Have you ever thought it would be useful to put a crayon in your wallet when traveling? me neither until I realized how useful and versatile a crayon can be. This little waxy wonder can be a very simple yet useful tool for travelers.
Crayons are used for drawing mostly as we all know it, but there are actually a few other uncommon uses you may not have thought of that can get you out of a pinch in a faraway land. I have been on many a bus or train ride and had nothing but an old newspaper and two crayons. This was enough to keep three kids occupied for many hours.
After all the fun I have had with a crayon on my travels, I always have a crayon tucked into my wallet when traveling. Let me tell you some of the ways a crayon will come in handy when you are traveling. I´ll also give you a few tips to look after you crayons. I´ve made the mistake of keeping the wrong type of crayon in my pocket in a hot country, and stained my clothes.
So Why Put A Crayon In Your Wallet When Traveling
The main reason you keep a crayon in your wallet when traveling is the versatility it offers. When you are traveling you need to mark maps, make notes, mark a tree so you don’t get lost. A crayon is the best writing tool because it will work in any environment.
Crayons are made of wax and coloring, so they are waterproof. If you are caught in the rain it will make a mark on a stone to remind you of your path. If you are in a cold climate, in wont freeze up like ink and you will be able to write with it.
Crayons are also really good to doodle with on long journeys on a coach or a train. They’re are also really small so very easy to stick a couple different colors in your wallet and you wont even notice.
So, let me tell you about some lesser known uses of crayons that can help you out when you are traveling.
What Else Can Crayons Be Used For?
- Lubricant: If you have nothing else, a crayon can be used as a lubricant for small metal parts like zippers, screws and hinges. Rubbing the crayon over the metal can help them function more smoothly. It is wax after all.
- Wax Seal: You can melt a crayon and use it as a seal for envelopes. Its pretty cool to do this when you send a post card back from somewhere. Melt a bit of wax and press down with a button or anything that has a pattern.
- A Candle: You can use a crayon as a candle if you find yourself in a bind. Just light the tip of the rayon and it will stay lit for a few minutes.
- Filler: If you accidentally scratch a piece of furniture or the floor, you can use a crayon to repair it. Choose a crayon that matches the color of the surface, melt a little of the crayon and rub it in to the scratch.
- Fire Starter: This is a really good one. You can use crayons to start a fire. Scratch off some shavings and put them at the base of the fire with the kindling, light the wax and up it goes.
- Resin Art: On a long bus drive, if you have a notebook, you can melt drops of crayons to create little works of art that serve as reminders of your travels.
Children Love Crayons
If you have kids, you know how thankful you are when you walk in to a restaurant and they hand you a couple bags with activity books and crayons. Just a piece of paper and a crayon is enough to keep a small kid entertained for quite some time. So having a simple crayon in your wallet when traveling is a very useful thing for parents. You can find scrap paper or a newspaper almost anywhere, and now you won`t be caught without the crayon.
We would collect the crayons they gave us at restaurants and always carry on of the little packets with three colors. If you are at a park, you can draw and create games on the floor, tic tac toe, walk the line. It’s such a small thing, but having a crayon in your wallet at all times has more possibilities to entertain than you would think. The next time you get one of these little packs of crayons, just slip one of them into your wallet and forget about it until you need it.
How To Keep Your Crayons Safe When Traveling
If you are going away on a trip and taking some crayons with you to keep the kids entertained, then there are just a few simple steps you want to take to make sure they get there in one piece.
- Use a sturdy case: The best is a hard shell case. An old mint case, or a tough pencil case is the prefect way to carry around a few crayons.
- Keep them in your carry on: Luggage gets thrown around a lot in the hold, rolls over on the belt. It`s best to keep the crayons in your carry on.
- Plastic Bag: You don´t want any small pieces of crayons getting stuck on your clothes. When the sun hits it later, it can melt and stain the fabric so keep crayons in a little plastic bag if you don`t have a case.
- Wrap them in cloth: If you don´t have a case, just wrap the crayons in a little cloth or piece of fabric.
- Keep them cool: Don´t leave crayons in the sun or anywhere with heat. They can melt, so keep the in a cool place.
The Different Types of Crayons
I always thought crayons were just one type, but apparently there are quite a few, so before deciding to put a crayon in your wallet when traveling, you wan to make sure you are making the right choice. You could get an oil based crayon, or a watercolor crayon. When you sweat this will make the crayon dissolve and stain your wallet, worse your clothes.
Wax Crayons: This is the most common type of crayon and probably what you have seen the most. They are made of wax an coloring, versatile and you can draw on almost anything with them. The safest option for a crayon to keep in your wallet when traveling.
Oil Crayons: These are made of a mixture of wax, pigment and oil. They are soft and not the best to have squashed in a pocket.
Watercolor crayons: This is like a watercolor pallet, but in crayon form. A solid crayon, but when you apply water to it you can paint.
Then there are a few others like gel crayons, metallic, neon and the jumbo crayons. But none of these are really suitable crayons to keep in your wallet.
FAQ`s
Can I take crayons on a plane?
Yes, you can bring crayons in your carry on luggage on most airlines I know of. Always best to check just in case, but you shouldn´t have a problem.
Can crayons melt in hot weather?
They sure can. If you are traveling to a hot country, you want to keep crayons out of direct sunlight or any heat sources. A cool dry place like a drawer will be fine.
Can I use crayons to mark my luggage?
You can mark your luggage with a crayon, but use an oil type. If you use a wax or water based crayon, the marking may come off when your case rubs up against others.
Conclusion
As you can see, for such a small thing it has quite a lot of uses. Having a simple crayon on you at all times is a surefire way to make sure you don´t get bored. If you are a solo traveler, you always find yourself sitting somewhere waiting for a bus or some type of transport. Doodling with a crayon always gets my spirits up and the time passes with a little more joy than it otherwise would.
So why put a crayon in your wallet when traveling? I hope I have done a good enough job to convince you of all the different ways you can use a crayon to stave off boredom. If you find yourself sitting there on your own one day in a square with nothing to do, and you remember you have a crayon in your pocket and it brings a smile to your face, I will be grateful to have been a part of that.