When I was a kid, I accidentally left my box of crayons outdoors on a very sunny, hot day. Once I realized what I had done, I returned to find an amazing creation: a truly one-of-a-kind colossal-sized crayon. Despite its uniqueness, it wasn’t exactly practical for coloring (I could barely hold on to it with one hand!). Naturally, I didn’t want to part with this, but eventually gave in to reason (in the form of my mother). Today, that cool factor can be brought to life again, albeit in a less cumbersome fashion (was some future Crayola exec spying on me back in the day?). The Crayola Melt ‘n Mold Factory is one of the more novel craft toys we’ve seen this season. We love it not only for its awesome results, but because it can re-purpose all those broken crayon pieces that are cluttering up our play rooms, backseats and diaper bags! We got a first look at this toy back in February at Toy Fair, and were impressed by how quickly and easily it works. First, remove the crayon wrappers and make sure your crayons are in broken pieces. Next, snap in the melting tray and add crayons. Once the see-through door is closed, it locks automatically and the timer starts. Just wait for the red light to turn off (patience, patience; it’s not too long) and then pour the wax into the mold with a simple turn of the dial (no need to worry about burned fingers). Finally, once the mold has cooled down, the door will unlock. Let your new crayons sit an extra 10 minutes or so to cool down, and voila! Your own personal color palette. Let the creativity begin!
In a Nutshell: Ideal for the temperamental little artist who’s Burnt Sienna needs a touch of yellow. No sunshine required.
