These new arts and crafts kits will light up your life — literally.

With Creatto, from Thames and Kosmos, kids can construct beautiful, illuminated 3D creations using a set of interlocking plastic pieces and a string of LED lights.

There are three different sized kits for kids to choose from: mini, medi, and maxi. The smaller kits are suitable for kids ages 6 and up, but the larger kits are recommended for kids ages 8 and up. There are several styles available, including Moonlight Elephant Safari, Magical Moose & Forest Friends, Starlight Kitty & Cutie Crew, Shimmer Shark & Ocean Pals, or Sparkle Unicorn & Friends. Each set features a monochromatic color palette and comes with instructions to build animals, decorations, or custom creations.

The kits are all made of the same components of plastic squares and plus-shaped pieces, with the exception of a couple of special pieces, such as shark teeth, moose antlers, and a unicorn horn. The pieces are flexible but durable, so they will hold their shape once kids lock them into place.

Each set comes with easy, step-by-step instructions for multiple designs, but of course, kids can use their noggins to come up with something completely original. If you are like me and sometimes get ahead of the instructions while constructing these types of toys, then it’s easy to pull the pieces apart with a quick tug.

Once you get the hang of how the pieces weave into each other — especially if you have a larger build — it gets a lot easier to make your Creatto masterpiece. I really like how no additional materials or hardware are required to make sure the pieces stay in place. Throughout your build, you fold the square tiles to manipulate the shape you want it to be, such as triangle shapes for legs or fins.

It might be quite obvious that my favorite part of the project is the end. Once your Creatto creature is built, weave your string of lights inside of it however you’d like. Once it’s all set, turn on the lights, and you have a gorgeous craft project sitting right in front of you.

Finished Creatto pieces are pretty enough to stand on their own, but the magic comes in with the illuminated nights. Kids can decorate their furniture with their finished masterpieces or hang them up for some extra decor.

About the author

Maddie Michalik

Maddie Michalik

Maddie Michalik was the Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book from 2020-2022. She was also a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider.

archivearrow-chevron-downarrow-chevron-left-greyarrow-chevron-leftarrow-chevron-rightarrow-fatarrow-left-blackarrow-left-whitearrow-right-blackarrow-rightarrow-roundedbookscalendarcaret-downclose-whiteclosedocumenteditorial-archiveeyefacebook-squarefacebookfilesgifthamburgerheadinghearthomeinstagram-squareinstagramlatestlinkedin-squarelinkedinmailmedia-inquiresmessagenewsopen-boxpagination-leftpagination-rightpauseplayprintproduct-archiverecent-productssearchsharesort-filterspotifysunteamtiktoktime_purpletimetrendingtvtwitter-squaretwitteryoutube