Melted Crayon Art: Tips & Tricks

I created my first melted crayon art canvas as a birthday present for my cousin back in June of 2014, and it went surprisingly well. To date, I’ve probably made at least 20 different canvases. I’ve used hot glue guns, blow driers and even the oven as a method for melting crayons. I’ve been quite proud of most of the ones I’ve made, but I’ve had my fair share of mistakes. Allow me to give you a few tips for your next crafting day.

October, 2014

1. Brand matters

Like I said, I’ve melted crayons using multiple methods and I can tell you for a fact: the brand makes a difference. If you’re new to this, or have only ever used one brand of crayon, I’d advise getting a canvas and testing out different brands. Depending on what you’re making, you may prefer one over the other.

Pro tip: I use Crayola and Cra-Z-Art crayons. Cra-Z-Art is runnier and more liquidy when it melts, and Crayola is a bit thicker. Both are great for various designs.

February, 2015

2. Make sure you have 2 hot glue guns

If you’ve previously never used a hot glue gun, and don’t think you’ll ever use one outside of your melted crayon craft purposes, you probably only need one. However, if you already own and use a hot glue gun and you’re planning on using it for melting crayons, I recommend buying a second. The first time I used a hot glue gun for crayons, we only had one. After putting crayons in it, it was pretty obvious I’d only be able to use it for crayons ever again. You can pick up a hot glue gun from your local craft store, or order one from Amazon, so I would advise owning two.

Pro tip: you can also use hot glue to make 3D art on your canvas!

August, 2016

3. Simplicity

I’m not an artist. I can’t draw or paint, so I use stencils for my canvases. The beauty of melted crayon art is that the crayon is the main focus. Using melted crayons over an actual painting might be overdoing it. I like the look of melted crayons with a black silhouette, which is perfect for me; I can trace an image, paint it with black acrylic paint and I’m good to go!

Pro tip: if you’re going to cut out images you’ve printed for your “stencils,” use images of silhouettes or coloring pages - they’re easier to cut out than regular photos.

January, 2015

Happy crafting!

Cheers,

Prabha

August, 2014