05/07/2026
Growing up, Sabre Mrkva and Eric von Stein were devout crafters. Mrkva dabbled in several mediums, from papier mache and clay to watercolor and jewelry making. She would go door to door selling greeting cards decorated with her watercolor paintings. Von Stein is a sewer, having learned from his mom. At day camp, he learned to make soft sculpture faces that he put on magnets; like Mrkva, he went out selling his creations to neighbors.
“I have a long history in entrepreneurship,” von Stein said. “The writing was on the wall pretty early for me.”
Mrkva and von Stein’s careers intersected at ALEX Toys where they worked side-by-side for a decade. They connected over their interest in crafting, the joy of creating and the drive to show kids first-hand how art can build confidence and character. Together, they established Bright Stripes.
“We had such a synergy with each other, and a shared vision to make creative kids’ experiences,” Mrkva stated, adding they want kids to be “creators for life.”
Kits for kids of all ages
Bright Stripes made its debut at Astra Marketplace & Academy in 2019. The company started with a range of 30 items. Products included lacing and decoupage kits, among “classic crafts with a modern twist,” according to von Stein.
A star of the early line was Candle Critters, ceramic night lights that kids can decorate; the house-shaped packaging could be used for play. Bright Stripes also had a STEAM School series that taught fundamentals of science, technology, engineering, art and math.
“It was a really big moment for us,” Mrkva said. “It was very well-received, and we made a big splash with a 25-foot booth.”
In the next seven years, Bright Stripes expanded its offerings to 130 SKUs. Mrkva and von Stein keep their selection fresh, as 30 percent of their line is new every year. A modest product launch takes place in the spring – often coinciding with the Astra show – and a larger release follows up in the autumn.
Bright Stripes caters to ages 3 through teen. While products such as the Splash-Tastic books, which reveal colors when water is applied to the board pages, are geared for younger demographics, older kids can enjoy offerings such as resin jewelry kits.
A popular segment at Bright Stripes is its Wish*Craft line. The Flower Power DIY Soaps kit provides ingredients to make soap with dried flowers. The Flower Power Potters lets users make plates and jewelry with air-dry clay and botanical stamps or real flowers. “You can make something that looks boutique worthy, and they’re very easy to make,” von Stein observed.
Wish*Craft is geared for older kids, perhaps those who come to stores with their younger relatives and want something fun to do themselves. As the projects in the kits are easy to make, they help provide a sense of achievement for users. “They still want to make things, they still want to find exciting products that will speak to them,” von Stein said. “So that aged up demographic has been a big core of our business.”
Screen-free learning
Through Bright Stripes’ products, Mrkva and von Stein want to build fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as well as instill creative problem solving and logic building – all the while encouraging kids to move away from screens.
“There’s so much exploration and joy through the five senses that you experience when you craft,” von Stein said.
“That kind of tactile craftsmanship gives you self-esteem, confidence and emotional regulation. There’s so much that comes with having that space to decompress,” Mrkva commented. “And having a creative voice is so much fun and validating.”
Bright Stripes distinguishes itself by providing classic items with a fresh twist. In terms of packaging, it makes use of modern styles, colors and icons. The packaging is often multi-purpose and can be used in play. Inside, Craft Club tips are included in the instructions; these tips offer ideas on how users can build on the skills they’ve learned with materials found around their homes. Kids can either use the provided guides to create something that looks similar to the intended end product or customize the project.
“We really think about the full experience of the child to make sure that they have everything they need to complete something that makes them feel successful,” Mrkva said.
Bright Stripes exhibits at Astra Marketplace & Academy, Toy Fair and regional gift shows. At this year’s Astra show, it will premiere a new line of art supplies, kits and folios based on the concept of neuro art. The products will be geared towards kids who are becoming self-conscious about crafting. The launch will feature 10 products, with room for more in the future.
“They’re becoming a little more self-critical,” von Stein explained. “With this line, we’re getting them out of their head, out of that critical space and back into the sacred creative zone.”
Supporting specialty toy stores
As they got to know sales reps and retailers during their time at ALEX Toys, Mrkva and von Stein are familiar with specialty toy stores and value the role they play in communities. The partners believe independent retailers are hubs of the community.
“Specialty is our comfort zone,” von Stein said. “We believe in the small-town toy store experience. We don’t know where we’d be without the specialty toy store world.”
Bright Stripes distributes throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico as well as parts of Latin America and the Caribbean; there are plans to expand into Europe in the coming years.
Mrkva and von Stein work closely with retailers, listening to their input and considering how Bright Stripes’ products will resonate with customers. They believe that, as the company offers high quality, great value, experience-based products, their company’s products are an ideal fit for independent toy stores.
Bright Stripes provides resources to retailers including an image library as well as marketing and how-to videos. It is also launching Play Days: bulk kits, each providing enough materials for 18 users, that allow customers to try their hand at mini crafts in the store. This summer, Play Days will feature Chenille Cuties (animal keychains made out of pipe cleaners) for older kids and Puffy Pages (compressed pages that, when painted, expand) for younger kids; both come with sticker sheets to take home.
“We’ve been getting that request for quite some time, and we’ve always really believed that it was a wonderful way for kids to get involved and have a lovely event in stores,” Mrkva said.
More fun to come
Business is going strong at Bright Stripes, but there is more to learn and room to grow, according to von Stein. He explained that the company came through 2025 with the best year to date, despite the hurdles that the toy industry endured.
“Now that we’re at a place where our team is growing and we have the customer base, we can introduce products that we are aligned with and bring our customers along with us on that journey,” he said.
Bright Stripes recently became a distributor for four international brands, each with products that align with Bright Stripe’s values. Amsterdam-based Sam & Julia, the Mouse Mansion offers a range of books, plush and crafts. Viking Toys, a Swedish company, specializes in toy vehicles and outdoor play. Find That Hippo from Denmark offers active play bouncing animals and tactile sensory toys. Wheely Bug, which operates out of Australia produces ride-on toys.
Mrkva and von Stein are looking ahead with an eco-friendly lens. They have eliminated almost all plastic from their packaging and plan to continue incorporating sustainable practices in the business. There is even a possibility of using art to teach science-based lessons about the natural world.
Most importantly, the business partners want to keep building their tribe in the DIY space, unlocking kids’ creative potential. They want to make crafting accessible, encouraging kids to try new crafts, hone their skills and come back for more.
“We love the fact that we’re inspiring the next generation to build the world that they want to live in,” von Stein stated.
“We’re giving them that autonomy and sense of control over what they are creating and what they are putting into the world.”
