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This week we have tons of ideas for using old crayons and keys. Hope you enjoy them. If you have any craft projects or tips to share, please submit them on one of the contest forms.
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Projects
| Old Rake Cup Holder
Here is a old rake I made into a cup holder. I just painted it, then tied on a few silk vines, put on a bow and THERE IT IS!
Mary from Leroy, IL Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Decoupaged Old Aluminum Trays
Here is a good idea for those "old Aluminum Trays", you might have lying around. I spray painted them, rubbed on "Treasure Gold" metalic finish. Then I decoupaged a Black and White copy of our Grandkids in the center. I then sprayed it with a glossy finish.
By Mary from Leroy, Il. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Homemade Thank You Cards
I came up with this idea. I let my two year old loose with a bucket of acrylic paints (you can use any paints you want) and a pad of Newsprint paper. Construction paper works as well, just so long as it's strong enough to hold up to the paint. Post Feedback: Click Here |
Tips
| Keep Cording from Unraveling
While you're working with cording, some endings can come unraveled. End that by putting a tiny drop of super glue on the end of the cording that you are working with and smash it together, working it into the fibers at the ends of the cording. Get the glue off of your fingers with fingernail polish remover with acetone dabbed onto a cotton ball. You could also try the product "Fray Check", but super glue is cheaper, stronger and longer lasting. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Use Waxed Boxes for Paint Palettes
When working with acrylics, you can use a (washed) waxed box such as the ones frozen foods come in, as a palatte. I have used cut down plastic 2 liter milk containers for palates as well. No cost, no cleanup. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Dealing with Paper Crafting Mess
I am a crafting and paper-craft nut but when I sit down to create, I end up with paper everywhere. Short of having the garbage can underfoot constantly, I came up with a better idea. I cut a large circle out of a coffee can (leaving the rim of the plastic top intact) then put a doggie poop bag inside the can and put the top back on the can. Now I can have a smaller garbage can close at all times and when the can gets full, I just remove the bag, tie it up and toss it in the garbage can. I then replace with another doggie bag and I am ready for more creating! Post Feedback: Click Here |
Craft Uses For Keys
Information TagsYou can use a Dremel (or similar brand tool) to both cut the "teeth" section off the key and engrave information on the large section. Similar to a dog tag. You can then use these "tags" for identify pets and belongings (luggage perhaps?) Small key rings are available at most hobby and craft stores, as well as Walmart.By kidseatfree A Key for SantaIf you know of any small kids who live in a house or apartment that doesn't have a fireplace they may be concerned about how Santa Claus will get into their house. Go on the internet and do a search for "Santa's Magic Key". You can use any kind of key but the larger the better. You run Christmas ribbon through it and print out one of the poems that comes with the instructions. I print out the poem, laminate it, punch a hole and run it through the same ribbon. You may spend about a dollar per key, and you can sell them for up to $5.00. I've been doing this for a couple of years and I always sell a few and give away a few. Good luck!By Margaret Wind ChimesDrift Wood and Fishing LineI made a windchime from some "unknown" keys. I used old house keys, trunk keys, lock keys, etc. I put with the lighter, smaller ones at the bottom of each row and them tied at different levels with fishing line. I hung them from a small piece of driftwood. I used small eye hooks to hang 5 rows of 4 to 5 keys, and 2 larger eye hooks at each end on top of the driftwood. Love the other ideas here too!By Reen1960 Pop Bottle Wind ChimesUse the top of a 2 liter pop bottle and cut it where to top of the label is. Then poke some holes and hang the keys from the holes. It's a good craft for kids.By PICO Key BoxI once saw a small box covered with glued on keys. It was really cute. Maybe paint the box black so the silver and gold keys really show up.By Ginnee My Ideas
By rosa Key BraceletMany years ago I saw in a movie magazine a lovely bracelet made by an actress. It was made of a variety of keys, it was very "antique looking" and was really attractive. The bracelet itself was a chain to which the keys were attached.By Miranda. Keeping Drapes StraightIf you want to keep the drapes and cutrains straight - put keys in the hem.By Susie Old Key NecklaceI made a necklace out of part of my colleciton of old keys. There is 11 keys on the necklace with a one inch space between each key.By jennifer Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Uses for Old Crayons
Here are a bunch of ways to recycle candles Wax Paper ShapesA long time ago in art at grade school we somehow made plaques by melding the crayon shavings between 2 sheets of wax paper with a warm iron and let that dry. Then we outlined a shape - like a coffee pot or something and cut it out of the shavings after they hardened - then peeled the wax paper off. I remember how cool it looked.Place it in a frame for the wall. I like the notion of melting them into tins for JUMBO crayons and I wonder if extending the length of them by placing them in a cigarette holder would work. You can get them in a couple different lengths. By melody_yesterday Sandpaper ArtI did this great project with 5 and 6 year olds using old broken crayons and sandpaper. Cut out a piece of sandpaper, the more corse the better. Allow the children to draw a picture on the rough surface with leftover crayons. Once the sandpaper is all colored, place in the oven on an old cookie sheet at low. It makes a bit of a waxy smell, but once the pictures are melted on the sandpaper, let dry and you have an art piece to cherish. It is worth it! (11/01/2004)By Ally Stain Glass EffectLike melody_yesterday, I too remember doing a neat craft with leftover crayons as a grade-schooler. With the crayons broken in small bits and shavings, we made a picture on a sheet of drawing paper. After that, we covered the crayon shaving picture with a sheet of paper and ironed the design in, by carefully moving over it with a warm iron and slight pressure. Very like a stain glass effect and fun to do.Sealing EnvelopesUsing them for sealing envelopes. Melt them down with a lighter into a foil filled cup and then drip the crayon wax into patterns or just a drop onto the envelope. Then you can use a metal stamp after the wax has cooled a little to add more texture or your initials.By Leslie Make New Crayons!Fat CrayonsBuy a used sauce pan and funnel at a garage sale or thrift shop just for this purpose. Melt the stubs down gently, don't stir, just let them mingle together. Buy some short pieces (3 to 4 inches, most stores will cut them for you) of 1/2 inch pvc pipe at a hardware store. Use a small piece of 2 by 4 and a spade bit the same size as the outside of the pvc (I think 3/4). Drill into the 2 x 4 about an inch. Set the pvc into the hole to use as a mold. Pour in the melted crayon and let cool for a couple hours. Remove the pvc mold from the 2 x 4 and slide the new fat crayon out. Perfect size for preschoolers who generally don't care about specific colors anyway. You could also buy the caps for the 1/2 inch pvc, cap one end and set them into a cup instead of the wooden base. When they are cool, remove the cap and slide the crayon out.By Patticat Scribble CookieTake broken crayon bits in various colors and put them in a muffin tin. Melt them in the oven just until they've run together. After it cools pop it out and you have a multi colored scribble cookie that kids will love.By Anna Different ShapesLooking for something to do with those old broken crayons? Take the wrappers off of old crayon break them into pieces mix all together and put to the side.Take two muffin tins line them with either foil muffin cups or spray with just plain non stick baking spray. Put pieces of crayons in the muffin tins filling it halfway. Heat oven to 200 degrees F. Put the muffin tin in the oven. Take out after the crayons are melted. For me it usually takes about 9-11 minutes but watch them since oven temperatures vary. After they are melted take out of the oven put to side. Let cool. I usually let cool about an hour but if you are in a hurry put them in the fridge to cool and after they are cool you have fun new crayons for the kids. For fun holiday ideas, take a flat cookie sheet lined with easy release foil. Use metal cookie cutters. Press the cookie cutters down a little bit. Put crayon pieces in each cookie cutter and melt the wax. Let cool and you will have crayons in neat shapes. Or take plastic candy molds and dixie cups. Put crayon pieces in the cup. Melt the crayons in microwave for about 5-8 minutes pour into the molds let cool in freezer for 20-30 min and they will pop right out of the mold. By Courtney Herriage Add GlitterWhen working for an after-school program, I would take baking cups used for muffins (try the ones that have foils cups enclosed with paper) and old broken crayons and have the kids mix the crayons (paper removed) into whatever color schemes they wanted inside the cups on a metal tray and place them into an oven at about 250 degrees fahrenheit. The crayons melt inside the cups to make a perfectly round crayon that even little hands can hold. Be careful! Oven usage should always be done by adults. Keep kids away from the oven and hot trays or utensils! Handle crayons when completely cooled. For extra special crayons, have kids add glitter before crayons go on to bake.By Nicole Microwave CrayonsRemove paper and put several crayons of similar color families (i.e. red purple and blue or yellow green and blue) in a small bathroom-size paper cup. Put several of these cups on a plate and micro until melted enough for at least some to be liquid. DO NOT MIX. Allow to cool and peel off paper and you have a multi-colored chunky crayon for little hands or just fun because of the multi-color.By Linda. My Crayon Craft IdeasHere're a few things I've done with old crayons. I always have lots at the end of the year.SuncatchersYou can make suncatchers using wax paper, an iron and crayon shavings. Use a sheet of heavy foil over the wax paper when ironing so you don't smoke up the place or ruin your iron. I use old muffin tins and pencil sharpeners to make shavings grouped by color. Kids always want to help make the shavings. Take a large sheet of wax appear and fold it in half, sprinkle shavings (sparingly, they spread a lot!) over 1/2 of the sheet, then fold over & iron on medium heat - it only takes a few seconds. Cool and cut into shapes. We made wings from construction paper to make bees and butterflies. Then tape your creations onto windows for the light to shine through. You can also draw or write on the wax paper with sharpie markers.Crayon PaintingsUse an old warming tray and wrap the tray top with heavy foil to protect it. Then place a sheet of paper on the tray and 'paint' with the crayon stubs - which melt as they touch the paper. For even more fun, place another sheet of paper on top of the 1st and rub evenly, then peel off. You'll have 2 pieces beautifully patterned paper you can use for collage, etc. Paper with a smooth finish works best for this.Crayon PaintPlace the stubs, grouped by color in a muffin tin and place the tin on a warming tray (remember the foil), then use old paintbrushes (the cheapest plastic ones are fine) to paint with the melted wax. You can paint the melted wax onto fabric for a batik project.Wet Drawing TechniqueMineral spirits or turpentine will dissolve the crayons. You can make washes by painting a drawing with a brush full of spirits, dissolving some in a small container and also try dipping the crayons in a little cup full of spirits for a 'wet drawing' technique.Crayon MagnetsWe also made unusual magnets by arranging crayon shavings and small pieces on metal juice can tops and placing these in the hot sun until crayons melted and swirled together. On a hot summer day, this happens quickly! Once cooled the wax hardens and lasts fairly well - as long as you don't drop it.By Pinellas CandlesColoring White CandlesI melt down crayons with a little wax and then dip white candles into the mixture to create colored candles. I buy plain white candles - about 99 cents for 1 doz. I find them in the ethnic food aisle of the grocery store - Shabbat candles.Then I melt a little bit of wax with crayons in a tin can set in an old saucepan with water in the pan... my substitute for a double boiler. I use tongs and I'm very careful. I dip the white candle in the wax, then into a tin can of cold water, then back into the wax - do this until you get the desired coating, then let them cool. I can make any color of candles and it's a lot of fun to experiment. One year I made various shades of orange for Autumn. My neighbor's little girl had fun picking out the colors and then watching me dip the candles. It wasn't a safe project for her age, but it still entertained her for several hours to see the color combinations she could create. By TJDumplin Adding Color to Wax CandlesThe crayon stubs are also great to color wax candles. Just add them to the wax when you are melting it down. CindyBy Beadlady Fire StartersHow about making pretty fire-starter packages for people who have fireplaces or like to camp. You need the crayons melted, strips of colored paper (if you have a paper shredder at your house, even better). Tie a piece of string to a pine cone or a balled up piece of paper. Dip it in the melted wax, then drag it through your shredded paper. Squeeze it once it has cooled but before the wax sets completely and trim any long shreds. Let it harden and continue to do these steps several times. Then, the last time, try to place the shredded paper fairly straight so that you can make a little tuft, like a carrot top at the end with shredded paper.By Sharon Finding Cheap CrayonsYou can always put them all in a zip-lock and sell at a yard sale, or... Many times I have been in a thrift store to see a grandmother, a caregiver, etc. find a zip-lock full of crayons for 25 cents or so and are so pleased. So many times we take for granted that crayons are inexpensive to us and we can just go out and buy new ones as soon as they aren't "pretty" any more. Others are thankful for an opportunity to purchase them no matter how well they look.By Tawnda Decorating Easter EggsYou could store them in with your Easter stuff and bring them out when decorating Easter Eggs. Draw on the egg before dipping it in the egg dye.By badwater Furniture ScratchesUse the browns and blacks to cover scratches on your furniture. Works great.By Marie Feel free to post your ideas below. 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| Leather-Look Vase or Bottle
Take an interestingly shaped vase or bottle and make sure it is cleaned out really well inside and out with soap and water. Dry it thoroughly. Then take a roll of regular masking tape start tearing it into small little pieces all the same size - not necessarily the same shape, but close to the same size. They must be torn, NOT cut. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Leatherwork Casing Tips
When casing (casing is wetting the leather in preparation for carving) your leather you would dampen the leather with a sponge first on the back (sueded - rough side) and then on the top (smooth-flesh) side. You do the top of the leather last because if you wet the smooth side you and then lay it on your marble and the working surface has any dust etc on it, you will immediately have that dirt and dust on your clean leather surface. After having wet the leather, let it sit until it turns a lighter tan (almost as if the leather is blushing) and feels cool to the touch. On thinner leathers you can just wet the top because it does not take too much for the leather to absorb the water into the internal layers of the leather. For backgrounding, the leather should be a little dryer than for normal stamping and tooling leather moisture content. If you are having difficulty getting your background smooth and even without tool marks when using a leather backgrounder such as the A104. your leather is probably too wet. By Standing Bear's Trading Post from Reseda, CA. http://www.sbearstradingpost.comPost Feedback: Click Here |
| Organizing Sewing Projects
I have recently made up my mind that I really need to organize my sewing/crafting room. It looks like a cyclone has gone through it LOL! Any way, this is what I have started with: Post Feedback: Click Here |
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New Requests
| Homemade Gift Ideas for Boys
I know it is a little early to be thinking about Christmas, but I like to be prepared. I am in a pickle this year! I like to make homemade things, or at least things with a homemade touch. We usually spend $10-15 on our nieces and nephew. This year, for the nieces I am buying them each a pair of slippers, then filling them with foot lotion, salts, pumice stone, etc. and wrapping it up all nice. But... I have NO CLUE what to do for my 7 year old nephew. I know he is into video games (that is ALL he does) but we are trying to give him other opportunities. Does anyone have suggestions? Post Feedback: Click Here |
| CD Fish Mobile
I'm looking for directions for making a hanging mobile using CDs and some foam-type of material. A friend had one hanging in her child's room and it was really cute. The body of the fish was a CD, a plastic eye was glued to it, and heavy-type material was stuck thru the CD to make a fin. Does anyone have specific directions on how to make these? Thanks! Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Turning a Can Into a Small Safe
I need help from you crafty people out there. My husband accidently knocked the bottom off of the old dutch maid cleanser can. Now I am remembering catalogs that have sold secret banks made out of off the wall containers before, like cleanser cans and such. Unfortunately, this one is too bent to use, but its got good graphics and would be neat if I could have a stash of something hidden away in it. I need help figuring out a way to jerri-rig it. I think some kind of U shaped spring glued to the bottom that you could then slide the bottom in place would work. But I can't figure out what to use for that U shaped spring. Please people help me figure this one out. It would be neat to have this, and wouldn't be so obvious as our fireproof box we have, that the previous one was already broken into! (and consequently ruined) Please put on your thinking caps and reply asap. Thanks a million. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Making an Eiffel Tower Out of Popsicle Sticks
I am looking for plans for a popsicle stick Eiffel tower. Post Feedback: Click Here |
| Making a Fabric Wastebasket Cover
I am looking to make a wastebasket cover for a cylinder shaped container and keep getting the dimensions wrong. Easy, I know, but I am dyslexic and having problems cutting the fabric to size. The base is 22cm, height 27cms and top diameter 27cms approximately. Any tips appreciated. Post Feedback: Click Here |
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Articles
| How to Make Home Made Paper You Can Plant
By Ellen Brown Making handmade plantable paper is a beautiful way to share the beauty and bounty of your flower and vegetable garden with fellow gardeners, while recycling paper into garden compost. You can modify the following directions to create inexpensive ornaments, invitations and note cards-or whatever your creative imagination can dream up! Read More: Click Here |
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