cup of water, add a teaspoon of saline solution.

Step 3: Add the crayon shaving to the mixture. Stir and watch the slime come to life, remove from the bowl and knead it to make it less sticky. If it remains sticky you can add a teaspoon of saline to firm it up further. Let your little one enjoy!

How can kids help: Grating the broken crayons into fine shavings is sure to get your young one excited.

7. Wax paper lantern

A colorful lantern that can double up as a night lamp is just the kind of enjoyable activity to do with your child.

Method

Step 1: Place a ten to twelve-inch wax paper over which you can grate the crayons. Grate a larger quantity; place another wax paper on top of grated crayons.

Step 2: Iron the wax paper on gentle heat, let them cool. Meanwhile, form the frame for your lantern with the popsicle sticks, glue them together in advance.

(You need only three or four sheets for these projects but the more broken crayons you have the more you can experiment with shapes and textures.)

Step 3: Place your shape above the ironed sheet and stick it on, trim the excess wax paper with a pair of scissors, stick the four squares together to form your lantern frame.

Step 4: Turn your battery-operated tea light on inside the lantern at bedtime and have sweet dreams!

How can kids help: While grating the colors; teach your child what mixture of colors form for instance by mixing red and blue you get purple. They can help build the lantern framework too.

8. Abstract art

Think you have a mini Van Gogh or Picasso at home? Well now is the time to dabble in modern art.

Method

Step 1: Arrange all your broken crayons in a row about an empty canvas board.

Step 2: Once you are done, tilt the board, use a hairdryer or heat gun to melt the crayons and form a wild abstract image.

You can always add creative elements like a toy to make the picture unique.

How can kids help: Let them pick the order of the crayons as well as help glue the crayons onto the canvas.

9. Rock art

Method

Step 1: Pick a few rocks from your garden, place them in the oven on a tray and bake them at 100°C for 15-20 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare a heatproof surface like a chopping board but pad it with old newspapers as the wax will melt over.

Step 3: Remove the stones from the oven and place them on the space using oven mitts.

Step 4: Carefully help your child place the crayon on the hot stone and watch it melt. You can either create an abstract pattern or draw something simple that can be filled. Let the colors mix and blend perfectly. Let the stone cool off and then you can use it as a decorative item or paperweight.

How can kids help: Choose the rocks and melt the colors on the rocks.

10. Wreath

Method

Step 1: Choose embroidery hoops of 4 and 6 inches, place the smaller hoop at the center of the larger one.

Step 2: Layout all your crayons on the hoop, trying to pick similar-sized crayons.

Step 3: Once you are done glue them to the hoops, at the top and bottom to avoid them falling off.

Step 4: Tie a bow and hang it up.

How can kids help: Placing the crayons on the hoop as well as sticking them.

So, the next time your child breaks a crayon, don't stress. Have a little save crayon jar and use them later for an unforgettable day of colorful originality and bonding with your little one.