This post is a compilation of other posts on art techniques or use of crayons. Feel free to add your IDEAS.

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Crayon Resist or Scratch Paper Technique (how to make your own paper)

Question:

Does anyone remember an art technique that involved somehow scratching off a black layer of crayon to reveal wonderful colors underneath? I felt this would be a good project to use for Joseph's Coat of Many Colors. If anyone could give me some help with the process of this technique I would appreciate it!  -- Posted by carolf

Replies:

• Begin by completely covering a piece of paper with crayon drawings.  They can create a picture or just be abstract colors.  Bright is good. They need to be solid.
  A friend suggests dusting a little baby powder on the drawing to help the paint stick better. This is optional.
  Cover the entire sheet with a coat of black tempera paint. Let it dry.
  Then use something like the point of a nail or a blade of a scissors to scratch a design and let the color show through.
  (We did this on Good Friday and it worked very well.)  -- Posted by Phyllis Wezeman
  
• Draw a picture using markers. color over using black crayons, coloring heavily. Scratch off crayon with a pin, pen lid or a dull pencil.  -- Posted by Nance
  
• Or, try color resist. Draw and color a picture using heavy crayon lines, paint over using water-thinned dark (black or blue) poster paint.  -- Posted by Nance

Tips:

• If the black tempera beads and rolls off the crayon, add a drop of dishsoap (to the paint) -- it will cover completely.  -- Posted by Lisa M.
  
• The underlying crayon needs to be attached very thickly.  -- Posted by Lisa M.
  
• Bring a hairdryer to help the paint dry. -- Posted by Lisa M
  
• If you mix a small amount of liquid dish soap with the tempera paint it will stick better to the waxy crayons, and also scratches off more easily. I actually keep a container of this piant mixed up and in the supply closet for use as needed.  -- Posted by JCarey

Lessons/idea here at this site using scratch paper method:

• Writing Team's Psalm 8 Art Workshop  (requires Supporting Membership to view) uses a Crayon Resist and Watercolor technique to create their own "Psalm 8 Starry Night" based on Van Gogh's famous painting.
• Writing Team's Story of Creation Art Workshop (requires Supporting Membership to view) uses Oil pastel crayons, where students create a Creation Story painting using the "wax resist" technique in the style of artist Ted Harrison.

Scratch Paper (purchasing pre-made)

• We just finished our rotation on creation and used the "scratch art" paper in art. I bought the paper already made through Dick Blick art supply - it was very reasonable (50 81/2 x 11 sheets for $20). We wanted to stress that God created us all unique and wonderful. He gave us each talents to create and that from what appears to be nothing (the black paper) beautiful creations are possible. It was awesome - the kids loved it. The creations were soooo good. I put them on a bulletin board in the church narthex and the adults have been really impressed with the children's creativity.
  I cut the paper in 1/2. I also bought small wood skewers from the dollar store to use as the scratching tool. I also got some animal stencils for the youngest children to use to trace (to get them started).  -- Posted by Kim@CEC
  
• We did a mini rotation for kick off Sunday and did Samuel. In the art room we created book marks from the black scratch paper and I also made some stickers using clip art and Avery sticker paper. The children scratched out "Speak Lord for your servant is listening and put the ear stickers on the top through a hole that they punched. They can design a border also.  -- Posted by JCarey
  
• If you are going to buy it, it can be found in any of the art catalogues on line and possibly at Michaels Craft stores. -- Posted by JCarey
  

Lessons/idea here at this site using scratch paper method:

• The Story of Samuel - students will create a black "scratch" verse bookmark with the memory verse on it.
• Beatitudes - Mercy Beatitude, art idea.
• Hieroglyphics art idea to depict the story of Joseph - idea. Involves spray painting black foam poster-board for scratch paper.
  

CRAYON RECYCLING

Great idea for when you need multiples of one color!

-- Posted by rhondab

Crayons are everywhere except when we need them. For a couple previous art projects, we needed multiples of one color, but it was impossible to find them unless we purchased multiple packages.

That prompted us to start a "crayon recycling" project.

I found a 5 gallon bucket and asked church members, teachers, etc. to bring in all the crayons from their classes and homes that they didn't need.

The bucket was labeled "Gently Used Crayons."

I had volunteer teens sort through these crayons and put them into color groups. Next time we needed red crayons, we had a box full of various shades of red!

CRAYON MAKER BY CRAYOLA

Question:

Has anyone ever used that crayon maker that Crayola makes? (Crayon Factory™)
It looks interesting, but I image the colors that come out would be pretty dark.  -- Posted by Phyllis Wezeman

Reply:

We have one at home and my children took the box of crayon pieces... and put them into the crayon maker. It does take time, but it is worth it. They made many with the same color all through it and they also made swirl crayons. Another fun thing are molds that Crayola makes for the machine. You can make crayons in many fun shapes with the molds. Hope this helps. I was also wondering if you could use small candle molds and melt the crayons in small disposable pie tins on a hot plate and then pour them into the candle molds? Might be worth a try and a fun winter project for parents and kids.  -- Posted by arrowsmith (Anne)


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[Exchange Volunteer modified title of post for clarity.]