Today's craft project is modeled after church windows. I don’t know about anyone else, but one of the things I love about church is the sunlight streaming through the beautiful stained glass windows.

Your kids can make their own “stained glass” windows, flowers or butterflies at home with some crayons and wax paper! I’m sure you have some broken or worn crayons around the house and rather than throwing them out you can repurpose them in this craft.

The brighter colors work best so stay away from browns and blacks.  Use a grater to grate the crayons or use an old pair of scissors to shave off pieces of the crayon or otherwise crush the crayons.  You can keep each color separate or mix them together in the same container.

Once your crayons are prepared tear a piece of wax paper and sprinkle some of the crayons on top, don’t make it too thick as the crayons will spread when you melt them.  Put a second piece of wax paper on top and then place on newspaper on your ironing board (or folded up towel), place another piece of newspaper on top and run the iron slowly and evenly over the top to melt the crayon. Use a low setting such as the silk setting, don’t use the steam setting, and a dry iron works best.

Check to make sure all of the crayon is melted, and if not put the newspaper back over the top and apply the iron until all the crayon is melted.   Once the wax is cool you have options.  You can cut the sheet into the shape of a butterfly and add a construction paper body to the middle, or cut into the shape of a flower and add a construction paper center or pompom center, or you can fold a piece of black construction paper lengthwise and cut out shapes (similar to how you would cut out a paper snowflake) to make a “stained glass” window.  

This is a fun and simple craft any kid will love! Try it out and let us know what your kids think.