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.
You come up with one brilliant idea after another!
ReplyDeleteWhere did you find so many black crayons? Fun idea, but I think daughter will not appreciate getting coals instead of expected sweets :)
ReplyDeleteOh, this is SO gonna be the present I give my father for Christmas! LOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteYou are incredibly clever. Every day you amaze me with the things you come up with. I love this.
ReplyDeletehow fun....and once again- I miss homeschooling little ones...LOL
ReplyDeleteSo creative! What a great idea.
ReplyDeleteWow! 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. :)
ReplyDeleteBTW, 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.
ReplyDeleteWe'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.
ReplyDeleteso if we were to use multi colored crayons... and shape them differently...could we make any old designs for gifts?
ReplyDeletesomething 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 :)
ReplyDeleteOh what a fun and perfect idea! Great take on the "crayon melting" trend going around - orginal, funny AND seasonal! Love it!
ReplyDeleteMaggy
Kids Get Crafty
thanks!
ReplyDeleteThat would be so much fun to do
ReplyDeleteSo I went with red and green lumps and we are calling it 'Christmas Coal'
ReplyDeletethanks :)
I agree with Phyllis... stop being so amazing - you make the rest of us look bad. ;)
ReplyDelete@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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteChristianne - Since I'm often in awe of the activities on your blog, and Phyllis', I won't take your comment too seriously - but thanks :)
ReplyDeleteSo you liked the book? I've never seen it before. This is one of my favorite ideas I've read about in awhile.
ReplyDeleteJenny - 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.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad the lump of coal is for coloring and not in place of a great gift.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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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