Making Crayons

We have many broken crayons that kids don't want to use any more.

I think they are such a waste not being used. But, I have to agree that they are no longer fun to use.

So, I thought there might be some way to change the shape. As I searched the web, I found many people posting ways to recreate crayons.

The easiest way was this one.

1. remove the wraps around the crayons.

2. Reshape the rinsed off cans so that they would have spouts.

3. Put the crayons in the can. The can will go in electric frying pan with water set just above "warm". Water will create small bubbles, but not boiling!
*This is the chocolate molds I purchased in Japan. I bought this and two others. Silicons ones are super easy! This one has star shape, heart shape, and shell shape.

4. Crayons start to melt. Stir frequently.

I let my daughters pick what crayons to go in. Well... They will all turn green... This was an experiment for her!
5. Using the oven mitt, pour the melted crayons into the molds.
6. Ta Da!! New crayons are made!

Well, this was fun. But, I think we will stick with one color at a time from next time.

Avoid Handmade (for now)

I love handmade. They are unique and always have some personal touch to the products.

Living in Portland is great for handmade lovers like me. But, it certainly hits hard my bank account. I enjoy Saturday Market, and recently my friend introduced me to First Thursday in Pearl District which was almost like mini Saturday Market. We must have spent about $250 in the last month and half by going to these events. As much as we love and use the things we bought, we need to cut back and control ourselves on expenditure at these places.

But, we decided to go back last Sunday when it was nice out.

With one goal. "WE WILL NOT BUT ANYTHING"

We went there to eat the vender food, so excluding that, we did not buy ANYTHING. So, our will was strong.

Then, we went to Rose Garden where the kids can run around (for free) and then the playground (again for free).

What a great way to spend Sundays. I love it when we get to have fun and it does not cost anything!

I must avoid handmade for now, but I cannot stay away from them forever.

Creating

I had never being a creative person as growing up. My art class grades were always around B- or C+, not good enough to be an artist or bad enough to have to repeat the class. My painting was picked once for an award in 6th grade, and I was thinking "what just happened?" That was totally unexpected.

But, becoming a mother changes everything. I don't know if it actually changes EVERYTHING, but it certainly changes several things for me. I started creating.

Sewing...

I learned sewing as a little girl. I was an only girl in the family and youngest. So, my mom spoiled me making skirts and dresses for me when I was little. I watched her make them, wore them, and tried sewing with her sewing machine.

However, most of my sewing experience came in junior high when we all had to take home economics class and learned how to use sewing machine. The basics. Since then, sewing was lost for a long long time.

That is until when I had my oldest daughter 6 years ago. I borrowed my mother-in-law's 30 plus year-old sewing machine and made my baby girl a crib bumper, pillow cases, drapes etc. Then, baby girl number 2 arrived. More drapes, pillows, crib bumper, crib skirt, then eventually the girls matching tops, skirts, bags, bibs and more. My husband gave me an nice sewing machine one christmas and quit using the old sewing machine whose pedal gets really hot as I sew.

My hobby expanded enough to share with strangers by having a shop online. It is a tiny business, but what a great feeling to hear customers happy with my creation. Especially when customers come back again and again and again. I guess B- in art class does not have to tell me what I am capable of. After all, I got C and C- constantly in English classes in high school, and look at me now, I live in US!!!