Reusable Crayola Candle

I will teach you how to make a reusable candle out of crayola crayons. 

The things you will need are as follows:
- Minimum of 4 crayola crayons
- Small metal cylinder (can)
      - Can opener (if the cylinder still has both faces attached.)
      - Make sure that you empty the cylinder of its contents!
- Small plastic cups
- Large and small candle wicks
- A bag of rubber bands
- Scissors
- A lighter

*WARNING*
Some of the steps in this how to process can be dangerous! Use the help and supervision of an adult when making a crayola candle!

Steps:
1. Make sure you have all the above supplies before you start, this procedure may take anywhere from 30-90 minutes.

2. Take your crayons and remove the paper coverings.

3. Take two rubber bands and secure the crayons into a small bundle, tighten the rubber bands on the top and bottom of the bundle.

4. Take a large wick and secure it into the middle of the crayon bundle.

5. Place a small wick into a small plastic cup.

6. Take your scissors and your metal cylinder and cut about 6-8 slices on the sides. Try to space these evenly apart.

7. Use as many rubber bands as needed to create a web like net into the slices of your cylinder. Hint: Be cautious and be patient. This step is the most complicated because rushing this step can result to damage of the rubber bands, or the risk of harming yourself.

8. Once the rubber bands are secure, place the cylinder over the small wick and plastic cup you prepared from step five. Make sure the the rubber bands are on the bottom, near the plastic cup.
 - Also, if needed, use any extra small plastic cups to balance the cylinder over your center plastic cup.

9. Take your bundle of crayons and place it securely into the web of rubber bands, so that it won't slip out when melting. Rest the bundle against the side of the cylinder if you cannot get it to stand upright, do anything you can to prevent wax from missing the small plastic cup.

10. If everything looks good, and the bundle is above a cylinder with a wick in it, then you may light your candle! (With supervision of course.)

11. Wait for the candle to melt. (Should not take more than about an hour.) If done correctly, the wax will have seeped into the small plastic cup below and the web should have caught the rubber bands. You will now be able to use this as a candle, if you wish to be done, or you may continue.

12. If you wish to reuse your candle, you can take your cylinder and turn it so that the web is facing up, gently squeeze the plastic cup it is in, and it will eventually pop loose. Now place your candle on top, while placing another small plastic cup with a small wick inside it below.

Extra: The design may look a little goofy, but it should hold and continue to work. If you wish to make a smaller holder, so that you may reuse the candle more often and efficiently, you can make your own by allowing the wax to seep into a bigger plastic cup with a wick inside.

Four Questions:
1. I created an inexpensive home candle from crayola crayons. It can be reused over and over with the appropriate supplies, such as a plastic cup, wick, and support for the candle to leak into the new cup.

2. The idea I had to produce this was actually from about a year ago when there was a terrible blizzard where I lived. (Yes, at the end of April!) We lost power and could not leave our house for awhile. As a result, we had to use candles for lighting and heat. We actually began to run out of candles! My brother and I were extremely bored and cold, so we began to light crayons on fire, from prior knowledge on their waxy substance. They worked great as candles, so I figured, "Why not use this as an idea, especially if it's reusable?!".

3. I made all of this at home. One hundred percent of the supplies was from left over art materials in my home. It took me many hours to perfect, but the final version took about 30 minutes to create, due to practice.

4. What I learned during this experiment was that the crayola candles are very versatile candles. It is extremely easy to burn yourself during this experiment, so use caution! The biggest challenge was producing the web of rubber bands patiently, as one slip could snap a rubber band. I was very proud with how well the candle seeped into the plastic cup to form the new candle. If I had to try anything else for this experiment, it would be to make a smaller and more eye friendly holder for the candle when melting it into a new plastic cup.

Thank you so much! I hope you enjoyed my project. Pass it on, and use it as you want to make your own crayola candles with young family!