Anyone who has ever been on the internet has heard of LaKenzie Powell. Okay, maybe not by that name – Powell is also known by the name of “the Dandelion Crayon Girl”, and went viral for having a collection of Dandelion Crayons. Dandelion, a fan-favorite yellow-adjacent color, was declared discontinued by Crayola on March 31, 2017, which also happens to be National Crayon Day. Ever since, Powell has been collecting the Crayons because they are reminiscent of her childhood memories. This display has grown to include the word “dandelion” spelled out in dandelion-colored crayon wax, numerous broken or used Dandelion Crayons, and exclusive custom plushies of the Dandelion Crayon, named “Dan D”.
Recently, there has been a sudden shift in the exclusivity of Powell’s niche interest. On February 5, 2025, Crayola announced that they would be “bringing back a collection of eight nostalgic fan-favorite retired crayon colors.” This includes Blizzard Blue, Magic Mint, Mulberry (which retired in 2003), Orange Red, Violet Blue, Lemon Yellow, Raw Umber (which retired in 1990) and, of course, Dandelion.
This announcement was unexpected by the community, as it was the first of its kind. Or, it would have been unexpected, if it were not for the Crayon fanatics who found the limited edition collection before Crayola officially announced its arrival. Fans quickly found that not only did Crayola re-release old crayons, but also released new alcohol markers and colored pencils in the same limited edition colors. Powell, among other Crayola lovers, began scouring nearby stores for the merchandise. However, to much disappointment, all stores that sold the products were almost entirely out of stock.
In a recent Youtube short titled, “Sooo Crayola sent me a package?!” from the LaKenzo youtube channel, Powell talked about the limited edition crayons.
“I could not find any of the packs even after going to like ten stores,” Powell said.
Thankfully, Crayola had personally sent Powell a custom package. The gift included a two-pound Dandelion Crayon, a Dan D shoulder plush, two limited edition coloring books, and a dandelion-colored crayon sharpener.
Everyone wishes they could get special treatment from Crayola the way Powell does, but alas, it remains a dream. Powell’s collection was the first of its kind, a masterful nod to childhoods across the world that has earned recognition from hundreds of thousands of people. The relaunch of discontinued colors by Crayola might be able to bring back some nostalgia and memories for everyone.
If it was not clear enough, it could be a good idea to go out and start a crayon collection, although the likelihood is that there is already one buried somewhere away in a closet. But for the most part, Crayola is doing work to reignite childlike wonder, and hopefully, everyone plays along.
