Crayon Colorfall

I made a "color-fall" using some wood and crayons. It is a great project for tween/teen groups with adult supervision or a good project for more experienced workers who need a break and want to just do something easier.

Note: Read ALL instructions THOROUGHLY before beginning the project

You will need:

• Something to write on (for plans if you decide to size up or down) [picture 4]
• Crayons (As many as desired/needed) [picture 1]
• Small posts (1 1/4 inch by 1 1/4 inch by 30 inches approx.) [picture 2]
• assorted pieces of thin(ish) wood [pictures 3 and 5]
• Small pebbles/rocks (COMPLETELY OPTIONAL) [picture 6]
• Something to cut wood (preferably electric such as a bandsaw) [picture 7]
• Something to sand, if you are not good with straight cuts [picture 8]
• Something to melt crayons in (Ex. I found a Mason Jar worked really well)
• Pot (Small)
• Stove
• Super Glue
• Regular Glue
• Colored Paper

Note: You can size these plans up or down to make it bigger or smaller

A= 1 1/4 inch by 1 1/4 inch by 9 inches (x2)

B= 1 1/4 inch by 1 1/4 inch by 1 1/4 (x2)

C= 1 1/4 inch by 1 1/4 inch by 3 1/4 (x2)

D= 1/8 inch (actually does not matter how thick) by 9 inches by 10 inches

E= 1/8 inch (actually does not matter how thick) by 5 inches by 9 inches (x2)

There are two ways to do this step, the first step however, is necessary for both

Sort the crayons by color. (as seen in the 2nd picture) This is VERY important, (as the crayons will melt into each other and create a brownish color if you do not)

Now, the two ways to do this are similar, but this difference is important.

1st Way: Line the sides with stones to make it look more like a waterfall.

1. Depending on how wide your stones are (I recommend pretty small ones) you need to take that away from how wide your waterfall is. Ex: My board is 9" wide, and my stones are 1.5" wide, so mark off 1.5" off of each side of your board, and you are left with 6" of space for the color.
2. Decide how many colors there are, then divide the remaining length of the board by however many colors there are, that is how wide each section of color will be. (Ex. My board has a remaining length of 6" and I have 6 colors, so I have 6 sections of color each being one inch because 6 divided by 1 equals 6) Mark these different sections with a pencil (picture 1)

2nd Way: No Stones

1. Decide how many colors there are, then divide the length of the board by however many colors there are, that is how wide each section of color will be. (Ex. My board has a length of 6" and I have 6 colors, so I have 6 sections of color each being one inch because 6 divided by 1 equals 6) Mark these different sections with a pencil [picture 1]

This is a pretty simple step, but somewhat time consuming.

You must take off all of the wrappers of all of the crayons, the easiest way to do this is to heat up water for 45 seconds, and stick the crayons in it one color at a time, then scour them shallowly with a knife, and it will peel right off.

Now, make the mold.

1. Simply take some scraps as long as the falls are tall, and glue them to some square scraps like seen in the picture above (I have clamps holding it because the glue had not yet set)

1. Cut all crayons into about 1/2 inch pieces. (With a knife, or you can just snap them)
2. Put the crayons in the melting place (Mason jar or other) and put it in the pot
3. Fill the pot until it is 3/4 full or the jar starts floating
4. Put the stove on high simmer, and take a skewer and stir it every once and a while until it melts

Now that the crayons have melted, position the mold on the lines I had you draw earlier, and evenly pour the crayon wax into the mold. (Make sure you use hot pads!!) If it leaks out, wait until it hardens, then use either a craft chisel or a butter knife and you can scrape it off. Repeat these last two steps for all of your colors.

Once you have melted and formed all of your colors, take some super glue and rocks, as seen in the "Prep The Falls" and dab some super glue (You don't have to use the same as me) and place them as needed on the sides. You may do as little or as many as desired.

1st, take some white paper and cut it to the size of the top of the falls. (pics 2, 3, and 4) Then glue it on.

Then, take paper that is the same color as your wax (Ex. I have 6 colors: red, orange, yellow, green, and blue, so I have red paper, orange paper, yellow paper, green paper, and blue paper.) Then cut them into small shreds. (pics 5 and 6) I then took some glue, spread it over the bottom of the falls, and, spread the shreds of colored paper over it

We are almost done! Take the piece that has colored paper on it, and glue it to the bottom of the falls. Then, remember those posts on the supply list? Glue them to the white top, on the side that doesn't have paper, and you're done with this step!

Take the top of the waterfall, and the white board, and glue them together as seen in the picture, (consider putting something heavy on top to ensure the glue sticks well) and you're done! :)