Gifts for kids

Chubby Crayons

What You Need
• Cupcake/muffin tin
• Broken crayons
• Vegetable oil
• toothpick

What You Do
1. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
2. Remove all the paper labels from crayon pieces.
3. Put ¼ teaspoon of vegetable oil into each muffin pan cup, no cup liners needed.
4. You will use the equivalent of 4 new crayons for each cup. Place broken crayons (no longer than an inch each) into the muffin pan. This will fill the cup about 1/3 full.
5. Place into the preheated oven and watch carefully, they melt quickly!
6. Bake crayons for 8 minutes or so.
7. When the crayons begin to melt, remove them from the oven and stir gently with a toothpick.
8. Crayon will look “ugly” and the colors may appear blended too much. Don’t worry! They look much better on the other side.
9. Let the crayons cool completely.
10. Once cooled, pop the crayons out of the muffin pan by tapping on the backside of the pan. Crayons should fall right out.

Helpful Hints
• If you have any new crayons available, use one as a measuring stick. Lay broken crayon pieces along side of the new crayon to measure out 4 full sized crayons. This is how many you will need for each completed chunky crayon.
• Be sure to use extreme caution around kitchen utensils and the oven. Always use oven mitts and do not stick you fingers into the melted crayons.
• If you don’t have any broken crayon pieces, you can buy a large box of cheap crayons at the Dollar Store.

Soap Crayons

liquid food coloring for each color crayon
2 tablespoons hot water
1 cup soap flakes
For each color you would like, put two tablespoons of hot water and one cup of soap flakes into a bowl. Add as many drops of food coloring to the mix as you think necessary. Stir the soap mixture until it thickens. Press spoonfuls of the first color of soap into sections of the ice tray. Mix enough soap in other colors to fill the entire tray, repeating the first two steps. Let the soap crayons dry for one or two days. Gently bang the ice tray to loosen the crayons. These are great for little ones in the tub… be sure to get out the camera!

Eggshell Sidewalk Chalk (yes, eggshells!)

4-5 eggshells
1 teaspoon flour
1 teaspoon very hot tap water
few drops of food coloring (optional)
Wash and dry eggshells, put in a bowl and grind into powder. (I use my giant mortar and pestle but you might try a blender.) Redo any large pieces. Pour flour and hot water and 1 tablespoon of eggshell powder in a bowl. Mix until mixture looks like paste. Add food coloring now if desired. Shape and press the paste into the shape of chalk sticks. Roll up tightly in a strip of paper towel and allow to dry for about three days. This chalk is only good for sidewalks. Other chalk can be made using Plaster of Paris with water based color added while mixing. We make them in coin wrappers with one end crimped.