Unique Ways to Recycle Crayons

My mother was a very thrifty woman. Growing up with little money and raising a family on little money, she was an expert at recycling and reusing nearly everything that came into the house. Lucky for me, she passed on many of these nuggets of wisdom before she passed away. When I became a mother myself, her tips and tricks about recycling crayons came back to me. Here are some ideas on how you can reuse those children's art supplies and in fun and practical ways.

Make Holiday Taper Candles. This is my favorite way to recycle brightly colored crayons. Remove the wrappers from red, gold, silver and green crayons. Melt them down separately in aluminum pie tins in a warm oven. Use the glass panel in the oven door to check the progress. The wax should be sufficiently melted, but not scorching or bubbling. After removing the tins from the oven, roll solid white tapered candles in the desired colors. Allow to dry on wax paper. You can easily save several dollars at holiday time by purchasing the white candles from a discount department store and using crayons you have laying around the house.

Extend the Life of Your Flowers. I find this recycling tip to be absolutely ingenious. Melt a dark green crayon into a deep dish. Dip the stems of the flowers into the wax and allow to dry. The melted crayon wax will help to seal in the water, leaving flowers fresher for much longer. My mother always passed this tip along to brides, to ensure their bouquets lasted as long as possible on the big day.

Save Money on Gift Cards and Tags. Bundle several brand new crayons with a pretty ribbon. Punch a hole through a small piece of card stock or oak tag and print the gift recipient's name on it with a fancy script. Tie the crayons in a bow and tuck the end of the ribbon through the tag. You now have a cute little gift tag for a child's gift, that can be used for coloring after the present is opened. Splitting up a box of crayons for several gifts will surely save you a few dollars on fancy cards and tags.

Fix a Cracked Vase in a Snap. You probably know that a crayon can be used to repair scratches and dings on furniture, but did you know you could use one to make a vase look like new? Simply find a matching crayon to your vase that needs repair. Use a match or lighter to melt the wax. Allow it to drip into the crack to create a seal. Look through the inside of the vase to ensure that enough wax has permeated the flaw. Allow the wax to dry and harden. Use a small putty knife to gently remove any excess. You can now use the vase to display your favorite fresh flowers without any fear of a water leak.