Crayons

The other day I mentioned that I had this collectors tin full of crayons that I'd never opened. Well, today was the day. I decided to open the box of 64. But before I show you that, lets take a trip down memory lane.

This is the tin.

1885 - Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith formed the partnership of Binney & Smith to manufacture carbon black, printing inks and later slate pencils.

1903 - The first box of Crayola crayons was made and sold for 5 cents. It contained 8 colors: brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet and black.

1958 - The company introduced the largest Crayola crayon box in its history, the 64 box, featuring a built-in sharpener.

1990 - For the first time in crayon history, eight colors were retired: green blue, raw umber, orange yellow, violet blue, maize, lemon yellow, blue gray and orange red.




I bought this collectors tin for one reason and one reason only -- Orange red was my favorite color in the box and it was discontinued.


...but inside the box was a special limited edition collectors edition - along with the brand new box of 64. Everytime I opened the tin the smell of brand new crayons assaulted my senses. As my husband said this evening "It smells like first grade in here." It's a bit like heaven in a box.


Hmmmm, lemon yellow seems to be missing! I have no idea what could have possibly happened to it. Maybe it was never there?! Oooh, and to think this was to be my key to my retirement fund. I was going to sell this tin with all of these ancient crayons and make a fortune.

Seriously though, I had no idea I was missing one of the crayons until just now when I counted them.

OK, I just got the box.

It's in the box, it just didn't get pulled out far enough to get in the photo.

I guess it's shy.



So this is the first time this box of 64 has ever been out of the tin. I purchased the tin in 1990 and it's 2009 - so for the past 18+ years this box of crayons has traveled with me. It's been moved 8 times. Okemos, Washington Sq., Walnut, Holt, Bell Hwy, Coldwater, Daytona Beach and now Jacksonville.

I asked my dear friends on Facebook if they thought I should open the box and use them.


My sister said: Well you can save it and save it for the 2050 episode of Antiques Roadshow or just bust 'em open!

Jane said (Who happened to be my neighbor at the time I purchased these crayons): There are few things as wonderful as a new box of crayons.

Bob said : OPEN THEM NOW!!!!!!

Kelly said: Crayons have two uses....for colouring in, and if you are Milo..they are for eating!! LOL! Go on...open them..you know u want to!!

Soooo, I opened the box and I used them.


I colored a page in Wreck This Journal and I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed coloring in the book and I enjoyed coloring. (I also enjoyed burning a hole in the page of the book.) But I enjoyed coloring more.

I'm glad I opened the box of crayons.

It's been a long time coming.

How long has it been since you've broken out those crayons and colored?
Enjoy your weekend!
Kristin