Crayola marks 64-count box's 50th birthday with new colors

Crayola

Crayola's 64-crayon Birthday box with new colors.

Last update: April 10, 2008 - 9:15 AM

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Crayola this week is announcing eight newly named colors this year, which is the 50th anniversary of the crayon maker's iconic 64-count box.

But don't expect the new crayons' names to be much of clue about the hue.

Try these new names on for size:

Super Happy (yellow), Fun in the Sun (orange), Giving Tree (green), Bear Hug (brown), Awesome (dusty pink), Happy Ever After (blue), Famous (hot pink) and Best Friends (purple).

That famous box with the built-in sharpener in the back debuted in 1958.

This year's new names were determined with input from nearly 20,000 kids who went online and offered their suggestions.

"A collection of eight colors was created," Crayola said in a news release, "that draws on everything from kids wanting to play their part in protecting the planet to believing that they can become famous just like the everyday people who achieve stardom on reality shows."

Each of these new hues can be found inside the limited-edition 50th Birthday box. The new colors are also being offered as marks and colored pencils.

Over the past 50 years, more than 200 million Crayola 64 boxes have been sold. The 12.8 billion crayons inside would circle the earth 24 times.

--PAUL WALSH