How To Recycle Old Crayons into New Crayons
Have lots of crayon stubs that are too small to hold on to? Don't throw them out! You can use them to create big, chunky crayons – and your kids can help.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 25 minutes
Here's How:
- Gather up all of your broken crayons, and cut them into small pieces. (An adult will need to complete this step.)
- Preheat the oven to 150 degrees.
- Fill the muffin tin with an inch-thick layer of crayon pieces.
- Bake 15-20 minutes, or until the wax is melted.
- Allow the tin to cool; then pop out the crayons, and they're ready for use.
Tips:
- If you don't have a muffin tin to devote to crayon making, you can line your regular muffin tin with foil cups.
- Candy and soap making molds can also be used to create fun, shaped crayons.
- Recycled crayons make a great no-cost gift or party favor.
What You Need:
- Broken crayons
- An old muffin tin
- A knife
CUTE - love this craft!!
Rock candy is a simple sugar candy that can double as a science experiment. The process can take up to a week, but it’s fun to watch the sugar crystals growing over time. Note that the exact quantity of sugar syrup you will use depends on the size of the jar you have. If you want to make several pieces of rock candy, use multiple jars and skewers, and double or triple the sugar syrup solution as necessary.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 4 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2-1 tsp flavoring extract or oil (optional)
- food coloring (optional)
- glass jar
- skewer or thread (see below)
Preparation:
1. Prepare your materials: wash a glass jar thoroughly with hot water to clean it. Cut a length of thick cotton thread a few inches longer than the height of the jar, and tape it to a pencil. Place the pencil across the lip of the jar, and wind it until the thread is hanging about 1 inch from the bottom of the jar. Attach a paper clip to the bottom of the thread to weight it and ensure it hangs straight down. Alternately, you can use a wooden skewer as the base of your rock candy, and use clothespins balanced across the top of the jar to clip it into place.
2. Wet your thread or wooden skewer, and roll it in granulated sugar. This base layer will give the sugar crystals something to “grab” when they start forming. Set the thread or skewer aside to dry while you prepare your sugar syrup.
3. Place the water in a medium-sized pan and bring it to a boil. Begin adding the sugar, one cup at a time, stirring after each addition. You will notice that it takes longer for the sugar to dissolve after each addition. Continue to stir and boil the syrup until all of the sugar has been added and it is all dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat.
4. If you are using colors or flavorings, add them at this point. If you are using an extract, add 1 tsp of extract, but if you are using flavoring oils, only add ½ tsp, and make sure you don’t stand right in front of the pan—the scent can be very strong as it rises in the steam. Add 2-3 drops of food coloring and stir to ensure even, smooth color.
5. Allow the sugar syrup to cool for approximately 10 minutes, then pour it into the prepared jar. Lower the sugared string or skewer until it hangs about 1 inch from the bottom.
6. Carefully place your jar in a cool place, away from harsh lights, where it can sit undisturbed. Cover the top loosely with plastic wrap or paper towel.
7. You should start to see sugar crystals forming within 2-4 hours. If you have seen no change to your skewer or thread after 24 hours, try boiling the sugar syrup again and dissolve another cup of sugar into it, then pour it back into the jar and insert the string or skewer again.
8. Allow the rock candy to grow until it is the size you want. Don’t let it grow too large, otherwise it might start growing into the sides of your jar! Once it has reached the size you want, remove it and allow it to dry for a few minutes, then enjoy or wrap in plastic wrap to save it for later.
Kool Aid Play Dough - Fun!
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 15 mins.
What You Need:
- 1 c flour, sifted
- 1/2 c salt
- 3 T cooking oil
- 1 pkg Koolaid (unsweet)
- 1 c boiling water
Directions:
- Mix together flour, salt, oil, and Kool-aid.
- Add the cup of boiling water. Mix well.
- Knead the mixture until it forms a soft dough.
- Have fun!
- Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Tips:
- Any other unsweetened, powdered drink mix may be substituted.
- Expect colored hands and clothes
- Non-toxic... could be eaten, but won't taste very good.
