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27 Nov

36 Things To Do with Crayons for Kids & Parents

Art Projects
CraftsAll Ages


52 Comments

Crayons aren’t just for coloring and art projects anymore! Discover 36 creative and unique things to do with crayons that kids (and parents) will love.

I hear this all the time: My kids don’t like to color. What else can I do with my crayons?

In the past, I’ve suggested twistables crayons (affiliate link). My kids love them!

Well, turns out, a lot.

36 Things To Do with Crayons for Kids & Parents

I’ve searched for some fun ideas to do with crayons and came up with 36 uses for crayons.

Things to create with crayons, art ideas for crayons, and even some activities to do with crayons!

I love these 36 different activities, all with crayons, that go way, way beyond plain old coloring.

Plus, you’ll be able to set up so many of these activity ideas in no time because you already have the main ingredient: crayons!

I know we always have a few packs (plus a ton of random) crayons floating around. How many packs do you have at your house?

Go beyond coloring with 36 creative things to do with crayons! 

Let’s Get Creative with Crayons!

First, I wanted to go beyond basic coloring and use crayons as part of larger crafts. These 12 creative crayon crafts are so fun!

I love when you can level up your coloring as part of a bigger art project.

Check out these 15 fun crayon art projects!

Adding crayons into your learning activities is super fun!

I love these 9 activities that use crayons for something other than arts or crafts.

Need more inspiration for your crayons?

I have an ongoing collection on my Pinterest Color Me a Crayon board.

Which crayon activity are you going to try first? We’d love to see pictures of your next non-coloring crayon activity!

Go beyond coloring with 36 creative things to do with crayons!

More Hands on Kids Activities to Try

Reader Interactions

52 Comments

  2. ColorGaia says

    One thing to mention if you are trying the hair-dryer melt method – it’s a bit hard to control and can get messy FAST!

    I’ve tried this twice now; the first time, I melted the crayons too far and the whole thing turned into a sort of brown streak. The second time I was able to keep the colors a bit more separated. However, it’s been two weeks and I’m still finding little dots of color on the tile floor!

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  6. Barbara says

    Hello I love the Ideas they are pretty cool but to messy for my folks the crayon melting is going to be hard I’m a artist I make pictures of nature Peale and dogs. So the melting will come in hand.

    reply to this comment

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  13. Michelle says

    Awsome ideas for crayons. When I was little we collected old pieces of broken used crayons during the year . Near Mothers Day we collected a school milk carton bought at school ,rinse it out an dried. We then had a washer on a piece of waxed twine. At one end was the washer and on the other end a pensil that was laid across the milk carton. The teacher had a hotplate. She first melted the blue and poured about a 1/4 of carton. Then repeated the step after allowing the crayon to set with red , pink, orange,green, etc. After allowing it to set again we then peeled the carton off. What beautiful candles we each had to take home at the end of the year.

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  17. Terry says

    Cover a warming tray with foil. Melt various colors of crayons directly on the warming tray. Silver and gold metallic crayons work really nice with this craft. Take a plain piece of copy paper and lay it on top. Tap it a bit to allow the paper to soak up the melted colors. Drag it a bit as you pull it off. You will have a great colorful page to cut out shapes and use for greeting cards or window crafts.

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  20. Felt So Cute says

    Thanks so much for including my crayon picture frame. What a terrific compilation of projects! My girls have moved on to other things besides crayons, but I can’t help myself from buying new boxes every year when the school supplies come out, LOL – so now we have some new project ideas to use them up!

    reply to this comment

  21. angie says

    I have been obsessed with crayons since my kids were babies (they are now 14 and 17). I am always looking for something to do with crayons and I have never seen such a comprehensive compilation of ideas. WOW!! :) Thanks so much for putting this together in one place!

    reply to this comment

  24. Jennifer says

    Hi there, thanks for the great ideas. Here is another one. In my class we love to build with crayons. The children use a variety of crayons to create whatever it is they want with the crayons. After a child has completed his/her creation I take a picture and they create something else. We do this in conjunction with the letter C.

    reply to this comment

  35. Zina :: Let's Lasso the Moon says

    Jamie, thanks for showcasing our hand print tree. I cannot wait to check out the batik fabric link. What a wonderful collection of ideas you’ve got here!

    reply to this comment

  36. jen says

    thanks so much for mentioning our warming tray melty crayons… it’s sooo satisfying to do that! i’ll have to pull the warming tray back out again soon. thanks for the inspiration AND for all of these fab crayon ideas! we do have too many crayola nubs laying around our art cabinet.

    reply to this comment

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Meet Jamie

What Parents Have to Say…

There's always something new for us to discover, as well as old favorites. I am so grateful to have activities handed to us... Fun and easy ones that can be put together in a moment's notice! You're awesome Jamie and I appreciate you sharing your activities and ideas!! - Melissa C.

"I absolutely love that this takes all the prep work out of engaging my children. It is so easy to just put up the calendar, and glance at it for inspiration when we are in a funk." - The Activity Room Member, Rachel


I have found it impossible to Google ideas from a million different sites, get organized, shop for supplies, etc. This is exactly what I have been searching for! Thanks for making something so organized and easy to use. - Early Years Activity Plans User, Melissa C.


This takes down the need to scour the internet for ideas. It's like looking for a recipe on the internet, so many options that often times it is less overwhelming to look in a book on the shelf than stress about too many options. - Early Years Activity Plans User, Robyn G


Thank you so much for these activities. They have proven to me that I CAN be that mom that does cool and creative things with her kids! And those cool and creative things can actually be quite simple! What a revelation. Thank you!! - 7 Day Challenge, Katie M.


I feel like a new mama having so many fun ideas. I used to dread the afternoon, after naps, as it was so boring doing the same thing day after day but now I look forward to our "play" time! - Haley S.

You have changed how I spend time with my kid in so many positive ways! I am now one happy dad that no longer wonders what I am going to do with this little guy for the next 12 hours :P Your site was this first time dad life saver! - Jack C.

It is hard to think of things to keep the 3 year old entertained and engaged while taking care of the baby. Everything we have tried so far from your website, the three year old has loved. Your ideas are so simple and he can do them for hours. HEAVEN! - Karen I.

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