11 cool things to do with broken crayons

If you have kids who love to color, it’s a fact of life that you’re going to end up with a bunch of old, broken crayons that are seriously past their prime. Instead of just chucking them and starting over with a new pack, old crayons can actually be repurposed to make some pretty amazing crafts. Check out this list of 11 ways you can reuse broken crayons to create something awesome:

1. Muffin Tin Crayons

One way to reuse crayons is to turn them into, well, new crayons. All you need is a muffin tin! Perhaps even one with non-traditional shapes, like this adorable star-shaped tin. Check out this guide from Our Best Bites to learn how to make your very own. The blog’s co-author, Sara Wells, suggests that these can even be turned into adorable valentines when using a heart-shaped pan. You can also create new colors by blending different shades.

2. Suncatcher Craft

To make these pretty suncatchers, you’ll need a cheese grater to turn your old crayons into finely shaved pieces. Other supplies include wax paper, an iron, scissors, old newspaper and construction paper and glue. The result is a beautiful homemade decoration that kids can put on their windows or anywhere else they choose to show off their creativity. Get the details at Buggy and Buddy.

3. Lip Gloss

If you’re looking for lip gloss in an unconventional shade, the sky’s the limit when you use crayons to create it. All you need are crayons and some coconut oil. That’s it! This is a great way for kids who are curious about cosmetics to be introduced to makeup without being too grown up about it. Check out the tutorial at Mom Dot.

4. Marbled Easter Eggs

Sure, you can use the same old packaged dye to decorate your Easter eggs this coming spring, but using recycled crayons to create a super-cool marbled effect sounds like way more fun. Learn how at The Thrifty Couple.

5. Striped Crayon Candles

Candles made from old crayons make for a beautiful, colorful way to light up your home. You can make these in the microwave, but be careful not to over-heat it by only zapping a few at a time. Get the tutorial from Evermine.

6. Crayon Drip Holiday Ornaments

If you’re looking for a craft to do in time for the holidays, these pretty crayon drip ornaments make for a fun activity—and some pretty perfect gifts! In order to melt the crayons to get the “drip” effect, you simply blast the ornament with your hairdryer. Get the step-by-step from The Swell Designer.

7. Melted Crayon Paintings

If you’re the artistic type, you probably moved on from coloring as a kid to painting as an adult. Why not combine the two by painting with melted crayons? This one also involves a hairdryer or an embossing heat gun to melt them onto the canvas. Check it out at Gathering Beauty.

8. Crayon Play-Doh

Play-Doh can occupy kids for hours, and making your own is pretty easy, not to mention fun. It’s also an educational experience, as it involves math, science, cognitive thinking, fine motor skills and, of course, creative expression. Find out how at Domestic Mommyhood.

9. Crayon Hot Rocks

If your kid has a pet rock collection, let them jazz it up by heating up the rocks in the oven. When applied to the hot rocks, the crayons melt beautifully. This would make for a fun party activity as well. Get the details at The Things I Love Most.

10. Wax Paper Lantern

For an awesome DIY night light for your kids, consider making a wax paper lantern with a battery-powered tea light inside. Melted crayon shavings make for a cool, colorful design. Learn how create it at Artsy Fartsy Mama.

11. Lego Crayons

After melting crayons in the oven, you pour them into Lego molds to create awesome Lego figurines. These would make for super-fun DIY party favors! Get the how-to at The Inspiration Board.

What do you do with broken crayons at your house?