Melted Crayon Wall Art

Today was the first day of school for many local kids...and it made me so sad! I wish I could still be in school. In any capacity, really...as a teacher or a student! I used to love the first day of school...new clothes that are waaayy to hot to be wearing in September but they were too cute to fold in a drawer and wait for the chill of Fall to set in. I loved getting a new backpack, notebooks, pens in all different colors. I loved school...in almost every grade (except 5th grade and my freshman year of college...those weren't great years in all honesty) I even miss the butterflies I used to get before I walked into the building...and for the entire night before. One day I will just have to live vicariously through my children on their first days. :) 

Well two of my lovely friends started their first years of teaching today, and I couldn't be more proud! I wanted to make them each something to decorate their walls since they are presumably rather bare this early in the year. Katie, a new Family and Consumer science teacher is going to be working with middle school students, so I needed an idea that wasn't too juvenile...or too much like an inspirational poster. :)

I decided on the melting crayon art that I saw it on Unsimple Living... I've seen it floating around other craft blogs, so I'm not sure where it originated. It seemed perfect for the age group, as well as clever and unique... just like Katie! Perfect!

Isn't it awesome?! I am super happy with the way it came out! Basically, I hot glued crayons to the top of a canvas and using an embossing heat gun I melted them slowly. As they melted, I tilted the canvas back and forth depending on how long I wanted the drips. When all the colors were done cooling, I decided it wasn't exactly like I was hoping...but the addition of "inspire" in that adorable typewriter font was the icing on the cake for me! LOVE.
 

 

Look at that texture! How cool is that? Ha, I am so happy I tried it! I hope Katie and her students love it as much as I do. 

“A good teacher can inspire hope, 

ignite the imagination, 

and instill a love of learning.” 

- Brad Henry