upcycled heart crayons

We got new crayons for the boys for Christmas.

It was time

since their old ones were mostly broken and icky.

I didn't want to just throw them away, though,

so we upcycled.

First we (okay, mostly I) peeled them all.

Tip: If you slit the crayon paper with a paring knife,

you will save your fingers much pain.

(Unless, of course, the knife slips and you cut yourself...that would be painful.

I didn't have any problems,

but if you use my tip and have to get stitches I'm not liable, okay?)

Then we separated the crayons into color families,

broke/cut the crayons into little pieces,

and put them into this heart-shaped ice cube tray from Ikea

that I picked up for a few cents at our local Bargain Basement.

I improvised a double boiler type thing by

putting water into a frying pan,

placed three spoons in it (to lift the mold off the bottom of the pan),

set the mold on top of the spoons,

and heated the water on low.

Nothing like working with what you have on hand. ; )

Then we let the crayons melt, melt, melt.

When the wax was molten,

I took the mold out of the water

and popped it into the fridge

until the wax was cool and solid again.

Then we popped our new marbled heart crayons out of the mold,

and I compulsively took photos for the blog.

Last of all

we sat down and made some art.