Melted Crayon Insects
MATERIALS
- Old crayons
- Mini pencil sharpener or a small paring knife be sure to have an adult help!
- Iron
- Ironing board and towel
- Scissors
- Parchment paper or a brown paper bag
- Paper
- Tempera paint or lightly colored markers optional
Springtime is filled with colorful insects making all kinds of sounds. They are like living, chirping works of art.
Artist Charles Burchfield was fascinated by these small creatures and their natural habitats as well. Take a look at some of his work including some visitor favorites like Gateway to September (left) or Insects and Fish Studies for Summer Afternoon. Take a look, then try making your own inspired
insects using melted crayons!
INSTRUCTIONS
- Draw the shape of an insect onto your paper, or print one off of the computer.
- Fold the paper in half across the midline of the insect, then unfold.
- Start shaving crayon bits. Try choosing a few colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. For example: blue-purplepink, or red-orange-yellow, or green-turquoise-blue. Using this sort of palette avoids all of the crayons melting together and turning brown.
- Place the crayon shavings on one half of the insect.
- When your insect is filled in on one side, fold the paper in half (unfilled side to meet the filled side).
- Place the folded insect on an ironing board or towel. Then cover it with a piece of parchment paper or brown paper bag over the folded insect. With the help of an adult, briefly iron over the parchment paper for no more than 15 seconds.
- Now open your paper and add more colors with paint or markers if you’d like.
- When your insect is completely dry, cut it out. You can add string to hang it from your ceiling or in your window.
Share your creations @huntermuseum
