by Alicia Bodine, Contributing Writer

You will need the following items for this craft:

1. Old crayon pieces
2. Paper
3. Design
4. Marker
5. Copy Machine
6. Glue
7. Cheese grater
8. Several Tupperware containers​

Follow these steps to complete your recycled crayon project:

1. Bring in a few cheese graters and have some of the students help you grind up all of the crayons. You can separate the crayons by color and place each color in a separate Tupperware container. You can also have a container for a rainbow color.
2. Get out a piece of paper and a black marker. Draw a picture or a scene, but only draw the outline of it. This picture would depend on the age of the children in your classroom. Smaller children may appreciate a picture of a butterfly or an animal that has many colors. Older children may need a whole scene such as a garden or field of flowers. Just make sure the scene lends itself to using plenty of colors. A frog would not be a good idea unless all of the crayons you have are green.
3. Make copies of the picture you drew. There should be as many copies as you have students.
4. Hand out the copies and have students sit around a table that has all of the crayon shavings on it.
5. Teach the children to glue one section at a time and then place crayon shavings on it. Do this until all of the sections are complete.
6. Wait for the glue to dry and then allow the students to take the crayon shaving pictures home.. 

​Note: This article previous appeared on the Yahoo Contributor Network. 

Is your child's artwork piling up endlessly? Ours does too. I found an easy solution that doubles as preservation without the mess. Rescue your kid's artwork piles by making this art and memory scrapbook.

Simply grab a handful of your child's artwork, a hole punch, and some string to make this fun project. Be sure to let kids help create this fun art project that will be full of memories. This is a great way to spend some time together, as well as let your kids know their artwork is special to you.

First, sort the art out according the time frame it was created in. Obviously, you won't know the exact date for each, unless you're very meticulous prior to this project. However, try to put them in an order that makes the most sense.

If you want, you can use a manila folder or some construction paper as the cover. I personally prefer to have one of the pieces of art as a cover. If you're using this additional covering, simply place the artwork inside your cover piece or pieces.

Now, punch four holes in the left side of all of the pages. If you have a heavy duty hole punch, you may be able to do them all at once to line them up easier. Once you do this, tie a piece of string in a bow between the top two holes. Repeat for the bottom two holes with another piece of string.

That's it!

Now, stick it with your photo and memory albums and enjoy!

That's right! You can once again help pets with the purchase of pet toys, jewelry, and other arts  & crafts handmade by myself and my kids in our family craft shop.

We keep our prices low enough for most people to be able to enjoy these beautiful items without breaking the bank. Our shipping is free to the U.S. & Canada and we use only quality materials.

We like to work with beads and findings to make unique pieces.  In addition to our creative stock, we also do custom orders. Glass beads, stone beads, and nickel-free findings are our favorite tools to work with.

Our dog toys and other pet accessories are made from re-purposed clothing and other fabric in order to be Earth friendly. The other reason is that dogs, cats, and other fur kids tend to enjoy items that have been used by humans.

In addition to selling these toys and accessories, we often drop piles of them in the material donation box at a local animal shelter. Since shelter pets are often cared for by mostly material and financial donations, we feel the need to raise money, as well as donate materials they can use.

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Looking for a way to use fabric scraps instead of tossing them out? Try making a scrap quilt - even better, donate it to the homeless. This is a project kids and adults alike can participate in. Won't it feel great to be green and help someone at the same time? Quilts can be made for adults and children.

Choosing a Pattern

 When choosing patterns for your scrap quilt, keep in mind that the kids will be helping with the sewing. If your kids have never made a quilt before, it's best to stick to beginner patterns. This way they don't get frustrated and give up. Plus, if you have a ton of fabric, the less time each quilt takes, the more you can make. One simple pattern I recommend for making quilts for homeless kids is the Child's Rag Quilt. If you're instead making quilts for homeless adults, then I recommend Bev's Country Cottage.

Mixing and Matching

It's alright if not all of your pieces of fabric are going to match. This project is not about being a perfectionist, but about helping someone. If you can afford to purchase extra fabric to match, then go ahead. But if not, the recipient of the quilt will be just as happy. As long as the quilt is warm and cozy, it will serve the purpose. Besides, with quilts, mixing and matching is the whole point. Be creative with your designs to make the scrap quilt as fun and interesting as possible.

Where to Donate

Women's and children's shelters are one place that will need scrap quilts. There are also many centers and programs that serve the homeless. Some cater to just children, some to all ages, and some just to adults. Call around and see what you can find out. Your local United Way or social services department will likely be able to point you in the right direction. Many churches also work with the homeless. Sometimes during the winter or near Thanksgiving, there are blanket drives for the homeless.

What do the Kids Learn?

 By making scrap quilts for the homeless, your homeschool students learn many lessons. Being green by not being wasteful is one important lesson. Another is that being green can be beneficial not just to the earth but to people as well. Then, there is compassion for others and the importance of giving. Plus, if they've never made a quilt before, they'll learn how. If they have done it before, practice makes perfect!


*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network