Maddie James
Turning broken crayons into candles is a fun and creative way to recycle old crayons. Although crayon wax burns differently from candle wax, you can still make beautiful candles by adding regular wax to the mix. You can use a microwave or a double boiler to melt the wax and crayons, and then pour the mixture into a jar or mould. To make your candle smell nice, you can add essential oils or fragrances of your choice.
Characteristics and Values Table for Turning Broken Crayons into Nice-Smelling Candles
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Crayons | Broken crayons of desired colours |
| Wax | White candle wax or soy wax |
| Container | Glass measuring cup, microwave-safe bowl, assorted jars (jelly jars, mason jars, etc.), dixie cup, cookie cutter, mini baking cup, or shaped container |
| Wick | Tabbed wick, candle wick, or wick of your choice |
| Wick Holder | Glass candle holder, pie tin, milk carton, or votive |
| Tools | Double boiler, saucepan, stove, oven, microwave, knife, scissors, toothpick, spoon, popsicle sticks, pencils, clothes pins, hot glue gun, newspaper, non-stick spray, metal cookie cutter, and/or muffin tin |
| Procedure | Peel off and recycle crayon wrappers, grate crayons into small pieces, melt crayons and wax, secure wick in the centre of the container, pour in the wax, and let it cool |
| Additives | Essential oils or fragrances for scent |
| Safety | Adult supervision, caution when handling hot wax and lighting candles |
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What You'll Learn
- Prepare crayons: Peel off wrappers, break into small pieces, and grate
- Prepare wax: Melt wax and crayons together in a double boiler
- Prepare container: Place wick in the centre, securing it with wax or glue
- Combine and pour: Pour wax into container and let it set
- Finishing touches: Trim the wick and decorate the candle
Prepare crayons: Peel off wrappers, break into small pieces, and grate
To prepare crayons for your candle-making project, start by peeling off the paper wrappers. This can be done by hand or, if the wrapper is difficult to remove, with a craft blade. Alternatively, you could soak the crayons in water for a few minutes, or follow this clever trick: put a bowl of water and ice in the freezer to get very cold, then place the crayons in the bowl for about 5 minutes. The cold water should make the wrapper easier to peel off.
Once the crayons are unwrapped, break them into small pieces. The smaller the pieces, the easier the crayons will be to melt. Aim for pieces around 1/2-inch or smaller. You could also grate the crayons into flakes, which will melt faster.
If you're making a striped candle, keep the different colours separate. You will need about one crayon per colour.
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Prepare wax: Melt wax and crayons together in a double boiler
To prepare the wax for your candle, you'll need to melt the wax and crayons together in a double boiler. First, peel off and recycle any paper wrappings on your crayons. If the wrapper doesn't come off easily, you can cut it with a craft knife or soak the crayons in water for a few minutes to loosen the wrapper. Next, break the crayons into small pieces. Grating the crayon into flakes will help it melt faster. You can also use a craft knife or a kitchen knife to cut the crayons into pieces about 1/2 inch long.
Now, assemble your double boiler. If you don't have a double boiler, you can create one by placing a metal cookie cutter or a small pot inside a large pot. Fill the large pot with water, ensuring that the water level is just to the top of the cookie cutter or the bottom of the small pot. If using a cookie cutter, place the small pot on top of it.
Place your wax and crayon pieces into a heat-safe glass container, such as a pouring pitcher, clean coffee can, or measuring cup. The container should be small enough to fit inside the large pot but large enough so that its top is above the water level. Put the small container into the large pot and heat over medium heat until the wax and crayons are completely melted. Stir the mixture with a spoon, popsicle stick, or disposable chopstick as it melts.
Once the wax and crayons are melted, you can add any desired extras such as fragrance or essential oils. Stir in your chosen additives thoroughly. However, if you plan to add glitter, do not add it at this stage as it may react with the heat. Instead, wait until you are ready to pour the wax into your mould.
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Prepare container: Place wick in the centre, securing it with wax or glue
To prepare your container, place the wick in the centre and secure it with wax or glue. This will ensure that the wick stays in place while you pour in the wax and as your candle burns down.
First, choose a suitable container. You can use a glass jar, such as a jelly jar or a mason jar, as these can withstand high temperatures. Make sure to remove any labels or stickers from the jar, and clean it thoroughly to ensure there is no residue. You can also use a metal cookie cutter, a mini baking cup, or a shaped container of your choice. If you are using a container that cannot be heated, such as a milk carton or a paper container, do not pour hot wax directly into it as it may melt or catch fire. Instead, consider pouring the wax into a metal cookie cutter placed inside the container.
Next, select an appropriate wick. The size of the wick will depend on the size of your candle and the type of wick you are using. As a general rule, the wick size should match the candle size. You can also test different sizes to see what works best. Place the wick in the centre of your container. If using a jar, you can use a tabbed wick and secure it with a drop of hot wax or super glue. Alternatively, you can use a self-adhesive wick that will stick to the bottom of the jar.
If you are using a container without a lid, such as a bowl or a wide-mouthed jar, you may need to stabilise the wick. You can do this by laying two sticks, such as pencils or popsicle sticks, across the mouth of the container. Sandwich the wick between the two sticks to hold it upright and straight.
Now that your wick is in place, you can move on to the next step of pouring the wax.
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Combine and pour: Pour wax into container and let it set
Now that you have prepared your broken crayons, wax, and chosen container, it's time to combine the elements and pour the wax into the container.
First, place the wick in the centre of your container. You can use a variety of wicks, such as tabbed wicks, or plain wicks, which you can secure with a drop of hot wax, super glue, or double-sided tape. You can also use popsicle sticks or pencils to hold the wick in place, by laying them across the mouth of the container and sandwiching the wick between them.
Next, melt your wax. You can do this in a double boiler over medium heat, or in the microwave. If using a double boiler, fill a saucepan with 1-2 inches of water and place a heat-safe measuring cup inside. Place your wax and crayons in the cup and melt, stirring with a spoon or disposable chopstick. If using a microwave, place your wax and crayons in a microwave-safe bowl and melt in 30-second intervals, stirring in between.
Once your wax is melted, carefully pour it into your container. Leave about an inch from the top of the wick, or fill to about 3/4 of the way up the jar. Leave your candle to cool for about half an hour, and then trim the wick to 1/4 inch. Longer wicks can produce too big a flame.
Your candle will now need time to set. After about 20-30 minutes, you can add the finishing touches. Make a small hole in the wax with a toothpick and insert the wick, pressing the wax around it with your finger. Snip off any excess wick, leaving about 1/2-1 inch above the candle.
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Finishing touches: Trim the wick and decorate the candle
Once the wax has cooled and set, you can trim the wick. Leave about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch of wick above the candle. Longer wicks may produce a flame that is too big.
You can decorate your candle with various items. Try embedding unmelted crayons at the top of the candle for a colourful finish. You can also decorate the outside of the candle with stickers, ribbons, or twine. If you're using a jar, you can decorate the jar with paint, stickers, or ribbons.
Be sure to choose a suitable container for your candle. You can use a jar, such as a jam jar, a jelly jar, or a pickle jar. You can also use a metal cookie cutter, a mini baking cup, or a shaped container of your choice. Avoid using pie tins, milk cartons, plastic, or paper due to stability, melt, and fire hazard concerns.
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Frequently asked questions
First, peel off and recycle any paper wrappings on your crayons. Break the crayons into small pieces and grate them into flakes. Next, melt the crayon pieces with candle wax in a double boiler or in the microwave. Prepare your container by placing the wick into the centre, holding it straight with pencils or popsicle sticks. Finally, pour the melted wax into the container and let it set.
You can add essential oils or fragrance oils to your melted wax before pouring it into your container. Alternatively, you can use scented crayons to make your candle.
You can use a variety of heat-safe containers such as glass jars (jelly jars, mason jars, etc.), metal tins, or ceramic pots. Avoid using plastic or paper containers as they may melt or catch fire.
