I like to be either 2 years ahead of trend (like skinny jeans) or 2 months behind a trend (like Angry Birds).
Okay “like” is a strong word since being ahead allows me to look like a loser at the time and my only consolation is years later saying: SEE I WAS COOL BEFORE IT WAS COOL, AND I DID NOT LOOK LIKE I WAS ABOUT TO RIDE A HORSE. And being 2 months behind keeps me just irrelevant enough that no one reads this post, which is what I’m hoping here because I tried the broken crayons in muffin tins phenomenon.
I know, everyone did it for Valentine’s Day, but I wasn’t about to go out and buy silicone heart-shaped muffin pans and break a bunch of crayons when my kids think a $1.99 box of 32 soccer balls on fire with tiny balls on fire tattoos are the bees knees.
I also have a small tendency to suck at anything to do with ovens. And stoves. And art. And the first time I do anything. So rather than be up all night fixing crayon hearts while crying on February 13th, I was up stressing about E misplacing 4 cards.
But time went by and I have a lot of broken crayons plus a pet peeve about wasting things.
I also have a 50-pound iron muffin tin in the shape of flowers ranging from tulips to Gerber daisies. I put it on my wedding registry when I thought the act of getting married would teach me how to bake and have people over to my home voluntarily.
The pan doesn’t get used much so I thought it was a good place for failure. And if I succeeded those little circles and hearts would look like a toddler made them whereas mine would look like a GIFTED toddler had made them.
What all those posts on how to make muffin tin crayons failed to mention is how awesome watching a bunch of crayons melt in the oven is. Seriously, could have done it all day and ask if I could be hired out to do it at other people’s homes.
Could someone hire me to watch crayons melt in muffin tins? I’m available immediately and seem to be extraordinarily fascinated by it.
— Alex@LateEnough (@L8enough) February 23, 2012
My crayons came out so cool that we won’t even be using them as crayons because they are so beautiful and everyone failed to mention how much large blobs of crayons suck to draw with.
I will probably stick them in my garden between the crocuses that I planted much too far apart.
Ooh, feel dizzy from how impressed you are.
I could claim winner of the Broken Crayon in Muffin Tin contest no one knew they were in but me if there wasn’t one little fact I left out of the above photo of magnificent arts and craft-ness.
This crayon won’t come out.
Like at all. Ever.
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Put the whole tin in the freezer – the crayon should pop out!
Even though it’s cast iron? If this works, I’m putting you in charge of all arts & crafts in our home or these post will be titled “Dear Mrs. MidAtlantic”
I think so! It’s how my dad always got the little end-y bits of candles out of the candlesticks…
Also: I really like where you are going with your post series. I could get on board with that. hehe.
Those are awesome! I say you bake it again and then pour the molten goop into the trash. I’ve never melted crayons, though, so I have no idea if that’s how it works.
Seriously, these rock- I love them. You might try sticking the pan in the freezer though? Maybe it’ll make that one… yea I have no idea what I’m talking about. Stick it in the freezer is my answer to everthing.
lol, just saw that Caitlin said that too.
I just love you.
(But I’ve never even played Angry Birds. So. I’m nowhere near cool.)
I remember when I was a kid, my mom always made these. Of course she only used muffin tins so they were not as pretty as yours.
Now it is time for you to try the melted crayon art!
Oooh…someday, when you move to the Q and we’re neighbors (because that’s happening pretty soon, I’m sure), we’ll craft together! It’s gonna be epic! Also very messy. And sticky. And mostly disastrous. But your crayon flowers came out very pretty!
Wait. You’ve never melted crayons with a warm iron before, have you??
Needed:
2 pieces of Wax paper; broken crayons; Iron; Ironing board; Towel
Put the crayons between the wax paper. Put the towel on top of the wax paper. Put the warm iron (not hot) on top of the towel. Wait.
Enjoy.
Note: I burned my thumb doing this when I was 8. But the crayons were awesome.
So serious question- how did you not get ill from the fumes of the melting crayons? We were trying to do that cool melting-crayons-with-a-blowdryer-on-a-canvas craft and about 10 minutes in I started feeling queasy.
Ooh, I saw that one but I don’t have a glue gun permit.
In the oven I couldn’t smell a thing although I don’t have a good sense of smell, which is probably why I think showering is overrated.
Yeah, I have never played angry birds.
And I have never done this.
But I might.
you know, someday.
Gorgeous! Truly Alex. I hope that freezer tip works out.
Ohhhh, I love them! I am a previous kindergarten teacher turned stay at home mommy so you think I would do more stuff like this, but I don’t. You have re-inspired me!
Well if you use me as a bar, you’ll always feel good about your arts & crafts results!
Funny how this broken crayon baking is a trend now… my mom was making those things with us 25 years ago. But they were just round like the regular muffin tins – nothing fancy like hearts and flowers. But it is really cool no matter what shape you use.
Since I break all the crayons, (read: I, being the only person in the room who the 2 year old can blame) I guess I can melt the crayons and make pretty things that don’t color but, look really cool in vases?
A reader suggested wicks next time. I hate all these smarterthanme people.
I’m thinking of all the money I wasted on the Easy Bake Crayon Factory. It melted broken crayons into crayon shapes. Sort of. They broke faster than store bought crayons.
And while we’re at it. I’VE been remelting all my old candles on a candle warmer. What can I put in them to scent them besides. Candle scent oil from Michael’s? What did they do in olden times?