Crayola Reveals Colorful New Activities that Bring Kids' Imaginations to Life

EASTON, Pa., Feb. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Crayola, the brand that continuously develops revolutionary new ways for kids to bring their original ideas to life, is set to unveil its 2013 line up of unique creative play activities and art tools at the American International Toy Fair in New York City, Feb. 10-13, Booth 1371.

Using a variety of innovative tools and mediums, Crayola's new colorful and fun portfolio of products inspire kids to let their imaginations run free.  Kids can now create customized markers and crayons, create with light technology by making cool designs that light up and animate and enjoy all-new digital play experiences in a unique and colorful Crayola way. A new line for boys further expands the company's diverse product offering, giving boys the opportunity to engage in imaginative role play through unique build and destroy experiences.

"At Crayola, we highly value kids' originality and empower their creative spirit. We work hard to develop new ways to transform their wildest ideas into visible form," said Mike Perry, president and chief executive officer, Crayola LLC. "We have developed innovative mediums and new tools to provide an exciting and vast assortment of creative play experiences and activities for 2013."

Crayola's 2013 line up of creative activities includes:

Crayola is allowing kids to take creative control in making their very own markers in unique colors with the Marker Maker. In just a few easy steps, kids can act like chemists, and in no time they will have customized markers to show off and use.  To begin, kids choose a color from the color mixing chart or they can create their own color. Next, kids simply mix marker ink colors together and then dip the marker reservoir into the measuring tube to draw in custom ink.  To complete the process, kids assemble the marker and attach their own labels.  The kit includes everything kids need to create up to 16 customized markers. For children 8 and up; suggested retail price is $24.99; available in July 2013. 

Kids can now create customized multicolor swirled crayons, rings, miniature planes and more with Crayola's new Melt 'n Mold Factory.  The fun begins by melting and molding colorful Crayola crayons together in the color combinations that kids decide. The unit comes with 24 full-sized standard Crayola crayons and two molds, allowing kids to make a multicolor range of fun customized wax items. For additional fun shapes, kids can add to the Melt 'N Mold Factory with the expansion packs to make Crayon Cruisers, Crayon Critters and more! For children 8 and up; suggested retail price is $49.99; available in July 2013. 

Stemming from the success of Crayola's award-winning Digital Light Designer, Crayola is introducing a variety of new Light Designers that allow kids to bring their imaginations to life by creating cool designs that light up and animate. The Mini Light Designer lets kids draw and animate on three light up panels to create colorful animations and light shows.  The See-Thru Light Designer lets kids create and animate their world by placing their favorite toys, pictures or people behind the transparent panels to mix their animated creations with the world around them. With the Dome Light Designer, kids can create cool designs on a 360 degree domed drawing surface and can even insert their favorite action figures through the open base to create their own awesome scenes. The Widescreen Light Designer has a big drawing surface, providing kids with plenty of space to draw and animate. For children 8 and up; suggested retail price ranges from $14.99 to $39.99; available in August 2013. 

Crayola has expanded its digital offerings to bring fun, digital play experiences to kids in a unique and colorful Crayola way.  Crayola, along with partner Griffin Technology, has expanded its successful DigiTools™ line with the DigiTools Paint Pack. Kids can enjoy a digital painting experience in bright, vivid colors, painting as much and as long as they want emulating techniques and mediums like watercolors, airbrushing and color blending! Additionally, Photo Mash-Ups is Crayola's unique entry into the digital photo applications category. Kids can now smash, morph and mash their photos creating collages and sharing them with friends. Photo Mash-Ups is available for Apple IOS and on select touch tablets for Windows 8. DigiTools Paint Pack is for children 3 and up; suggested retail price is $39.99; available in July 2013.  Photo Mash-Ups is for children 6 and up; suggested retail price is $19.99; available in July 2013. 

With Crayola's new Create 2 Destroy product line, boys are given the opportunity to engage in imaginative role play through build and destroy experiences. The line incorporates Crayola's proprietary Morphix dough, which is easy for kids to shape and handle. Re-sealable tubs also prevent the dough from drying out so kids can use it over and over again. Two different series, the Create 2 Destroy Fortress Invasion and Create 2 Destroy Dino Destruction, let boys have a healthy competition as they experience a catapult catastrophe, double destruction and a stomping mall. Kids can collect all of the sets in each series and have fun mixing and matching all the pieces to build and crush stronger, bigger structures. For children 4 and up; suggested retail price ranges from $7.99 to $24.99; available in August 2013. 

Crayola's new Washable Sidewalk Chalk, which is the first sidewalk chalk featuring 48 classic Crayola crayon colors! And that's not all - the chalk is also bolder and more vibrant than ever. With so many colors to choose from, kids can let their imaginations run wild to create BIG outdoor art that may include "carnation pink" flowers, "granny smith apple" colored grass or "purple mountains' majesty" colored dragons.  Also, a new anti-roll shape prevents chalk from rolling away and the wide sides allow kids to draw thick lines. Moms will appreciate that the chalk is washable from sidewalks and driveways - simply spray away with water! For children 4 and up; suggested retail price ranges from $1.99-$4.99; available in March 2013. 

My First Crayola art products are designed for little hands with big potential, and let moms introduce her children to art activities at an early age to nurture development of important skills. The all-new My First Crayola Mess-Free Touch-Lites incorporates colored light, sound and texture, providing a magical and multi-sensory way for toddlers to create. Using their fingers or the included stylus, toddlers can create colorful scribbles with bright light and can even play music as they scribble, since each colored light has a unique musical tune. The triangular shape of the stylus is especially designed for toddler's development, as it guides little fingers into a "tripod" or proper writing grip. The soft gel surface offers the fun feel of finger-painting, but without the mess of real paint.  With its compact design and reusable surface, parents can take the mess-free color pad on the go or watch their little ones create at home. For children 24 months and up; suggested retail price is $21.99; available in July 2013.

About Crayola
Crayola LLC, based in Easton, Pa. and a subsidiary of Hallmark Inc., is the worldwide leader in children's creative expression products. Known for the iconic Crayola crayon first introduced in 1903, the Crayola brand has grown into a portfolio of innovative art tools, crafting activities and creativity toys that offer children innovative new ways to use color to create everything imaginable. Consumers can find the wide array of Crayola products in the "Crayola Aisle" at all major retailers. For more information visit www.crayola.com or Crayola's Toy Fair online press kit at http://www.virtualpressoffice.com/kit/w6v8 

SOURCE Crayola