When E takes his afternoon nap, I try to do a fun project with V. Sometimes we make a puzzle. Other times we color and practice our letters. With Valentine’s day coming up, we did a special project involving crayons. Before V could get started, I used a utility knife to cut crayon shavings. I looked for a pencil sharpener, but we don’t have one because really, who uses anything but a mechanical pencil now days?
Of course a little help is always nice, especially when the help is a cheesy-grinned four year old.
After shaving four different colored crayons (red, orange red, red violet, and flamingo to be exact), we finally got to the good part. We spread out a few sheets of kraft paper and one sheet of wax paper. V and I sprinkled the crayon over the wax sheet, trying to keep it as even as possible.
Cover it up with another sheet of wax paper.
And two more sheets of kraft paper.
Warm your iron to a medium setting and run it over the paper, melting the crayons.
Check as you’re going and keep ironing until the wax is completely melted.
Make a heart template, I recycled a flyer from the mail. Trace as many hearts as possible and start cutting.
To string our hearts, I used a needle to poke holes on both sides of each heart. Thread a small needle without cutting the other end from the spool. String the hearts on until you’ve reached the desired garland length.
I hung our garland in front of the living room window by making small loops on either end of the thread. Brackets are the perfect hangers.
And Dexter would have liked some of our red hearts, like this one that reminds me of his infamous blood slides.
What fun projects do you do with your kids? Do you remember making ‘stained glass’ as a kid? If I were crazy and needed another DIY light fixture in my house, I would most definitely make a faux capiz pendant using this same process. Just sub the hearts for a circle punch and sew the circles together. A wire wreath form would make a perfect multi-tiered base to hang the strands from. Can you tell I’ve considered this?!? Haha.
ourhumbleabodeblog.com 
cute idea!
your post last week reminded me that i STILL hadn’t gotten around to hanging the “i love you this much” print you sent me. i also printed out the “love trunk” freebie you advertised and hung both in my downstairs bathroom over the weekend. i will snap a pic as soon as i straighten up that room a bit! we’re in the middle of a kitchen remodel so that bathroom is a pseudo-kitchen these days – aka. a total cluster-eff. 😉
I want a teal, aqua and green wreath for my front door. Looks like G had fun, he’s so cute.
Those are too cute! You’re such a fun mom! This makes me want to get some Valentine decorations.
That is such a cute project I love it
That last pic, of the red heart…totally looks like a Dexter blood slide…GOOD call lol.
Great project….I love the hearts 🙂
I was totally going to say that the last heart reminded me of Dexter…but you beat me to it 🙂
Super cute idea!!
I’m glad you’re liking our little afternoon project. Vincent still makes sure we inspect it every day. Haha. Maybe if you make it, you’ll get a Dexter-esque result.
Thanks!
Amanda
Just came across your site today and I am already in love! Can’t wait to get some kitchen inspiration and more craft ideas. Glad to be here.
I bet you could use a cheese grater, because who buys blocks of cheese anymore?
Nikki @ the ambitious procrastinator
Thank you for this idea! My five year old son has to decorate a Valentine’s Day box for his school valentine cards so we whipped up a batch of these hearts and taped them to his box. When we melted the crayon shavings he said, “This is awesome”!
Hey Catie! I’m glad you were able to get some use out of it. 🙂 Isn’t it funny how cool kids find it? Glad your son had a good time with it. 🙂