Sunday, December 5, 2010

sunday kids' craft: crayon ornaments and gift tags


So . . . I'm getting back into the swing of my usual posting schedule . . . and I'm using the words "usual" and "schedule" VERY loosely here.  Getting back on track leads us to Sunday Kids' Craft.  Today I'm combining kids' crafts and gift-making since Christmas is right around the corner so we're making . . .

Crayon Ornaments and Gift Tags

This is nothing new.  Chances are you've done this or seen twenty other blogs show you how.  And there's a reason for the popularity of crayon making . . . it's easy, quick and fun.  Who doesn't love to see a bunch of broken crayons become something new and fun and usable?! 

At our house we love making crayons for two reasons:
1)  If you spend five minutes at our house during coloring time, chances are you will hear me say at least ten times, "Don't break the crayons," "Please don't snap the crayons," "FOR THE LOVE OF PETE, I just told you not to do that."  My kids LOVE making crayons because I actually encourage them to break their crayons. 

2)  This is pretty much a free gift because I collect crayons at EVERY SINGLE RESTAURANT we go to.  Yes, I'm that cheap.  I actually have a bucket full of crayons from Applebees, Pizza Ranch, Red Robin, Olive Garden, Cheesecake Factory . . . and any other random eatery that gives us that magic little box of crayons to keep our kids entertained.  If you haven't been keeping these crayons, START and you too can make a free gift for the kids on your gift list. 

Here's what you need . . . as if you didn't know:
~a bucket full of free restaurant crayons
~silicone molds
~a skewer or other small cylinder stick to make a hole
~ribbon
~scrapbook paper


Here's what you do:
1)  Peel wrappers off all your crayons and break them into small pieces.  Definitely recruit the little people in your house to help with this.  (Check out this girl's smile as she breaks those crayons!)  Place the broken pieces in your molds and fill molds close to the top of the mold.

2)  Put in 300 degree preheated oven and set the time for about 10 minutes.  After 10 minutes, use skewer or toothpick to gently stir and poke at crayons.  Keep doing this every few minutes until melted.  Pull out and let sit until fairly set but not hard.

3)  Poke a hole big enough to fit a ribbon through with the skewer or toothpick.  Make sure the hole goes all the way through. 

4)  Let set and harden completely.

5)  Cut ribbon to appropriate length.  Thread narrow ribbon into embroidery needle and then push needle and ribbon through hole 

6)  If using this as a gift tag, cut out paper to desired shape and punch hole.  Then string paper tag and crayon onto ribbon.  If making an ornament, just string crayon shape on to the ribbon.

We spent just a few hours pealing crayons, breaking crayons, melting crayons and we ended up with a snowflake crayon for the 22 kids in my daughter's kindergarten class, crayon gift tags for the kids in our family and crayon ornaments for a few random kid gifts.  Here's a sampling:


Craft on!

Check out the great parties I may link to by clicking on the blog name below or visiting my "I like to party" page that shows off all the party buttons.  These gals go to a lot of work to host these parties.  If you participate in parties please take time to look through a variety of the projects linked up.  They are a great source of inspiration!


Weekend - Somewhat Simple Holiday Party, a little lovely, Craft Envy, Under the Table and DreamingBe Different Act Normal, A Vision to Remember, 504 Main - Tickled Pink, Funky Junk Interiors, Tatertots and Jello, I heart naptime


Monday - Keeping it Simple, Craft-O-Maniac, The Girl Creative, The Trendy Treehouse, CRAFT, Making the World Cuter, Mad in Crafts, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Between Naps on the Porch, Tools Are For WomenIt's So Very Cheri, Skip to My Lou, Sew Can Do, Polly Want a Crafter


Tuesday - All Thingz Related, Sugar Bee, New Nostalgia, Creative Itch, Lucky Star Lane, Hope Studios, These Creative Juices, My Delicious Ambiguity, Today's Creative Blog-Get Your Craft On!,


Wednesday - It's So Very Cheri, Beyond the Picket Fence, Blue Cricket DesignTrendy Treehouse, Tea Rose HomeSomeday Crafts, My Backyard Eden, Sew Much Ado, Night Owl Crafting


Thursday -  Fireflies and Jellybeans, Life As Lori, House of Hepworths, Somewhat Simple, Seven Thirty Three, The Train to Crazy, PonyTails and FishScales


Friday - The Sabby Nest, A Little Knick Knack, Fingerprints on the Fridge, It's Fun to Craft!, It's a Hodgepodge Life, Kojo Designs, Simply Sweet Home, Frou Frou Decor, Remodelaholic, Momma's Kinda Crafty

35 comments:

Tonia Lee Smith said...

What a fabulous idea, and not just for Christmas. I'll have to remember this for the kids at church.

Jocelyn Christensen said...

That is way too adorable!

Katie Olthoff said...

Those are adorable! I've never done this before, but I need to add it to my to-do list!

Patty said...

This is so cute and comes at a perfect time. I'm online trying to find some kind of non-edible treat to take to my daughter's preschool this week since she is the VIP of the week. This would be great!

Pattycake Manners said...

Thank you!I was just hunting for directions for this one!! Perfect timing!

Papgena Made It said...

I've been want to make this for such a long time! I have to gain courage me and a oven... you know...

Lynn said...

We have made these, but I've never seen the hole punched through them to make them into ornaments - very cute! And now I need to buy some Christmas-shaped silicone molds. We only have hearts and circles. :)

Beverly {Flamingo Toes} said...

Shockingly enough I have never made crayons. ;) But after this I really want to even though I have no little colorers in my house anymore.
They'd be great gift tags for my nieces! Thanks!!

Anonymous said...

Awesome! Love it!

I collect restaurant crayons too - didn't realize there was something wrong with that ;-)

My kids have a ton of broken ones, maybe we will use some of those up and Santa can fill up the stockings with some new crayons!

Randi~Dukes and Duchesses said...

What a cute idea! We love to make crayons too but I've never thought to make crayon ornaments. So fun!

Unknown said...

You sly devil, you! Saving all those crayons and then turning them into not just fun-shaped crayons, but fun-shaped crayons that multi-task as ornaments or gift tags. Hats off to you, Elizabeth!

Mrs. Whary said...

What a super cute idea.....I never would have thought of using them as gift tage - they are PERFECT!!!!!

Cassie Bustamante said...

these are awesome! i was looking for something my kids could make and this is perfect!

julie said...

I LOVE your skewer trick! I make the same kind of crayon ornaments, but I have to whip out my Dremel after they're set to drill the holes. The skewer sounds MUCH quicker and easier, although I do love my power tools...

Jana said...

Great idea add to the crayons.

Come link up at Giggles, Glitz & Glam!

http://gigglesglitzandglam.blogspot.com/2010/12/glam-party-5.html

Remodelaholic said...

This looks totally awesome! I love the idea, and these would be such great gift toppers too (did you mention that?.. I should read back through your post).

I wanted to let you know that I am featuring this party link at Polly Want a Crafter tomorrow @ 5:30 pm CST. Hope you get some good visits from it!

Jill said...

Like you said, not a new idea, but super awesome. I have yet to try this, and I love your tip about the free restaurant crayons!

Christianne @ Little Page Turners said...

Great idea! I snatched those up at Target when I saw them. Love the idea of putting them on the presents!

Kristi said...

So clever! We will be giving it a try this evening with our broken (and aquired freebie) crayons...thanks for the inspiration!

PS: How satisfying it is to snap those crayons too!

brandyk said...

do you have any issues with the taste of the next things made with the silicon pans?

Jenna said...

I LOVE this idea!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

What an awesome idea! I am your newest follower! Please follow me at http://CraftyCierra.blogspot.com/ and dont forget to enter my giveaway for a fun Christmas Activity Book! If you are interested in doing a blogswap, please email me! CierraLarsen@hotmail.com Thanks!

/Cierra

Kristy Armstrong said...

What a great idea! Love it!

Jodi Nelson said...

Oh wow! My kids and I use to make these! So easy and so fun! I never thought about putting a ribbon through them. What a great idea!

Julianna said...

Hi there! I'd love for you to link up your ornament ideas on my linky party!
http://singingthreelittlebirds.blogspot.com/2010/11/christmas-ornament-link-up-singing.html
Thanks!

Flannery @ Three Sisterz said...

loooooove this! i think i just saw holiday silicone molds in the dollar bins @ target. i just may have to do this!!

Flannery @ threesisterz.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

great idea love the color...

Unknown said...

lovely idea! check out my blog for great gift wrapping ideas you might like it.

Vivian said...

great idea

Newest follow on GFC, Check us out at
http://closertolucy.blogspot.com/

Megan Gunyan said...

Augh! So cute! I love this idea. I've always wanted to try the whole melted-crayon thing and this is a perfect opportunity! Yeah!

Hayley said...

I linked up to this craft over on my blog!

Anonymous said...

I'm curious how you washed the silicone pan afterward. I've heated mine longer and wiped it, then washed it, but I still have crayon smell - any suggestions?

Mhairi said...

I know this is a year late but I have seen this done in the microwave too - much quicker although I am not sure if it is safer.
Thanks for sharing such a great idea. I am thinking a necklace of these for the little people in my life using chocolate moulds.

Waseem said...

where you find these gift tags? i have never seen it before.

Send gifts to pakistan

Unknown said...

I love to see DIY activities for kids, to make kids more creative. Special those kids that that want to brighten the homes with colours and designs

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