I have been eyeing this box of Stockmar Beeswax Crayons for awhile, natural art supplies are so pretty and nice to use. They usually smell great and come with that sense of satisfaction that you’re protecting your kids and the environment from life threatening chemicals (just kidding). Look at all of those five star reviews, can’t you just imagine the countless hours your little ones would spend quietly coloring before running up to you with their masterpieces in hand to reveal the Picasso-esque creations they had drawn, just for you!
That was my daydream, the reality is that they are $25 dollar crayons when you could get the equivalent from Crayola for a couple bucks. That’s not something I could justify purchasing when we’re in the middle of trying to pay off our car, have an awesome Christmas, and travel a lot while we’re home next summer. So, it was on to plan B, I decided I would undertake the messy process of making our own crayons. Not only was this cheaper since I had everything on hand, but it was also really informative. It’s one thing to watch How It’s Made on TV, and another to experience it for yourself. Give it a try, you’ll probably learn something in the process too!
Scented Beeswax Crayon Recipe
- 1 cup of Beeswax Pellets
- 1/2 cup of Parafin Wax shavings
- 1/4 cup of grated soap (I used Ivory)
- Non-toxic eye shadow or food coloring
- Essential Oils
- Silicone Molds
Aurora helped me grate the soap while I set the beeswax to melting in a double boiler. I don’t own an official double boiler, so I just stuck a smaller pot with the wax inside of a larger pot filled with water.
Melt down the wax and add the parafin and soap until it’s all nice and smooth, it can take awhile to get the soap to completely dissolve. While that was happening, I prepped my silicone molds with the colors of eyeshadow I wanted and the corresponding scent.
The next part is tricky, and messy. I poured my wax mixture in to one mold at a time, pausing in between to stir the color in to the wax. The problem is that the wax begins to harden right away, so you have to move very quickly if you want a nice smooth crayon. Repeat with each color.
If you discover that your crayon colorant is not mixed evenly all the way through, you will have to remelt it down (individually) and mix it better and then repour in the mold. You can remelt it in the oven (350 degrees for 8 minutes), but be sure to watch it because it will begin to foam and bubble over! Once you are satisfied with the consistency of your crayon, let it harden for an hour or more and remove from the mold.
I chose to cover mine in paper since they were a bit tacky feeling, it gives them a nice crayon like feel. I probably should have sharpened a point on one end for ease of drawing, but I didn’t want to waste any of my hard work! The moment of truth, do they draw? Yes! Although, not quite as evenly as I had hoped. I think I could have done a better job mixing the color throughout my crayons, or possibly using food coloring or powdered paint instead. They also smell wonderful, both the crayon and the drawing are lightly scented, I think the kids are going to really enjoy them! I’m planning to save them for a Christmas gift or stocking stuffer for my little artists!
Also check out our post on DIY Beeswax Modeling Clay.