Recycled Heart Shaped Crayons

Over the years my husband and I have created a bucket of crayons. When we find them around the house (which is inevitable when you have little kids and encourage them to create) we toss them into a plastic pail. One day last week I got the pail out and turned to get the cardboard we were going to draw on. My cute little boy giggled and dumped roughly 300 broken crayons on the floor...

Okay. That is just insane. Why is there a pail with that many broken crayons in it? Who wants to use a tiny little crayon? But... I hate to throw away something I can use in another way. Of course, I thought... I could make candles, use the crayons to color the wax, blah blah blah. I don't have time to make hand poured candles. I also don't want to invest a ton of money into reusing broken crayons. So scratch that idea.

The pail went back to the normal spot and I moved on.

A few days later I saw silicone molds at WalMart in heart shapes. I found $3 and some change to be a better investment and a way to use the broken crayons.

I went home and decided oh this is such a super easy idea! Even I can do this without running into a snag!

So I grabbed the pail of crayon mess and thought I would slip the sleeve of the crayon right off and be in business.

Not so, I quickly found out as I was digging at the paper, getting wax under my nails and rethinking the entire thing. What a pain in the butt! {Mr}Adam, darling husband, came to the rescue. He kindly used his pocket knife and helped me to cut the paper so it was easy to peel off.

 After the paper was removed I broke the crayon (if it wasn't already broken) in half.

 I filled the silicon molds to the brim with broken crayons. I went for general color mixture. (All shades of red mixed together, all green, etc.)

 After about 7 minutes in a 350 degree oven they were completely melted.

I could have added a few more broken crayons to make a thicker heart crayon or taken a few away for thinner ones. I liked the ones I made as is.

I allowed the melted crayons to cool completely in the silicon molds. Getting them out of the molds was as easy as could be.

Since this was one project I know I can handle and repeat without any issue I decided to give all 30 that I made to {Mr} Adam, husband extraordinaire, for the classroom Valentines Party.

After my husband stepped in and helped me with the crayon sleeve this project was really easy and fun too. I am planning to find other silicone molds and try different designs.

On a side note, I had 2 odd shaped ice cube trays. One was an ocean them, one an ice tube type. I decided to try these out too.

While it did work, I found the silicone option to be easier. With the ice cube trays I found I had to give them a light spray of cooking spray stuff. Then I had to wipe down the recycled crayons after removing them from the mold to make sure they weren't greasy. (For my time and effort I prefer the silicon trays).

I realize this would have been perfect for a Valentines Day post, but it is really a perfect after Valentines Day craft because you can probably get the silicone molds super cheap on clearance now.

The next batch I make I think I will add one color that is off in each one. I am thinking one blue in a group of green. One red in a group of pink and so on to make the colors unique and fun.

This is the end result.

They were pretty cute and I was thrilled that I made this with next to no drama.

Until next time,
Sweet Silly Sara

5 Inexpensive Ways to Say I Love You on Valentines Day

*photos belong to their respective owners, please visit the link to view the original post*

Valentines Day is right around the corner. Do you know what you are giving to offer your sweetie on the day devoted to love? I found a few great options for giving a meaningful gift without going broke.

I love this handmade card idea! It is beautiful and easy enough for small kids to handle.

Boxes of Chocolate are always a popular option, but they are over priced! I found a great DIY Valentine Box of Chocolates that is easy to make and adorable to give.

Sometimes a homemade treat like these Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts can say I love you in a way no other token of affection can.

This Candy Heart Wreath is really beautiful and would be fun to make for someone special.

I have a feeling anyone lucky enough to receive a bouquet of these Love Pops will feel very special!

Valentines Day Handwriting Practice Worksheet

My son isn't old enough to write, but my husband is an educator, as you may or may not know. I made these handwriting practice worksheets for his classroom and I wanted to share them with you.

I hope these simple printable worksheets helps you to get kids in the spirit of this sweet holiday and makes practicing handwriting a little more fun.

                                                   Print this handwriting worksheet


I made a second one to keep things interesting for the kids practicing their handwriting.

                                                   Print this handwriting practice worksheet.




I hope you enjoy these free printables.
Happy Valentines Day!

Dinosaur Train Helps Kids Maintain A Healthy Smile

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Roo is nothing short of obsessed with Dinosaur Train. He loves dinosaurs, he loves Trains, so what a perfect combination to inspire the imagination of a 3 year old. We have an assortment of Dinosaur Train products in our house, from dvds to books to toys!

On Valentines Day I had a chance to surprise my little guy with a few Dinosaur Train goodies. As you can see this was maybe the best morning ever (aside from Christmas of course!)

Roo is a little book worm. He loves to read stories and he is often content grabbing a book and flipping through it on his own. When he saw the Buddy's Teeth Book, a big smile broke out on his face and he said "Story please!" How could I resist? This was a really cute book with colorful illustrations. We love Golden Books and this made a great addition to our children's library.

BUDDY wants to share his own dental care tips too! Remember that Tyrannosaurus Rex replaced their teeth throughout their lives, but humans only get two sets so it is especially important to take good care of them!

Follow these helpful tips for strong teeth and a healthy smile!

1.       Twice a day: Brush your teeth when you wake up and before you go to bed.

2.       Take your time: Brush your teeth for 2 minutes and be sure to include your tongue!

3.       Be kind to your gums: Brush with a soft bristle toothbrush.

4.       Get the hard to reach places: Floss your teeth at bedtime.

5.       See your Dentist twice a year!

Click here to download your very own Dinosaur Train Teeth Tips Poster.

Dinosaur Train Toothbrushes? Oh yeah!

Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.  This year’s theme is “Join the Super Smile Team.”

Roo is ready to join the super smile team without a doubt! What could be a better motivational tool than a 2 pack of toothbrushes with 2 of his favorite character?

With an emphasis on making brushing fun for young children, Buddy and Tiny are featured on a GUM® twin pack toothbrush set withultrasoft bristles that are gentle on young gums, a narrow, tapered head that is comfortable in small mouths, and a soft grip to provide more control.  Available on amazon.com, ToysRUs.com and at gumbrand.com.  SRP: $2.99.



This face says it all! He was in mid "Oh yeah!" When I snapped this shot. What kid doesn't love getting a new dvd?

We of course had to check this dvd out after we heard the story.  My son was nothing short of captivated. He was excited about seeing Erma Eoraptor in one of the episodes.  The dvd was a huge hit because this boy really does love Dinosaurs!

Dinosaur Train: I Love Dinosaurs DVD from PBS Distribution.

Featuring four outstanding adventures and two Be My Valentine Cards, Dinosaur Train: I Love Dinosaurs makes for an outstanding Valentine’s Day treat! Two of the stories included on this DVD are King Meets Crystal and Erma and the Conductor. In King Meets Crystal, King Cryolophosaurus is interested in becoming friends with Crystal, but he gets nervous when trying to talk to her. Tiny and Buddy help King overcome his nervousness. In Erma and the Conductor, the Pteranodon family is on the Dinosaur Train headed to the Big Pond to watch a meteor shower!  Mr. Conductor stops to pick up Erma Eoraptor, his best friend.  At the Big Pond, the Conductor and Erma are interrupted a few times while trying to be alone, but soon find the perfect spot back on the Train.   Running time approx. 50 minutes; SRP: $7.99.

Watch out for all new Dinosaur Train episodes coming later this year!

Preschool Heart Counting

Winter is a really tough time for my 3 year old. He already has cabin fever and it is only January.  I have started making printable worksheets for him to help keep him busy and learning.

I made this one and it was a hit with my son, so I wanted to share it with other parents of preschoolers in honor of Valentines Day.

To print this free worksheet, click the link below. I will have more printables to share with you in the coming days, so keep checking in with me.

 Preschool Heart Counting Printable Worksheet