Have someone naughty (or just artistic) on your stocking stuffer list? Maybe they could use a lump of coal - crayon.
I made a couple this morning to go along with a breakfast reading of Lemony Snicket's The Lump of Coal. It's the story of finding Christmas "miracles" in strange places, like home and hearth, or in a dumped over bag of barbecue briquette in the backyard.To make the crayons, I peeled the wrappers from black crayons, and placed them in an old, disposable pie pan...
...and then into a 250 degree Fahrenheit over for 5-10 minutes, until they were completely melted.
As they started to cool (just a few seconds out of the oven), I used plastic spoons to scrape up the amount of soft wax I wanted...
...and then formed them into a rough ball by hand. The entire process took about 15 minutes, and they were ready to use within minutes after that.
Two and a half crayons will make a one inch lump of coal, just right for little hands to put to creative use.
For more story stretching arts and crafts, check out this week's stART (story + ART) link-up, at A Mommy's Adventures.
It's great to be a homeschooler.
24 comments:
You come up with one brilliant idea after another!
Where did you find so many black crayons? Fun idea, but I think daughter will not appreciate getting coals instead of expected sweets :)
Oh, this is SO gonna be the present I give my father for Christmas! LOVE IT!
You are incredibly clever. Every day you amaze me with the things you come up with. I love this.
how fun....and once again- I miss homeschooling little ones...LOL
So creative! What a great idea.
Wow! I came across your blog today and I am SO glad I did! Cannot wait to try out these crayons, as well as the streamer wrapping paper! I am very much looking forward to reading further and bookmarking your blog for more great ideas. :)
BTW, I LOVE the title of your blog. I am currently transitioning by 2 boys from a "school-at-home" homeschooling environment to a more unschooling environment, so I am most definitely "almost" unschooling, lol.
Thanks for sharing so many great ideas!
I hope we don't find any of those in our stockings! On the positive side, at least kids can have fun coloring with their coal! Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad gift after all.
We've never read that Lemony Snicket book. For what ages is it appropriate?
Brimful Curiousities - On Amazon it says 3rd-6th grade. I read it aloud to the whole family, ages 4-13, and they all enjoyed it, and listened well.
so if we were to use multi colored crayons... and shape them differently...could we make any old designs for gifts?
something I have in great supply would be broken crayons....I think I still have crayons from when my oldest was a kid and we keep getting more every year.
Lady Chadwick - To make shaped crayons, either melt them as I showed, only in a smaller pan, so it won't be too thin, and then cut them with a cookie cutter, before they harden. Or, melt them right in an oven safe mold (like a mini-muffin pan). Or, melt them, and then pour them into a mold (like a chocolate mold). We've done some before a couple of those ways - if you do a search for crayons you'll find them - or Google it for lots of great ideas :)
Oh what a fun and perfect idea! Great take on the "crayon melting" trend going around - orginal, funny AND seasonal! Love it!
Maggy
Kids Get Crafty
thanks!
That would be so much fun to do
So I went with red and green lumps and we are calling it 'Christmas Coal'
thanks :)
I agree with Phyllis... stop being so amazing - you make the rest of us look bad. ;)
@Lady Chadwick : silicone baking trays work very well as crayon molds. You can bake them right in the trays without melting first. Stinks up the house, though.
I chuckled all the way through this post. I loved it and it reminded me of the time my mom decided for a gag to melt tootsie rolls and make clumps out of them. She gave them to my dad in a box with a watch in it.
Christianne - Since I'm often in awe of the activities on your blog, and Phyllis', I won't take your comment too seriously - but thanks :)
So you liked the book? I've never seen it before. This is one of my favorite ideas I've read about in awhile.
Jenny - Yes, I did. It's a little tongue in cheek, and I did point out to the children, that the term miracle was being used very loosely, but it ends really well.
I am so glad the lump of coal is for coloring and not in place of a great gift.
I just had to let you know that I put this book on hold at the library and I have every intention of making lumps of coal for the kiddos. Thanks again for your brilliance.
I can't wait to make some of these for my husband :) I'm going to be looking up this book too. Thanks for sharing!
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