1960s · toys
Creepy Crawlers
Pour goop into bug molds, bake, and peel out rubber insects that smelled like hot plastic glory. Parents hovered because the oven plate was real.
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Image: Kyle Van Horn from Baltimore, MD · CC BY 2.0 · License
◆ Did you have this?
👍 I had this💔 I wanted this- Era
- 60s
- Released
- 1964
- Category
- toys
Before you buy
- For an original edition, compare the model name, packaging, and release details with the seller’s photos.
- Check the condition, included accessories, delivery cost, and return terms on the listing before ordering.
From the archive
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The pitch
Creepy Crawlers lets you make your own bugs in the Thingmaker oven! Pour the Plasti Goop into metal molds, bake until set, and pop out rubbery spiders, snakes, and insects. Smelly, slightly dangerous, and absolutely unforgettable.
Why people remember it
- The machine felt slightly dangerous, which kids loved.
- You could make jewelry or bugs depending on the mold pack.
- The smell of curing plastigoop is a core 60s kid memory.
Did you know?
- Mattel's Thingmaker used a hot plate that reached 350 degrees Fahrenheit to cure Plasti Goop.
- Burns and fumes led to recalls and the original oven was discontinued in the 1970s.
- Jakks Pacific revived Creepy Crawlers in the 1990s with a safer low heat version.
- The smell of melting Plasti Goop is burned into the memory of every 1960s kid who owned one.
How people search for it
“bug maker toy”, “rubber insect oven”, “creepy crawly molds”
Questions people ask
- Are Creepy Crawlers machines still sold?
- Safety rules changed the formula and heat levels. Modern craft ovens exist under new branding.
- Was the goop toxic?
- Old formulas weren't food-safe. Ventilation and adult supervision were part of the deal.
