Crayon Candles (diy)

  I have posted my box of crayons before.  I can't recall when it started obviously it didn't happen overnight but let me stand back and admire this box of crayons with endless possibilities.

  Thanks to Google and Pinterest we have the ability to type in a project and be provided with images and directions on how and what go make with anything.  Enter my idea to make crayon candles.

  This is an easy craft for you to make.  As you can see from my box of crayons there are a variety of brands in there.  I can not comment on which brand worked better or which didn't.  In my box are name brand crayons as well as generic crayons and those crayons you get from restaurants (I may be a hoarder).  So with that last statement I just said if you want to make one of these you can collect from the restaurants or just buy a few boxes.

  For this project you need crayons, a twine and glass jar.  Choose your crayon color combinations.  I planned on doing a wave of colors so I choose a few colors versus a solid color.

Of course you need to peel them and choose your pattern if your using more then one color.

This is a good easy step for little fingers if they want to help you!

I used a empty clean soup can to melt the crayons.  Reuse at its finest.   Fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil.  Add your crayons to the can.  I  melted my lighter colors first.  You see I'm using tongs to grab the HOT can and then I poured it into the glass jar after it was thoroughly melted.

I used twine that after much research was comfortable with this choice versus buying anything in particular.  You need to prepare the twine wick prior to use.  To prepare the wick you need to coat it several times with wax.  Dip it in wax, let it dry and redip.   

You will need to secure the wick to the bottom of the jar.  I added the wax slowly and held the wick in place until the wax dried.  There are different ways to use this including attaching the top to a chopstick and dangling the wick to the bottom.

After your wick is set continue adding your other wax colors.  You can see my jar was small and I only used 4 crayons per color.

It looks like a candle, works like a candle and in all senses it is a candle.  This is a super easy project to make.  A great personal gift to make for the holidays.  Pick up some glass jars at the thrift store, dollar store or reuse old baby food jars or items you may have on hand.  Make them one color or mix them up.  

I had fun making this project and look forward to making a couple more in different ways and shapes.

#nablopomo 

Indoor Pumpkin Craft

(When you apply a face on an upside down jar think it through first)

  This is an easy way to bring that glow into your house!  My disclaimer: I may or may not be a hoarder.  My littlest one hasn't eaten baby food in years.

For this project I pulled out old glass baby food jars and plastic ones as well.  I didn't know which one would work better so I used one of each.  The plastic leftover cups from fruit may work to depending on the height.

  I  addition to the jars you need:

                            tissue paper (and glue)

                                   paint

  The glass jar was painted.

The plastic jar was glued and scraps of torn tissue paper was applied to it.

Orange was the name of the game since these were supposed to be pumpkins.  Red and yellow paint on the glass jar to give me orange and I layered yellow tissue paper first then red on the plastic jar for an orange glow.

Cutout your faces.

Add your light device under the jar.

You now have indoor pumpkins less the mess, and clean up.

Frankenstein is for letter F (craft)

  So we are learning the letter f and I only seems fitting to make an appropriate craft representing the said letter F and in keeping with the season; making it Frankenstein!

He is really easy to make and definitely one "f" related craft I wouldn't have made or thought of in September!

Basic supplies you may already have on hand include:

                    green and black paper

toilet paper roll

a large black pompom

googly eyes

and pipe cleaners! 

Measure your green paper to the wrap around the tube and glue into place.  Cut a small strip of black paper with various jagged edges for the hair line and glue on the top of the tube as well as the eyes.  

I cut the pipe cleaner in half then half again.  I then twisted it and folded to make a t-shape.  I made a hole on each side of the head with the tip of scissors and inserted  them into the sides of the head.

I made stitches for his face.  One large strip with smaller strips placed over them and glued in place.  The mouth is also a black line with more stitches.

Lastly, I popped the black pompom on to the top of the tube to finish it off as his hair!

My son really liked making this.  He likes monsters and shh don't tell him he was learning and perfecting his glue skills, and hand and eye coordination!

Elmer (Book and craft)

Elmer is an elephant.  Elephant starts with the letter E.  That fits into our theme for the week.

Elmer is a great book for kids.  Everyone is different and that's the story of Elmer.  He is not happy with how he looks.  No one looks like him.  Why does he look like the way he does.  

This is a great book to discuss with your child how everyone is different and really it's ok.  Being unique is what makes the world so interesting.  Being different is an open invitation to possibly learn something new.

Our craft for this book was a milk jug, glue and tissue paper.  I cut the tissue papers, and milk jug.  Then you glue the tissue papers to the milk jug in whatever pattern you like.