As days lengthen and buds begin to bloom, the urge to create seems universal. ArtWare by You, a division of Art Industries of Montclair, N.J., dedicates itself to inspiring the original artist in all of us and provides the means to show it off, too. Each kit comes with the supplies necessary to make an original artwork on paper, which is then shipped back to the manufacturer via a provided postage-paid envelope to be transferred onto either a tote bag, T-shirt or mouse pad. The finished masterpiece is returned to the sender, again via postage-paid shipping. All materials are first rate, and the transfer process results in a personalized product perfect for family gifts or mementos. Call (800) 609-8337, fax (973) 509-0136, www.ArtwareByYou.com.

The folks at Craft a Gift, a division of Easy Street Crafts Inc., in Cleveland, Ohio, want to nurture young talent and help teach kids the art of giving. Thirty different craft kits, geared toward ages five to 15, not only help teach children new skills—painting on silk, creating faux finishes, woodworking and sculpting—but also result in charming keepsakes for giving, wrapping supplies included. Hand-painted boxer shorts, ties, scarves and CD rack make nifty one-of-a-kind offerings for older family members; applique photo frames charm any teacher; and critter keepers, boxes, puppets, beauty bags and bracelets suit the younger set to a homemade T.

Also available are Creative Holiday craft kits, which focus on colorful projects geared to traditional holiday themes—leprechaun and shamrock pins; bunny pin, bracelet and photo frame; Christmas bracelet, tree ornaments and elf pin; plus festively creepy Halloween decorations. Fall 2001 will see the debut of Crafty Planet kits, which will teach authentic craft techniques used by cultures from around the world. Easy Street Crafts prides itself on providing quality materials and clear instructions for kids to follow. Call (216) 928-3279, fax (216) 902-8074, www.easystreetcrafts.com.

Whether it's given or received, the Lego Writing System is a blast. Who could resist writing or drawing when you've made the pen yourself? Introduced in 2000 and now with expanded offerings, this award-winning series based on the perennially popular Lego construction sets adds personality and flair to journal keeping, note taking and just plain doodling. Each package includes interchangeable bead elements based on the Lego play set elements, replaceable ink cartridge, comfortable tri-grip and collector case. Choose from the Decoder (with 36 beads featuring 108 letters and numbers), the Hieroglyph (with 18 colorful beads sporting 54 codes of authentic Egyptian symbols, plus code translation sheet), the Safari (with alligators and tribal masks as well as a backpack clip to design and build), the Dream Star (with iridescent pastel beads bearing hearts, flowers and stars and a pen cap and neck cord—with safety release—that can also be embellished) and more. There are classic sets in bright colors without images or graphics, sports series and pens that tie in with specific Lego play set themes. Developed and manufactured by the CDM Company Inc., of Newport Beach, Calif., under license from Lego. Call (949) 644-2820, fax (949) 644-2620, www.LEGOwrit- ingsystem.com.

Long known for its many inventive craft kits, the awesome Creativity for Kids, in Cleveland, Ohio, recently joined forces with international Faber-Castell to become a mega-activity kit and art supply presence. Among its many projects in almost every media, Creativity for Kids offers a neat array of make-your-own books, albums, stationery and pens sure to engage young literati. Photo albums, scrapbooks, diaries and blank books come ready to adorn in one's own personal style. The award-winning Stationery Craft Studio is a tote box filled with materials for stationery, note cards, envelopes and pen. Wow! Wacky Ridiculous Writers shows just how kooky six pens can become in the right (or wrong) hands, using colorful clay baked in your home oven. Faber-Castell, noted for its origins producing pencils over 240 years ago, now presents a Create Your Own Pencil set that provides everything you need to make six jumbo colored pencils, including pencil sharpener. Also new for this year are several sets of felt-tip connector pens—is it a Tinkertoy or a marker, you chose. Never have writing materials been so multifaceted. Call (216) 589-4800, fax (216) 589-1298, www.creativityforkids.com.

Of course, creativity isn't limited to pen, pencil and paper, or even crafts. Kids Cooking Kits, of San Diego, Calif., puts creativity where its mouth is—in the kitchen. Fifteen different cooking kits complete the product line, which includes Crusty Critters Bread Kit, Funny Face Pizza Party, Cookie Zoo, Bake Daddy a Tie, and Tied Up in Knots Pretzel Kit. Kids of all ages can experience a new twist to cooking and have fun while making something good to eat. Kids Cooking Club, a separate division of the company, is a monthly membership program designed just for kids. Each month features a theme cooking project including ingredients, newsletter with instructions, recipes, stories and special cooking gift, all delivered to your little chef's door. For 2001, the Cooking Club introduces an "Around the World Cooking Tour" that presents a different country each month—March showcased Switzerland with chocolate fondue. Designed for ages three to teens (with adult supervision as needed). Call (800) 718-1855, fax (858) 483-1117, www.kidscook.com.