HAYDEN - The Zoobles and its characters named Bowling Pin Bob, Baked Potato Boy and Super S didn't exist before this week.

They do now.

Trystan Oliver brought them to life as playing cards during ArtShop at Hayden Meadows Elementary School.

"Super S originally started to be Jelly Man, but when I drew him it ended up looking like an S accidentally, so I thought, 'Heck, I'll just leave it,'" the 13-year-old said with a grin. "Sometimes, the mistakes look the coolest."

There are no mistakes, really, during the 30th annual ArtShop sponsored by the Citizens Council for the Arts, just lots of kids learning, creating, imagining and having a good time.

Nearly 200 students ages 8-14 are taking part in the program that offers 10 visual arts classes and 10 performing arts classes.

All of them take turns displaying their newly learned talents on the main stage at Art on the Green from noon to 3 p.m.

"They are like little sponges, absorbing the knowledge they gain here," said Renee Kauffman, camp director, a post she has held the past 10 years.

She loves the enthusiasm and energy of the children who attend the camp that costs $80.

"All the kids who are here want to be here," she said.

Each student can select two classes taught by professional artists that emphasize creativity and fun.

They can learn about juggling, drumming, hip hop dancing and clowning around.

Or they can pick glass works, mosaics, and mud works.

Mitchell Vawter, 9, came up with "NukePuffs," for a cereal box design in "cartooniversity" taught by Jeff Johnson from Seattle.

It promoted the breakfast food as "radioactive material" made from "100 percent nuclear waste."

It also "comes with free bowl."

Mitchell shrugged when asked about the inspiration behind his idea.

"At first, I didn't know what to do. Then, I found something," he said. "And you have to draw a character that's eating it," he said to explain the presence of an alien-like creature in his drawing.

In another classroom down the hall, the yo-yo was flying fast.

Chris Cook led about 10 students taking turns performing tricks with names like "The Flag," "Forward Pass," "Figure Eight," and "Hop the Fence."

Cook, a past yo-yo champ of Washington State and professional who toured with Yomega, loves teaching students at ArtShop.

He praised their transformation, from nervous kids flinging a yo-yo around, to calm yo-yo masters who will take the stage today at Art on the Green.

"It's amazing what pressure does. They do enjoy it," he said.

Blake Presnell, 9, agreed with his teacher.

His favorite tricks include The Cradle and Rock the Baby, and he's ready for center stage.

"Our teacher is like the best," he said.