If you have a box filled with broken crayons that nobody uses anymore, don’t throw them away just yet.
With a few inexpensive supplies, those forgotten crayons can be transformed into colorful melted-crayon Christmas ornaments that look beautiful hanging on a tree, attached to a wrapped gift, or displayed in a window.
One version of this viral holiday craft uses something many families already have at home: old crayons and mason jar lids.
And there’s good reason this idea keeps resurfacing. Crayola itself publishes a mason-jar-lid ornament project using crayon shavings, wax paper, a hair dryer, string, and jar lids.
The result looks almost like miniature stained glass—and every ornament comes out slightly different.
Why This Christmas DIY Is So Charming
Holiday decorations don’t have to be expensive to feel special.
Some of the most memorable ornaments are the ones made at home.
This project is particularly fun because it combines two things that might otherwise be discarded:
broken crayons + leftover mason jar lids.
Instead of buying another box of plastic ornaments, you can turn them into something colorful and personal.
It’s also easy to customize the colors. Red and green create a classic Christmas look, while blue and white can create an icy winter effect. Gold, orange, pink, purple, and multicolored combinations can make each ornament completely unique.
What You’ll Need
For the easiest version of these melted-crayon ornaments, gather:
- Old or broken crayons
- Mason jar lid rings
- Wax paper
- Crayon or pencil sharpener
- Scissors
- Hair dryer
- Strong tape
- Ribbon, twine, or decorative string
- A protected work surface
Optional decorations include small bows, artificial greenery, bells, beads, glittery ribbon, gift tags, or holiday stickers.
Crayola’s own version uses crayons, a sharpener, wax paper, duct tape, scissors, mason jar lids, string, and a hair dryer.
Step 1: Choose Your Crayon Colors
Start by digging through your collection of old crayons.
Broken pieces are perfect.
Remove the paper wrappers and decide which colors you want to combine.
For a traditional Christmas ornament, try:
red + dark red + white
or:
red + green + white.
For a snowy winter theme:
blue + turquoise + white + silver-gray.
For something more playful, mix several bright colors.
You don’t need much wax, so even very small crayon pieces can be useful.
Step 2: Turn the Crayons Into Shavings
Instead of trying to melt an entire crayon, use a crayon sharpener or ordinary pencil sharpener to create thin shavings.
Crayola recommends unwrapping approximately two to six crayons and creating shavings with a sharpener for its version of the project.
Fine shavings melt more evenly than large chunks.
Place them in separate small containers if you want more control over your pattern.
Step 3: Arrange the Crayon Shavings
Place a piece of wax paper on a protected work surface.
Sprinkle the crayon shavings over it.
Don’t pile everything in one spot.
Instead, spread the colors around so that when the wax melts, you’ll get interesting streaks, patches, and swirls.
You can make a random abstract pattern or deliberately arrange the colors.
For example, put red around the edges and white toward the center.
Then place another slightly larger piece of wax paper over the top.
Seal the edges with strong tape so the crayon pieces remain trapped between the sheets.
Step 4: Carefully Melt the Crayons
This is where the magic happens.
With adult assistance, use a hair dryer to gently heat the crayon shavings between the wax-paper sheets.
As they soften, the individual pieces begin flowing together and creating beautiful marbled patterns.
Crayola uses this same general method in its official melted-crayon ornament project and recommends letting the melted design cool for about 15 minutes afterward.
Don’t hold the heat in one place unnecessarily.
Move it gradually across the design.
And don’t touch the melted wax until it has cooled.
An Important Safety Note About Melting Crayons
This should be treated as an adult-supervised craft whenever heat is involved.
Crayola specifically recommends melting crayons in a well-ventilated area because overheating wax crayons can release irritating fumes. Its consumer safety guidance also says melting crayons should be performed by an adult and does not recommend heating crayons in a home oven or microwave.
So skip viral instructions telling you to microwave a bowl of crayons.
A controlled craft method using adult supervision is the better approach.
Step 5: Let the Wax Cool Completely
This part requires patience.
Once you’ve created a pattern you love, put the wax-paper sheet somewhere flat and leave it alone.
Crayola’s project recommends approximately 15 minutes of cooling.
Don’t immediately try to cut the design while the wax is still soft.
Once cooled, the colors should remain suspended between the wax-paper layers, giving you that translucent stained-glass appearance.
Step 6: Use the Mason Jar Lid as Your Template
Now grab your mason jar lid ring.
Place it over your finished melted-crayon sheet and trace around it.
Cut out the circle.
Trim a tiny amount from the edges if necessary until the colorful insert fits neatly inside the ring.
Crayola’s instructions similarly use the mason jar lid to measure and trace a circle before trimming the melted-crayon piece to fit.
Suddenly, the random sheet of melted crayons begins looking like a real ornament.
Step 7: Add the Hanging String
Before completely assembling your ornament, prepare its hanger.
Loop ribbon, string, or twine through or around the mason jar ring and tie it securely.
Leave enough length to comfortably hang the ornament from a Christmas-tree branch.
For a rustic farmhouse look, use natural jute twine.
For something more elegant, try satin ribbon.
For children’s ornaments, bright red, green, or candy-cane-striped ribbon looks adorable.
Step 8: Insert Your Melted-Crayon Design
Carefully press the circular crayon design into the open side of the mason jar lid.
Adjust the edges until everything sits neatly.
The metal ring creates a ready-made frame around your colorful artwork.
Hold it toward a window.
The light passing through the translucent wax-paper design can make the melted colors look surprisingly similar to stained glass.
That’s what makes this inexpensive project so pretty.
Make a Red Christmas Version
The viral post specifically mentions melting old red crayons, which is perfect for Christmas.
Instead of using only one shade of red, however, try combining several similar colors.
Use:
bright red + burgundy + pink + a little white.
When melted together, they’ll create more visual depth than a single solid color.
Finish the ornament with a green ribbon or tiny artificial evergreen sprig.
You could even add a miniature gold bow at the top.
Make a Christmas Tree Color Version
For another traditional design, mix:
dark green + light green + red + tiny touches of yellow.
Once melted, the yellow creates small areas that resemble Christmas lights.
Finish with red ribbon.
Make a Candy Cane Ornament
Use mostly:
red + white.
Arrange the shavings in alternating diagonal lines before heating them.
The colors will spread as they melt, so don’t expect perfect stripes.
That’s part of the handmade charm.
Finish with red-and-white twine.
Make a Winter Wonderland Version
Christmas decorations don’t have to be red and green.
Try:
white + pale blue + dark blue + turquoise.
The result can look like frozen glass.
Add a silver ribbon and a tiny snowflake decoration.
This version works beautifully throughout the entire winter season.
Make Rainbow Ornaments With the Kids
Have lots of random broken crayons?
Don’t worry about coordinating them.
Make rainbow ornaments instead.
Allow children to choose their favorite colors and arrange the shavings before an adult handles the heating stage.
The final result becomes a keepsake based entirely on the child’s choices.
You can write the child’s name and year on a small tag attached to the ribbon.
Years later, those little handmade ornaments often become more meaningful than expensive store-bought decorations.
Turn Them Into Personalized Family Ornaments
Here’s another beautiful idea.
Make one ornament for every member of your family.
Choose colors associated with each person.
For example:
Mom might get red and gold.
Dad might get blue and green.
One child might choose purple and pink.
Another might choose every color available.
Add a small paper tag containing:
Name — Christmas 2026
You now have an inexpensive family tradition you can repeat every year.
Add Names Without Ruining the Design
If you want personalization, don’t write directly over the prettiest part of the wax.
Instead, attach a small wooden or cardstock tag to the hanging ribbon.
Write the person’s name with a permanent marker or paint pen.
You could add:
“Our First Christmas”
“Baby’s First Christmas”
“Grandma 2026”
or simply:
“Made with Love.”
This turns a simple recycled craft into a thoughtful keepsake.
Use Them as Gift Toppers
You don’t even have to put these ornaments on your own tree.
Use them instead of disposable bows.
Wrap a gift in simple kraft paper.
Tie it with twine.
Then attach a handmade crayon ornament.
After opening the gift, the recipient can remove the ornament and hang it on their Christmas tree.
It’s essentially two gifts in one.
Turn Several Into a Garland
If you have plenty of mason jar rings, make several ornaments and connect them with ribbon.
Alternate colors:
red, green, white, red, green, white.
Hang the finished garland across:
a mantel, window, doorway, bookshelf, or holiday party table.
Because every melted pattern is different, the collection will have a beautiful handmade look.
Why You Shouldn’t Pour Very Hot Wax Directly Into Random Lids
The viral headline suggests that someone simply melts crayons and pours them directly into jar lids.
While that sounds easy, handling containers of very hot melted wax introduces unnecessary burn and spill risks.
A safer and simpler variation is the established wax-paper method described by Crayola: melt small crayon shavings between wax-paper sheets, let them cool, cut the design to size, and then press the finished circle into the mason jar lid.
You still get the colorful effect without needing to carry or pour a container of hot liquid wax.
Why a Hair Dryer Works
Regular crayons are largely made from wax and pigment.
Crayola says its standard crayons use paraffin wax and color pigment and begin softening/melting around 105°F (about 41°C), with a melting-point range of roughly 120–147°F (49–64°C).
That’s why controlled warm air can soften thin crayon shavings.
However, hotter isn’t better.
Overheating wax is exactly what you want to avoid.
Can You Microwave Crayons?
For this project, don’t.
Crayola’s safety guidance specifically says heating crayons in a home oven or microwave isn’t recommended and warns that overheating wax crayons may release irritating fumes.
Use a craft method designed around controlled heating instead.
Can Children Make These?
Children can absolutely participate in many parts of the project.
They can:
choose colors, unwrap crayons, arrange shavings, select ribbons, and help decorate the finished ornaments.
But the heating stage should be handled with appropriate adult supervision.
Crayola’s published melted-crayon ornament activity specifically notes that adult assistance is required for the hair-dryer step.
How to Prevent Muddy Colors
There’s one mistake that can turn beautiful colors into an unattractive brownish mixture:
using too many colors together.
For elegant results, choose two to four colors that work well together.
Try combinations like:
Red + pink + white
Blue + turquoise + purple
Green + yellow + white
Orange + red + gold tones
Purple + pink + blue
If you’re deliberately making rainbow ornaments, leave some space between contrasting colors so they don’t all merge into one dark patch.
What If You Don’t Have a Crayon Sharpener?
A regular pencil sharpener can work.
Crayola specifically suggests a pencil sharpener as an alternative in its project tips.
You mainly need small, thin pieces of wax that can melt evenly.
What If You Don’t Have Mason Jar Lids?
You can still use the melted-crayon technique for other decorative projects, but make sure whatever frame or material you choose is appropriate for the craft.
You could also use the finished translucent designs for:
window decorations, greeting cards, paper ornaments, garlands, or gift decorations.
The mason jar ring is particularly convenient because it’s already circular, sturdy, inexpensive, and has a charming rustic appearance.
Storage Tips
At the end of Christmas, don’t toss these into a box next to a radiator or heater.
Wax responds to heat.
Store your ornaments somewhere:
cool + dry + away from direct heat.
Layer delicate ornaments between pieces of tissue paper or parchment paper to prevent scratching and sticking.
A small rigid box works particularly well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you really make Christmas ornaments from old crayons?
Yes. Melted-crayon art is a legitimate craft technique, and Crayola publishes its own Christmas ornament project using crayon shavings and mason jar lids.
Do I need new crayons?
No. Broken and leftover crayons are ideal, making this a useful upcycling project.
Can I pour melted crayons directly into mason jar lids?
It’s possible to encounter crafts that use poured wax, but handling hot liquid wax adds burn and spill risks. The wax-paper method is simpler and is the approach used in Crayola’s published mason-jar-lid ornament craft.
Can I melt crayons in the microwave?
Crayola does not recommend melting crayons in a home microwave or oven.
Is melting crayons safe?
It should be done carefully, with adult involvement and good ventilation. Crayola warns that overheating wax crayons may release irritating fumes.
How long should the melted design cool?
Crayola’s ornament instructions recommend approximately 15 minutes before proceeding.
Can children do this project?
Children can participate, but an adult should supervise and handle potentially hazardous heating steps.
Final Thoughts
There’s something wonderfully satisfying about turning objects headed for the trash drawer into Christmas decorations you’ll actually want to keep.
Old broken crayons may not look like much.
Neither do leftover mason jar lids.
But combine them with wax paper, ribbon, a little creativity, and carefully controlled heat, and suddenly you have colorful ornaments that look almost like miniature stained-glass windows.
Even better, this isn’t merely an internet idea: Crayola has published its own melted-crayon ornament project using crayon shavings and mason jar lids, making this one viral Christmas craft that genuinely has a practical version you can recreate at home.
Make them with traditional Christmas colors, personalize one for every family member, turn them into gift toppers, or start an annual tradition where the kids create a new ornament each December.
Just remember the most important rule:
Let the children choose the colors—but leave the heating to a responsible adult.