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How to Make Candles from Crayons

Crayons, Safety Glasses

Anyone who has children or grandchildren who love to color with crayons knows that once the crayons get to a certain point, the crayons become bottom feeders of a crayon box. Many of us hate to see these poor little crayons get thrown away because children seem to feel they are no longer of use for coloring.

While we will never actually know why children feel that broken, worn down crayons seem to lose their way, we do know that these poor defenseless crayons do have more life left in them. Why not make crayon candles from the bottom feeders?

Materials Needed for Crayon Candles

• Old discarded crayons. The crayons that have been all used up by their once used admirers.

• Wax. You will need extra wax to make your candles. This wax can be candle wax from the arts and craft store or paraffin wax.

• Wax boil bags, wax melting pitcher, or old sauce pans. You will need something to melt the wax in. The wax bags can be placed in a pan of boiling water. The wax melting pot comes in many different shapes and sizes. You can find a wax melting pot that is in the shape of a metal pitcher at Micheal’s or Hobby Lobby. An old pan that you are considering discarding will work too. If you have a double boiler, you can use that as well.

• Wicks and adhering substance. Wicks are needed in order to burn the candles. The adhering substance used to secure the wicks in place at the bottom of the container can be found in any arts and craft shop.

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• Pencil or chop sticks. A pencil or chop sticks will be needed to hold the wick straight while the melted wax is poured into the candle mold.

• Containers for making candle shapes. The containers that you are going to use will need to be able to withstand the heat of the melted wax. You can use cardboard milk containers, glass jars or candle molds from any arts and craft’s area.

• Oven mitten potholder or heat resistant gloves. Either of these items will help you from getting burns or burned as badly from the hot wax.

Safety glasses. It probably wouldn’t hurt to dawn a pair of safety glasses in the even of the wax splashing during pouring.

• A candle spray remover. This can help remove the poured candles from their molds.

Directions for Making Crayon Candles

The following note is not to scare you, but to help in your own personal safety while working with hot wax to prevent injuries. I would rather have you safe and having fun rather than hurt and miserable.

NOTE: The melted wax will be hot. Use an oven mitt or one of the oven gloves to help prevent burning of the fingers and hands during the pouring process of the wax. Also, the safety glasses may be needed in the event of splashing of the wax during the pouring process depending on the containers used.

Separate the crayons into like colors for easier use when it comes time to add them into the melting process. Remove all the paper from the crayons.

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Adhere the wick to the container so that it stays in place at the bottom. There are gums or other types of adhering tools that can be purchased for candle making. Tape or tie the top of the wick (which should be 3 inches taller than the container) to the pencil or chop sticks. Lay the tied off wick on top of the container.

Begin the process of melting your wax. You will need to melt the wax following the instructions of the melting pot or melting wax bag.

Otherwise, if you are using a pan without the double boiler, place chunks of the regular wax into the pan, place on the stove and turn the heat onto low. When using the double boiler process, bring the water to boiling, reduce the heat, add the wax slowly to the double boiler.

The crayons can be added at the beginning of the melting process. This will create a colored tint from the crayons.

You can also choose to add the unmelted crayons during the pouring process. In this step, you will be creating a multicolored candle. The candles will melt as the wax is poured and during the cooling process.

Pour the melted wax into the candle holder slowly. If you are adding the crayons to the candle at this point, stop ever so often to add your choice of crayons. You will continue the process until you have the container filled to about an inch below the rim of the container. (If you have containers that you can remove the candles from, for instance clay flower pots, spray the inside of the pot with a candle release spray for easy removal.)

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Let your crayon candles cool completely before cutting the pencil loose from the rest of the wick. Let enough of the wick stand above the candle for lighting purposes.

Have fun making your crayon candles.