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Beeswax Crayons
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There are many different variations for beeswax crayons, but most use equal weight amounts of beeswax and white bar soap. This is the recipe I've used with great success over the years. How do these compare to the Soy Crayons we made several months ago? I find the beeswax crayons to be harder than the soy, giving the ability to add more details to pictures. Both are wonderful and VERY child friendly. BTW... I found out that little puppies LOVE to chew on these. Shocker, right?
BEESWAX CRAYONS
(Use equal weights of soap and beeswax.)
1 part soap, grated (inexpensive bar white bar soap)
1 part beeswax, chopped into pieces
Paste or liquid food coloring or a veggie based colorant. Note: You can use tempera paints or fresco pigments instead of food coloring for deeper colors, but they should not be ingested so they are not safe for small children.
2 cup Pyrex measuring cup or other microwave safe container
Molds – see note in directions
Veggie spray or shortening
Chop up beeswax into pieces and grate soap.
In your microwave melt soap and beeswax in Pyrex measuring cup. Caution: the liquid will be very hot! You can also melt the soap and beeswax in the top of a double boiler. Watch the mixture closely. You do not want it to boil or it will foam up putting air bubbles in your crayons. If this does happen, let it set for a couple of minutes, gently stirring to remove air bubbles.
When the soap and beeswax have melted, carefully mix in color. I used paste food coloring. Obviously, the more you add, the more vibrant the color. I also wanted to make 4 colors so I divided the hot liquid before adding colors. Note: If using a veggie based colorant, you may have to return it to the microwave to completely melt the tart.
Lightly grease the mold you will be using to pour the liquid into. Possible molds are ice cube trays, mini muffin pans, depressions in artist clay, disposable mini paper cups, or make your own mold using foil paper.
Pour the melted mixture into your mold and allow to dry completely. Note: If the crayons have become "gloppy" and you are using an oven safe mold, pop them in a 350 oven for a few minutes to melt a bit. Be careful not to let them go too long or they will begin to foam!
Remove from mold and use!
BTW… I have had parents tell me that if you use glycerin soap the crayons will be harder. I have not tried it yet, but you may wish the experiment.
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I've been wanting to try this! So, yesterday I did. Unfortunately, I failed miserably! I think my beeswax separated from the soap as they cooled. So I have a layer of beeswax (uncolored) and then a colored layer of soap. I used clear melt and pour for my soap and food coloring gel. (Couldn't find paste.) I think the melt and pour is really just a glycerin soap, so I don't know where I went wrong. I tried melting (in the microwave), mixing, and pouring into a mold and letting it cool, and I also tried melting(on the stove in double boiler) it (my original mold was plastic) and putting it in the oven. I had the same results. Any guesses where I went wrong?
Thanks for such a wonderful blog. I've been having fun exploring - there are so many things I want to try now!
The only 2 soaps I have ever used when making beeswax candles are Dove and Ivory. I have had a couple parents tell me they did use glycerin soap with great results, but I have no idea what type they used.
And I've never used food coloring gel. I do find, in general, that paste colors are more intense than the gels, requiring less, but I think that would affect the color, not the ability of the soap and wax to bind. I have to assume it was probably the clear melt. Try again with a dense, white bar soap.
Sorry you wasted the time and materials :( But don't give up. When you succeed, they really are a wonderful crayon!
Kimara
Wee Folk Art Publisher
Thanks! I'll add Dove to shopping list and give it another try. I have plenty of beeswax left! Where do you find food coloring paste?
Craft stores like JoAnns and Michaels carry the paste, as do some of the larger supermarkets. Also, if you have a specialty kitchen shop in your area, they usually will, too. Be generous with the paste. It's no fun to color with crayons that are too light :)
Kimara
Wee Folk Art Publisher
My dog eats my crayons, too! Glad to know I'm not the only one, though I can't blame in on puppyhood. We haven't had a decently shaped block crayon at my house for ages. I've been saving my chips to melt down into some new form.
Great recipe. Thanks! I think we're going to have to try this.
YAY! A friend just gave me several large hunks of beeswax. She's moving and wanted to get rid of lots of her crafting supplies. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with have the stuff, but now I now what I'm going to do with some of the beeswax. Thanks!
I made beeswax crayons a few years ago and I was very disappointed. Instead of bright colors, it was like the wax was barely tinted! I wound up throwing them out. I know I used the liquid food coloring, and it seemed like I just couldn't get the colors intense enough. I will try it again with paste food coloring. I've never used it before but I've seen it at the store. Thanks for all your great ideas. My children and I love coming to your site.
Would love to try making my own beeswax crayons from scratch!
Another idea to use up one's old pieces of beeswax crayons is to separate by color, melt down in a double boiler then pour into ice cube trays to make new block crayons.
Alternatively, one could layer the colors (allowing each layer to cool and harden before adding the next) to make rainbow crayons!
I love layered crayons! Thanks for the reminder :) Some big, rainbow beeswax crayons would make super party favors, too.
Kimara
Wee Folk Art Publisher