So, I grabbed some crayons (what a great use for all those broken ones around your house!),
took all the wrappers off and put them in the trays,
and melted them in a preheated oven at 250 degrees.
When they were all melted, I carefully took them out of the oven and stuck them in the freezer to set. After that, they were easy to pop on out and use. Not that I tried them out (much)...
Sorry, no picture of the finished project. I gave them away before I remembered to get a picture. Dang. Next time.
EDIT: If you are going to try this out, make sure to use silicone icecube trays, not the regular old plastic ones. Those will melt in the oven, silicone won't.
Also, if you read my comments on this post you'll get some way helpful tips. Alexis says she made them with muffin tins. What a perfect size crayon for a little one!
When they were all melted, I carefully took them out of the oven and stuck them in the freezer to set. After that, they were easy to pop on out and use. Not that I tried them out (much)...
Sorry, no picture of the finished project. I gave them away before I remembered to get a picture. Dang. Next time.
EDIT: If you are going to try this out, make sure to use silicone icecube trays, not the regular old plastic ones. Those will melt in the oven, silicone won't.
Also, if you read my comments on this post you'll get some way helpful tips. Alexis says she made them with muffin tins. What a perfect size crayon for a little one!
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I did that with a plain muffin tin once, but I love the idea of the little shapes!
ReplyDeleteCan you just use any ice cube tray? They must have turned out super cute !
ReplyDeleteLove the idea. The oven didn't melt the ice cube trays?
ReplyDeleteYou guys, I am the worst blogger ever.
ReplyDeleteI should have mentioned to use silicone icecube trays to prevent melting.
I better go edit!
The good news is, you can find these everywhere (including the dollar store), so you'll be able to get cute crayons super cheap.
And, Alexis, muffin tins? Brilliant!
I use Candy and soap molds! You can do a million shapes and characters!
ReplyDeletewhat a fun, easy idea! this is something my daughter can do for our neighbor's younger kids! thanks!
ReplyDeleteI have done this but just put them in a cookie sheet and then used cute cookie cutters to cut some out. You have to let it cool just a bit after the over till its kinda hard/kinda soft then cut them out. Then freeze! But the ice cube trays look much easier!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute idea. I am going to have to put that on the list of crafts to do while the kids are home from school.
ReplyDeleteI like this idea cause I'm tired of throwing away my money aka broken crayons. I did this just this weekend, I've been trying to make a homemade gift along with a regular gift for those whose names we have. Anyways, I used muffins cups the little ones, then you aren't dealing with the mess inside your tins, and it worked out great. My kids tried them out for me and were amazed that they actually colored... Have your mom start saving her kids broken crayons!!!
ReplyDeleteThis works especially well if you group your broken color bits by colors that "blend" well together. You can make a "firey" crayon cookie with yellows, oranges and reds. A "cool" crayon cookie with blues and purples. Making some with pinks, whites and reds make a great valentine's gift for kids. A little one can easily color a beautifully textured sky with a single crayon cookie made from whites, blues and a bit of purple. The combos are endless!
ReplyDeleteFun! I think this would be so cute for stocking stuffers. Can we make these when I come?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea...we have tons of broken crayons, and I have some unused candy molds!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the exact heating directions - I keep seeing people make this around the blogsphere but no one ever posted what temp they set the oven to.
ReplyDeleteDid the air bubble and leave from the top?
I just made 20 little Christmas tree crayons for my daughters little giveaway gift for everyone in her class. Thanks for posting this!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I have a star shaped ice cube tray from Ikea. I'm going to try this for sure.
ReplyDeleteI have been doping these with muffins tins but i love this idea because it would be so much easier to pop them out! And I never thought of putting it in the freezer to set, i always let them sit out to set then pried them out with a butter knife!!!!
ReplyDeletemegan_rogers22@yahoo.com
Um, that is completely fantastic. What an incredible idea!! I have it featured on my sidebar today :o)
ReplyDeletewow this is great!!! question...about how long did you have then in the oven for?
ReplyDeletethanks!
joy
This is so cute! Very creative! About how long did you leave them in the freezer?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Justine
We were going to do this for Christmas, but my daughter decided she really wanted a snake, so we created a snake mold out of aluminum foil. I imagine you could make just about any shape, as long as it wasn't to complex.
ReplyDeleteHere are the finished flower crayons
ReplyDeletehttp://pottyosdoboz.blogspot.com/2009/12/sajat-zsirkreta-keszites.html
AMAZING! I don't even have kids yet..(working on it ;P) and I want these for myself. Thought of this as well > http://www.surlatable.com/product/id/187208.do?mr:trackingCode=696AAEDC-D781-DE11-B7F3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA
ReplyDeleteI am wondering if you could put all the crayon bits in a ziplock and beat the up with a hammer or something (not too small) and put them in. I wonder if you get them like small like chip shards if they would be big enough to still unique colours or if it would all mix the colors.
Oh! what seems like it might work really well is mix all the shades of green together with maybe a few savings of yellow, blue, white, and black. Then it is a green based crayon but with a few coordinating highlights. Man! I can not wait to try it out!
ReplyDeleteOk I did try this and my trays still have crayin all over them. Did yours do this? I cannot get it all off. I guess they will now be my crayon trays.
ReplyDeletei did this and the ice cube tray definately MELTED!! bought in a UK ikea - dont know if that makes a difference but yeah be careful!
ReplyDeletelove the concept i just need to find a different container!
I just made these, using the exact same ice cube trays and they have all melted into a ball at the bottom of my oven..
ReplyDeleteI used the same Ikea trays and they too have melted
ReplyDelete:o(
That is the weirdest thing, ladies! I wonder if you bought a newer version or something? Because mine weren't even close to melting (or, at least they didn't feel like it!)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to make another trip to Ikea and try it out again!
Thanks for the heads up!
Let your children peel and break the crayons instead of cutting the crayons yourself. It is a great fine motor activity. It would also be a great color sorting activity for preschoolers.
ReplyDeleteI JUST did this and the tray didn't melt thank God. They are in the freezer right now. Thank you so much for posting this.
ReplyDeleteErika, did you ever try with the newer Ikea ice cube trays? Just wondering... Want to try it out, but don't want melted crayons and a melted synthetic rubber tray in my oven :P TIA for any feedback!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!! Going to try it with mini muffin tins (with paper liners in them!!). Saves the tin from crayon and I would hope the paper cups would peel right off the crayon when cooled!! We are a homeschooling family and have way too many stubs of crayons that no one wants to use!!
ReplyDelete