Create adorable, custom DIY Valentine’s Day crayons for the special valentines in your life! A fun activity to do with kids of all ages that is sure to delight.
Table of Contents:
- DIY Valentine’s Day crayons come together in a “snap”
- You won’t want to stop at just a few DIY Valentine’s Day crayons
- Materials
- First, peel the crayons
- Next, fill your crayon molds + bake
- Let your DIY Valentine’s Day crayons cool completely
- Enjoy your new colorful creations!
- Are melting crayons safe?
- Is this also a science project?
- Your valentines are going to melt for these DIY Valentine’s Day crayons
DIY Valentine’s Day crayons come together in a “snap”
Literally! Half of the fun of this project is snapping old crayons into smaller pieces that will melt to create a mixed, colorful, much larger crayon.
I have made approximately 11 billion homemade crayons before, and the process NEVER gets old.
In our preschool classroom, we always keep our broken and too-small-to-color-with crayons in a bucket and add to it over the year. Then, whenever we are ready to make these kinds of crayons, we grab the bucket we’re ready to go.
Taking small, random pieces of crayons and watching them transform into something bigger and more beautiful right before your eyes is an absolute joy!
Related: Our giant 10-foot Valentine’s Day coloring banner is perfect for your little artists (and would be perfect with your new crayons)
You won’t want to stop at just a few DIY Valentine’s Day crayons
These are SERIOUSLY fun to make! They’re something that I have been making ever since I was a preschooler myself, and decades later, they’re just as fun and exciting to make.
A special bonus is that since they’re so easy and fun to make, they are perfect for little ones to give as valentines to classmates, family, and friends.
You’re going to just melt for these beauties. 😉
Looking for other fun Valentine’s Day activities for kids?
- Picture Books About Love– Happily Ever Elephants
- Sponge Painting Valentine Hearts– Days with Grey
- Love Posters: Easy Valentine’s Activity– Busy Toddler
Materials
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- Crayons– You can use brand-new or broken crayons (we use a mix of both)
- Silicone diamond heart mold
- Oven
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper– optional
First, peel the crayons
The gist of this project is that we’re taking small crayons, breaking them into even smaller ones, then melting them together to make large ones. It sounds silly, but trust me, it’s AWESOME.
Whether you’re using new or old crayons, they must be peeled. There are many ways to peel crayons, and some are easier and safer than others.
Option 1: Soak then peel– This is absolutely the easiest and safest way to peel crayons. Fill a bucket with warm water, add the crayons, and let them soak until the paper peels are soggy. You’ll know they’re juuust right when you remove a crayon from the water and can easily remove the peel.
- For adults only– If you’re doing this stepwithoutkids, this process can be expedited by using hot water. When I use this method, I fill my sink with water, fill it with hot water from the kitchen sink, soak the crayons, remove the drain cover, and remove the crayons once the hot water is gone.
Option 2: Cut then peel– This one is not for kids to try. Use a pair of scissors or a knife to slice down the peel lengthwise (down the length of the crayon), and remove the paper peel. Sometimes, I’ll cut the peel myself, toss the crayons into a bucket, and then bring the bucket of crayons to the kids to finish, but the kids do not use the scissors or knife on their own.
Next, fill your crayon molds + bake
Break your crayons into smaller pieces and fill your heart molds. You don’t want to add too many crayons that the molds overflow, but also consider that as the crayons fill the mold, there’s lots of space from where the crayons overlap.
Have fun with the colors!
Are you going to fill the mold with only reds and pinks? Only cool colors, like purples, greens, and blues? ALL of the colors?!
The combinations and options are endless! Have fun playing around with your crayons and experimenting with the colors you have.
Once the molds are full, it’s time to bake.
Because I don’t want to get melted wax in my oven accidentally, I line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set the molds on top. This way, when I remove the mold from the oven, should some spill a little bit, it ends up on the parchment paper and not in my oven.
Bake at 250 degrees for between 10-20 minutes, removing the crayons once completely melted. Remove the crayons as steadily as possible to prevent the colors from mixing too much.
Let your DIY Valentine’s Day crayons cool completely
Give your crayons a nice long while to cool. But seriously – don’t rush this part!
If kids are the ones removing the crayons from the mold, wait until they are COMPLETELY cooled and solid. Sometimes the crayons feel cool and solid from the outside but are still hot and liquid in the middle, so allowing them to dry overnight is best.
However, if you want to reuse the mold to make more crayons the same day, wait until the crayons are cool to the touch (and know that the inside might still be liquid and hot, so be very careful). If removing them the same day, this is for adults only.
Enjoy your new colorful creations!
Aren’t they gorgeous?!
AND they’re not only pretty to look at, but they are equally fun to use! These are indeed still actual, real crayons and they can be used as such.
We love providing our kids with enormous pieces of white paper and letting them draw all over it. As they draw, they’ll see the marks they make are the various colors of the crayons they color with. This part is so, super fun!
Are melting crayons safe?
When we melt crayons, we always open the windows and doors.
FromCrayola’s website: “Melted Crayons – Note: Provide adult supervision in well-ventilated area for techniques involving melted crayons. Ironing should be done by an adult. Overheating wax crayons during melting or ironing may release irritating fumes.”
Is this also a science project?
YES!
When kids are melting crayons, they observe changes in the state of matter.
When you begin, the crayons are solid. When the crayons melt, they become liquid.
Then, once the crayons cool completely, they return to solid again.
While you observe the crayons change states, invite your child to name other solid and liquid items in the room, in their home, in the classroom, etc.
Your valentines are going to melt for these DIY Valentine’s Day crayons
Homemade gifts are always the sweetest, best ones – especially when they’re colorful and can use for art!
How many are you going to make? 1? 8? 20? 4,000?
Friends Art Lab Best Resources:
GIANT 10-Foot Coloring Banners
Directed Draw Sets for Kids
Learn About Virtual Preschool
