Colorforms is one of the oldest and most respected names in the U.S. toy industry. It began in 1951 when two art students, Harry and Patricia Kislevitz, were experimenting with a new medium — a flexible vinyl material. A friend who manufactured pocketbooks thought they could find a creative use for the material. The Kislevitzes discovered that the vinyl stuck to the glossy in their bathroom. They cut shapes out of the material and placed them on their walls, leaving extra vinyl and a pair of scissors out for guests to add to their creation.