EASTON, Pa. — Your childhood is calling.
"Blizzard Blue," "Magic Mint," "Mulberry."
Not snow cone flavors, though they sound good enough to eat.
They’re Crayola crayon colors that, by popular demand and for the very first time in the world-renowned Easton company’s 122-year history, are making a limited, color-splash comeback this spring.
"Color has such a personal connection for kids of all ages."Crayola Chief Marketing Officer Victoria Lozano, in a release
"As a first in the history of Crayola, we could not be more excited to bring back this beloved Limited Edition color collection that will give kids even more opportunities to colorfully put their imagination into action," Crayola Chief Marketing Officer Victoria Lozano said in a release Thursday.
"Color has such a personal connection for kids of all ages. It plays a pivotal role in inspiring creativity, which is an integral catalyst for educational, emotional and cognitive growth.
"At Crayola, we celebrate the enduring value of childhood creativity to help kids reach their full potential, and we look forward to seeing the Limited Edition colors inspire even more creative moments for our fans."
Eight retired Crayola colors in are making their return for a limited time: Dandelion, retired in 2017; Blizzard Blue, Magic Mint and Mulberry, retired in 2003; and Orange Red, Violet Blue, Lemon Yellow and Raw Umber, retired in 1990.
'Delight and surprise customers'
Over the years, according to the release, the company has gotten an outpouring of fan requests to bring back some of their retired favorites, especially since Dandelion left the crayon box in 2017.
The decision to unretire the colors "will delight and surprise consumers, increase the brand's available color palette and give a nod to the company's first iconic eight crayon box launched in 1903."Crayola release
The decision to unretire the colors "will delight and surprise consumers, increase the brand's available color palette and give a nod to the company's first iconic eight crayon box launched in 1903," the release said.
To amplify the year-long celebration, Crayola is partnering with key licensees who will offer custom programs and products inspired by the Limited Edition colors.
Some of the participating partners include Lee, Caboodles and S'well, in addition to a host of other lifestyle, fashion and beauty brands.
Some only need hear the name of their favorite color Crayola crayon, and the memories unfold.
“My favorite color was Blue Green," David Klokis, who is retired from the pharmaceutical industry, said after hearing about Crayola’s limited release.
"Not Green Blue. It was a play on the name, and if you did not read it, you could choose the other [green blue] that could make water look like blue grass.
“I did have a first prize in kindergarten of a stick figure throwing a ball. I was really surprised at the art show.”
That stick figure, he said, was unforgettably Purple.
“I think the Blue Green was all used up,” he said.
'Significant impact on creativity'
Klokis is not the only grown-up enjoying Crayola color-inspired art instilled during childhood.
Janice Bellhorn, of Waymart, Wayne County, who grew up in Bethlehem and is a self-employed illustrator, said she remembers all of the vividly colored Crayola crayons sprawled out on the living room floor in her childhood home.
"So I could look at them all at the same time and choose just the right one," Bellhorn said.
"I also remember how I got into trouble drawing on the wall under my bed" with her crayons and all the colors she saw the day her mother rearranged the furniture and saw her art, Bellhorn joked.
"Nine in 10 parents believe that color has a significant impact on creativity and is vital to their child's development."Survey by Crayola, in partnership with the Ad Council Research Institute
As a matter of fact, Crayola said in the release it recently conducted a survey in partnership with the Ad Council Research Institute.
It found "nine in 10 parents believe that color has a significant impact on creativity and is vital to their child's development," Crayola said.
The study also found that 96% of parents encourage their kids to bring their imagination to life with color, according to the release.
With the Limited Edition Retired Colors 8-Count Crayon Pack, fans can get reacquainted with some of their past favorite crayon colors, and for some, meet these colors for the first time.
Crayola also will introduce Limited Edition Collection Colored Pencil and Limited Edition Collection Marker packs — providing the eight-count retired crayon colors in additional art tool formats.
'The fresh pack every year'
"Crayola crayons have always been one of my favorite parts of being a teacher," said Lindsey Hunsicker, who teaches at Clearview Elementary School in Bethlehem, as she was home on a snow day Thursday.
"Every year I looked forward to having the fresh, pristine set of crayons."Lindsey Hunsicker, who teaches at Clearview Elementary School in Bethlehem
"Every year I looked forward to having the fresh, pristine set of crayons. I remember as a student when the 'big box' of crayons became popular, with the sharpener in the back.
"Only the cool kids had those. Those boxes were filled with the most beautiful colors and unique names.
"As a teacher, I still look forward to the fresh pack every year."
She said "Razzmatazz" stands out in an education class she was taking, where the professor used crayons as the subject of an assignment.
She said two favorite story time books she reads are "The Day the Crayons Quit" and "The Day the Crayons Came Home."
