Recycling Crayons for Kids

When I was young growing up, my family was poor. In an effort to keep my siblings and I still active and busy, my Mother had to learn how to extend our resources. One way she did this was by recycling old broken crayons. She realized money was tight and there was no sense in throwing away crayons that could still be used. She made new molded crayons from the old broken ones and created recycled paper from the crayon wrappers, old news papers, and constructions paper. She quickly realized this was an activity that young children could help with, and then enjoy the fruits of their labors with recycled crayons and paper when they were done. I have great childhood memories of doing this activity and then drawing with my newly shaped crayons and cool recycled paper. I hope you enjoy this Instructables and give it a go on your own. Kids will love it!

Supplies

For the Crayons:

• Old broken crayons with wrappers
• Muffin tin or silicone molds
• Heating source (an oven or grill)
• Aluminum drip pan

For the Paper:

• Crayon wrappers
• Old used paper
• News paper
• Construction paper
• Egg Cartons
• Water
• Blender (get a cheap one, not the one you use for cooking!)
• Shallow tray or container (to hold paper water)
• Rolling pin
• Sponge
• Soft bath towels, linens, or cotton cloth
• Heavy object (brick or piece of wood)
• Mould and Deckle (you can buy one or you can DIY it)

Mould and Deckle DIY:

• Two cheap picture frames any size you want (get them from the dollar store)
• Weather stripping
• Window screening
• Duct tape
• Scissors
• Staple gun

Step 1: Start With the Crayons

You can use any crayons, left over or new.

Take your crayons and remove the paper around them.

Set the paper aside for later use.

Break the crayons into 0.5 to 1 inch pieces.

Step 2: Place Broken Crayons Into the Molds

Place the broken pieces into the silicone molds or muffin tin. You can organize the colors however you like. Let the kids pick. One cool thing about making these crayons, is you can mix colors.

Step 3: Put Molds Into Your Heating Source

You can place your crayons in the regular kitchen oven or on the grill outside. One reason I like to do it outside, is to prevent the smoke detector from going off. Melting crayons create a lot of smoke.

Step 4: Heat Molds

If you choose to melt them in the oven do it on the lowest heat and do not open the oven until the crayons are completely cooled. It will take about 10-20 minutes in the oven on the lowest setting.

f you melt them on the grill do it on low with the lid closed. It will only take about 5-10 minutes on the grill.

Do not over cook your crayons or the color will separate from the wax.

Step 5: Turn Off Heat and Let Cool, Once Cooled Gently Remove New Molded Crayons

Let the crayons cool in their molds for 30 minutes to an hour.

If you used a muffin tin you can use a tooth pick to help you remove the crayons, or you can pop them out by turning the tin over. Since they are made of wax they slip right out.

If you used a silicone mold you will need to peel the mold back to remove the crayons.

Once the crayons are removed from the mold, they are ready to use.

If you want to adjust the shape or get rid of the rough edges, all you have to do is color with them to smooth them out.

Step 6: Start Making Mould and Deckle - Skip Steps 6-13 If You Already Have a Mould and Deckle

For your mould and deckle for your paper, you will need two picture frames of the same size (I used 8 x 10 picture frames), spongy weather stripping with a sticky side, window screening, a staple gun, and Duct tape.

Step 7: Remove All Parts of the Picture Frames Until Just Left With the Frame Itself

Step 8: Cut Window Screening Slightly Larger Than the Perimeter of the Frames and Staple It

Make sure to pull the screen taught as you staple so you have a tight screen to work with once you start making your paper.

Step 9: Trim the Window Screen So It Is Flush With the Frame

Step 10: Duct Tape the Edges of the Picture Frame to Cover the Window Screen

Covering the staples with Duct tape helps keep the staple surface smooth for the weather stripping to press up against.

Step 11: Stick the Weather Stripping on the Other Picture Frame

Pull the adhesive off the weather stripping and stick it to the edge of the inside of the frame. You can cut the pieces to fit, it doesn't need to be exactly perfect.

Step 12: Now Your Mould and Deckle Is Ready for Making Paper

Step 13: Rip or Cut Up the Paper You Are Using Into 1 Inch Pieces and Soak in a Bowl Full of Water

You can use all kinds of paper to recycle. I like to use old egg cartons, construction paper, and the crayon wrappers themselves. Once you rip up your paper place them in a bowl or jar of water for a few hours to day and let them soak up the water.

Step 14: Place Wet Paper Pieces and Water in Blender and Blend Well

Using a cheap blender (DO NOT USE YOUR NICE ONE!) Blend up the paper pieces with plenty of water.

Step 15: Transfer Wet Paper Mixture Into Your Shallow Tray or Container

Add more water to the tray so you can have plenty of paper mixture to pick up with your mould and deckle. Pictured is the egg carton mixture and it will create a grey colored paper.

Step 16: Using Your Mould and Deckle Gently Lower Into the Paper Water in a Sweeping Motion to Collect the Paper Fibers

With a sweeping motion hold your mould and deckle with the weather stripping touching the Duct tape and move the mould and deckle through the paper water to pick up paper fibers. Once you have picked up enough paper fibers allow the water to drain from the bottom of the mould and deckle.

Step 17: Another Way You Can Get the Paper Fiber Onto the Window Screen Is to Pour It Directly Onto the Screen From the Blender

I do this if I only want to make a single colored paper.

Step 18: Let the Water Drip From the Mould and Deckle

Once it has dripped sufficiently, remove the top picture frame to reveal the shape of your wet paper.

Step 19: Using a Flat Surface and Towel Gently Flip Your Mould and Deckle Over So the Paper Faces the Towel

You can use a clean soft towel, linens, or cotton fabric for this step.

Step 20: Gently Press the Excess Water From the Window Screen With a Dry Sponge

Step 21: Gently Pull the Window Screen Picture Frame Away From the Wet Paper and Then Press the Paper Again With the Dry Sponge

Step 22: Roll a Rolling Pin Over the Paper to Make It As Flat As You Want

If you want to flatten your paper more gently use a rolling pin to roll the paper.

Step 23: Fold the Towel Over the Wet Paper to Cover Both Sides

Fold the towel, linen, or cotton cloth over the piece of paper. You can continue to add additional pieces of paper between sections of the linen. Add as many pieces as you can before pressing.

Step 24: Place the Paper Between Two Hard Surfaces and Press Down With a Hard Object Like a Brick or Piece of Wood.

I use two cutting boards on both sides of the towel/linens and place heavy object on top. You can use anything heavy. This helps squeeze the excess water out before drying. Let the paper sit like this for a few hours to a day.

Step 25: Once Most of the Water Has Been Squeezed Out Remove the Paper From the Towel and Place It on a Hard Surface to Dry for 1-3 Days

I like to place my paper in front of the fireplace while on and a fan running. If you want to speed up the process you can do it in the oven on low. Just place the papers directly on the oven racks. Every so often flip the paper over so it dries evenly on both sides.

Step 26: Once Dry, If the Paper Doesn't Lay Flat, Place Something Heavy on It to Get It Begin to Lay Flat

Even if it doesn't lay completely flat, that is part of the charm of homemade paper. The kids will love its uniqueness and that they helped make it.

Step 27: Once Your Crayons and Paper Are Made You Can Start Having Fun!

Making your own crayons and paper is a fantastic activity for kids that they get to use and make their own. Give it a try with your kids!

DISCLAIMER: Please do not allow the children to use the grill or oven unattended. This activity requires adult supervision and assistance!

Step 28: If You Want Lighter Colors Set Your Paper Out in the Sun Light and They Will Begin to Fade