Make repurposed crayon crafts with your kids to give old, broken art supplies a new life as art, slime, picture frames, and more fun ideas.
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If you have kids, you probably have more crayons than you know what to do with! Somehow a few small boxes seem to multiply until you’ve got a big plastic tub. And inevitably, a lot of those crayons are old, broken, or missing the wrappers.
But don’t toss those worn out crayons! They’re the perfect supply to repurpose for kids’ arts and crafts. Whether you’re looking for melted crayon crafts or other creative ways to use crayons, we’ve collected some really fun and cute ideas.
Our list includes repurposed crayon crafts that can be done with old ones, new ones, and everything in between.
Crayon craft tips
- Crayon’s don’t expire, but they can lose their shine after a long time. No matter how old they are, they can be used for melting.
- Most crayons are non-toxic, but if you’re crafting with a child who puts objects in their mouth, be sure they don’t swallow small pieces.
- Prepare crayons for melting by peeling off paper and breaking them into smaller pieces. This will help them melt faster.
- If the paper is difficult to remove, try soaking the crayons in water. They’re mostly wax, so this will soften the paper without damaging the crayons.
- Have fun and mix colors, but remind kids that too many colors combined together will turn brown or dark gray.
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How to repurpose crayons
Flower pot
Made With Happy created this fun crayon flower pot as a teacher gift, but it would also be fun to make in the summertime with leftover crayons from the last school year. Decorate a few flower pots and start a mini windowsill garden.
Picture frame
Make a picture frame with crayons to show off your child’s artwork or family photos. This tutorial from Messy Momma Crafts is easy for kids of all ages to make with help from an adult.
Color block candles
These color block candles at Ideas 2 Live 4 might be made with kids’ art supplies, but the finished candles are something adults will want to display. There are tons of variations with different patterns too.
Canvas art
Melted crayons can become anything on a blank canvas with this cute project from The DIY Nuts. Learn how to make crayon canvas art like this heart shaped design and get tips for making it a little less messy.
Printed t-shirt
Your kids will be so tickled to make their own t-shirt designs using crayons and an easy DIY transfer. Learn how to make sandpaper printed t-shirts that kids can wear all summer long at Alpha Mom.
Dinosaur crayons
The silicone mold that The Inspiration Edit used to make these dinosaur crayons is too cute! Teach your kids about recycling and repurposing, or make these as a handmade gift to give to a friend along with a pad of drawing paper.
Rock art
Collect some rocks on a nature walk with your family, then turn them into colorful rock art with melted crayons, via Artful Parent. This process art activity would be great for an open-ended activity for kids to do in an afternoon.
Crayon slime
If your kids love making homemade slime recipes, try this easy crayon slime from Crayons and Cravings. It uses shaved crayon pieces instead of food dye or glitter to make it so bright and colorful.
Crayon play dough
If slime is a bit too messy for you, set your kids up with a batch of crayon play dough. This recipe from the OT Toolbox uses items you probably already have in your pantry, plus crayons, of course. As a bonus, your kids will love making playdough in their favorite custom colors.
Wax paper art
You might’ve made this wax paper art project when you were a kid. Get tips for a fun modern updated version from Giggles Galore. Display your kids’ finished artwork in a window like a suncatcher for a colorful show!
We love crayons as a kids’ craft staple. Whether you have too many and want to find ways to repurpose crayons or you shop the dollar store for easy summer craft supplies, your kids will love these easy ideas.
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