Mattel relaunched their popular Thing Makers from the 60s in a new version that wouldn’t permanently scar you (seriously I know people with scars).This commerical from our DVD is kind of bittersweet for me, the happy part is realizing that it’s narrated by Jackie “Uncle Fester” Coogan. but I’m also reminded how quickly I was shot down by my folks when asking for one of these. I’d have made a real mess of things, so I forgive them…
AKA Brian Heiler author of "Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings" and co-editor of "Toy-Ventures Magazine". Co-Host of the "Pod Stallions" podcast. Host of the Brick Mantooth Youtube channel, painter, designer, writer, mental health advocate, toy collector, Mego, and Mego Knock-Off enthusiast. I have large feet, ADHD and I live in Canada. Talk toys, not others. 
@brickmantooth
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I wanted one of these so badly. I remember being transfixed by the TV when I saw the Creepy Crawlers ad commercial. I never got to have one, but I'm pretty sure someone I knew had one. You know how those memories can be pretty fuzzy after 35 years. 😉
Have you ever tried to see if there's a correlation between your posting about a toy and a spike in eBay offerings/sales for that toy? I bet your blog's a catalyst for many nostalgia buys.
This is one of those "I had one of those!" moments for me. This version of the Thingmaker was safer (and therefore lamer) than its predecessors. It simply heated up the Goop then then you squeezed in into plastic molds where it cooled.
Previous Mattel "maker" toys often involved metal heating elements, sharp wires and volatile chemical plastics. I have a vintage "Zoofie Goofies" set in my collection, and I often wonder how many injuries the original owner suffered from it. 🙂
I have to say, I can't imagine that flowes would have ever equaled fun for me when I was a kid.
Can't really think of how it would mean fun now, come to think of it.
My brother had a newer version of this in the 1990's. It was more along the lines of easy bake oven technology: you put the goop in the molds and baked it in the little oven. We had fun with it!