Monday, June 20, 2016

Memories Live On with 6 Party Animal Toppers: The Destiny of Things, Story 391

Memories Live On with 6 Party Animal Toppers!  The Destiny of Things, Story 391

I just love it when old memories make new ones!

6 party animals for drink or cake toppers or light table toys, available here
Also available for circus animals: 2 monkeys, 2 elephants and 2 giraffes, available here.  Photo via VintageToGoEasy

Sweet little note from an Etsy buyer:

Note from Buyer: Thank you for finding these. My siblings & I had a few of them when we were young. I will give them to my nephews to enjoy.=) 
 
Back in the day, especially through the 1960s, these were mostly used to decorate cocktail drinks at restaurants or at least that's where I remember them from.  I remember and loved mine, usually a mermaid perched on my Shirley Temple with the reddest cherry ever!  My brother always got a monkey or bull.
 
 4 to 8 Little Mermaid wine charms, drink or cake toppers, available here
 
Saying Goodbye:  I used these all the time as drink toppers, cupcake toppers, plant jewelry and in my mixed media art because they always bring back such good childhood memories of dinner nights with my family.
 
 A large mix of 24, including all types of animals and mermaids, available here

What I Learned:
 
1.   I started my own collection of these during my college days, but they were more difficult to find back then.  Restaurants didn't use them anymore and most cocktail bars, the tiki ones,  only used the paper umbrellas.  My vintage collection of these have various different colors that are harder to find, like a true pink. 
 
I don't have all the animals either.  I've seen a horse, mouse and even a unicorn, but I've given up on trying to attain them and will most likely just use what I have now.
 
2.  I love and use these for many reasons.  Let me count the ways,  I use them as drink and cupcake toppers, plant jewelry, and in my mixed media art.  I love them because they are eco friendly!  If my guests don't sneak off with them, I just wash and reuse them.
 
They work well for so many themed parties too!  Safari retirement or reunions, carnival, circus, Curious George, jungle, summer beach and pool parties, birthdays and weddings!

3.  All ages just love these, people my age and older remember them from the old days and children just love to see them on their drink cups and will play with them for hours, even after their tails, legs or arms break off!

Who doesn't love something that brings back old memories while making new ones?

6 party animals for drink or cake toppers or light table toys, available here
Also available for circus animals: 2 monkeys, 2 elephants and 2 giraffes, available here.  Photo via VintageToGoEasy

Thank you Etsy buyer from VintageToGoEasy for leaving a note to buyer! You brought back such sweet childhood memories for me and it's nice to know someone else is passing some memories and making some new ones with little relatives!  So fun!
 
Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever!  And for all the kind people I'm meeting who are helping me indirectly and directly in so many ways with my Hoarder Rehab!  I've been gleaning so much insight about my hoarding ways!

Thank you readers from all over the world who continue to support my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things by taking part with your visits!
 
 1960s True Vintage cocktail monkey charm picks Marked 1961 zoo carnival circus piks animal hanger figurines, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy
 
We are in a heat wave and it's supposed to continue for the rest of the week!  How is the weather for you? I'm relisting daily and hopefully will new list items this week.
   
Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 179 items, The Destiny of Things- 178 items, VintageToGoEasy - 176 items and JunkDrawerAndMore - 177 items.
 
Maybe you'll find something to adopt and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
 The patent pending with the 1961 date is difficult to see here, but you might be able to see it using the Etsy ZOOM feature. 
1960s True Vintage cocktail monkey charm picks Marked 1961 zoo carnival circus piks animal hanger figurines, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy
 
Related Stories:  Look at all the memories being made!
 
 
 
 
4.   An Etsy buyer had her mermaid drink charm from childhood for over 50 years, read her story here. 

5.  One Etsy buyer uses them as plant jewelry, so I tried it too!  See them on my plants!  Cocktail Drink Monkey Toppers as Plant Jewelry!  The Destiny of Things, Story 302  

 
"Onwards and UPwards!"  Happy Monday, see you on Wednesday!  Thank you for taking part in my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things!  
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Friday, June 17, 2016

Mickey Mouse Pirate Themed First Birthday Party: The Destiny of Things, Story 390

Mickey Mouse Pirate Themed First Birthday Party:  The Destiny of Things, Story 390

Creative Etsy buyer with a wonderful eye and an update photo!  BEFORE:

 These pirate stickers are getting more difficult to find and are sold out, but when we source more out, we will list them again.  Perhaps next week, so check back!

An Etsy buyer took the skull cross bones stickers and turned them into an accent that really made a difference in look for her son's first birthday goodie bags!

AFTER:  

 "Loved the special touch the foam skull stickers gave my candy bags as we celebrated my sons 1st birthday!"
photo and quote from  JunkDrawerAndMore Etsy buyer.  Thank you!  

What a great imagination and eye to see how well these foam skull stickers would make to add that special little touch!  And I see she used the foam alphabet stickers to spell out everyone's names too!  How fun!

I love all the other details she add too, like the pirate netting, red and white mickey mouse table confetti and skull bones table cloth!  And of course, Mickey with his pirate eye patch!

These pirate stickers are getting more difficult to find and are sold out, but when we source more out, we will list them again.  Perhaps next week, so check back at JunkDrawerAndMore soon!
photo via JunkDrawerAndMore

Saying Goodbye:  I have my own pack stashed away for some creative fun.  Such inspiration from just a little sticker.  I think her special little touch made a huge difference in look and cuteness.

What I Learned:

1.  A little added cuteness goes a long way, but I don't always have an eye for catching that little accent for detail.  It's more like I have multiple eyes with tons of ideas swimming around in my head, instead of that one eye needed to catch a special detail.  

And usually I have to try out all my ideas and then choose the best ten and then eliminate them one by one until I have what I'm actually looking for.  It's like fishing for the final detail and not knowing what it is until I see it or finally create it.  Not very definitive and not very good towards my hoarder recovery.

2.  We used to have a lot of pirate things, some leftover from my teaching days and some because we used to know a little pirate, but he's outgrown that now and moved on to super heroes with capes!

So who knows what we will find for our shops again soon!

 I bet she did something wonderfully creative with these scabbards of sabers too!
These pirate stickers are getting more difficult to find and are sold out, but when we source more out, we will list them again.  Perhaps next week, so check back often!
photo via JunkDrawerAndMore

Thank you Etsy buyer from JunkDrawerAndMore for leaving a thoughtful message and most of all the photo update!  Update photos are my most favorite because they are so inspirational to me and hopefully to others.  Also,  it's like I get to be a fly on the wall and see my hoard in it's new life and home.  Love seeing how my hoard gets transformed!  Thank you so much!

You definitely have an eye for details!  So simple, yet such an eye catching imagination and added special touch!
 
Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever!  And for all the kind people I'm meeting who are helping me indirectly and directly in so many ways with my Hoarder Rehab!  I've been gleaning so much insight about my hoarding ways!

Thank you readers from all over the world who continue to support my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things by taking part with your visits!
 
 Various different skull designed pendants for pirate or Walking Dead themes, available here.  Photo via JunkDrawerAndMore
 
I can't seem to escape from the little rut I'm in and not quite sure what I need to do to get out of it yet, but I'm relisting daily and hopefully will new list items this week.
   
Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 181 items, The Destiny of Things- 180 items, VintageToGoEasy - 174 items and JunkDrawerAndMore - 179 items.
 
Maybe you'll find something to adopt and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
 6 or 12 mini treasure chests for your pirate, mermaid, king, queen, prince or princess theme party as cupcake toppers or to hold a tooth for the tooth fairy, available here.  Photo via JunkDrawerAndMore
 
Related Stories:
 
1.  Digging for buried pirate treasure:  Mini Pirate Treasure Chests:  The Destiny of Things, Story 224 
 
 
 
 
 
"It's never too late for a happy childhood."  Tom Robbins, Still Life with Woodpecker
 
Thank you for taking part in my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things!  Happy Friday!
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Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Fortune Fish for Gift Card Inserts: The Destiny of Things, Story 389

Fortune Fish for Gift Card Inserts:  The Destiny of Things, Story 389

Two kind Etsy shop owners now has these!

 NEW 30, 50, 75 or 100 lot Retro Fortune Teller Fish, available here 
photo via VintageToGoEasy

I received this:

Note from Buyer Looking forward to using these to include with gift cards! What fun! Thank you for all the 'likes' of our shop items - trustyboomer - Bruce and Molly B.

and later I got this note:

SUPER DUPER!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE AND SUCH A WONDERFUL NOTE AND GOODIES TUCKED INSIDE! Can't wait to put this to good old fashioned fun use! Merci!

So inspiring with great ideas!  Our shops accept Etsy gift cards, but maybe it would be a good idea to list Etsy gift cards too.  Or fun to add to gift giving cards, so easy to slip into an envelope and send off.  

My dad loved his annual Father's day hundred buck Starbucks gift card, he said he gets the royal treatment when he uses it there.  Next time, I use a gift card I'll be sure to slip in one of these.

I add them to all kinds of snail mail cards for any occasion, but use them especially for Valentine's!  Who doesn't love to have their love fortune told by a dancing fish!

All you do is take the fish out from the bag and put it on the palm of your hand and see what it does.  Depending on your love mood, it will tell you something!  Just look at the back of the bag envelope.

 NEW 30, 50, 75 or 100 lot Retro Fortune Teller Fish, available here 

Saying Goodbye:  I have some of these stashed in my purse and pass them out whenever I see someone needs a good cheering up.  Who doesn't love a fortune telling fish to pass on to someone else or share the fun!

What I Learned:

1.  Some of my favorite teaching props and tools have become quite popular at our Etsy shops and we keep these available and in stock all year long now.  I used these fortune telling fish to introduce magic themed teaching, which really is a great way to teach, math and different sciences, like chemistry, illusions and physics.

If you are interested in some teachable moments using these, you can read my blog posting here on how they work, here.

2.  I had so many of these leftover from my teaching days and they sold like hot cakes!  What a wonderful surprise!  Maybe there is a silver lining to my hoard!

3.  I am also grateful that many of my favorite well loved teaching props have gone off to better lives and homes now.  Some of them were painful to let go and others not, so it's been quite the emotional roller coaster ride and I've been learning how conflicting my teaching days were to me.  

I loved teaching my over 600+ students through the years, however getting them what they really needed each year, like books, pencil and paper, were some battles I'd rather forget.

 NEW 30, 50, 75 or 100 lot Retro Fortune Teller Fish, available here 

Thank you Molly, Etsy buyer from VintageToGoEasy  and shop owner of trustyboomer for leaving me such such great ideas in my "note to buyer."  I hope these bring you, friends and family many years of fun, exciting love fortunes and laughs.  
 
I love Molly and Bruce's shop name,  trustyboomer.  We might be the last of the last of the baby boomer generation and there are millions of us!  74.6 million to be exact!  And I think the last generation is at retiring age now!

Have some fun and bring back some boomer memories, by checking out their shop, here, it's booming with all the stuff baby boomers remember and cherish!  Here are some of my favorites, this mouse toy on wheels, here.  What memories.  I had one like it, but it was a vacuum cleaner and the balls inside it bounced around when moved. 

I just love vintage crepe paper and it's getting more difficult to find these days.  They have some in green by Dennison, here and in yellow, here.

And last, but not least, my all time favorites, advertising stuff!  From signs, to boxes to containers!  I just love them all!  They have a whole section, here!
 
Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever!  And for all the kind people I'm meeting who are helping me indirectly and directly in so many ways with my Hoarder Rehab!  I've been gleaning so much insight about my hoarding ways!

Thank you readers from all over the world who continue to support my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things by taking part with your visits!
 
 If you need these in smaller amounts, starting with 8+, they are available here

I'm still in my humdrum existence and still do not know what I need to do to get out of it yet, but I'm relisting daily and hopefully will new list items this week.  I was hoping to do some new listings the other day, but before I knew it the day was over!  Time just flew by!
 
Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 179 items, The Destiny of Things- 180 items, VintageToGoEasy - 176 items and JunkDrawerAndMore - 176 items.
 
Maybe you'll find something to adopt and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
 Another popular shop item that were some of my teacher props to start off dental hygiene week and for anyone who lost a loose tooth! Available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

Related Stories:  Some great ideas from many super creative Etsy buyers!

 
 
3.  Other wedding themed ideas:   Fortune Fish:  The Destiny of Things, Story 238
 
4.  As Underwater theme decor, see update photos and story here  
 
 
6.  An Etsy buyer from NY sharing Fortune Fish with her college classmates as they study, Fortune Teller Miracle Fish by Cathryn Hankla:  The Destiny of Things, Story 152.  I also included some of my favorite passages, read it here 
 
7.  How these fish work:  Teachable Moments with  Fortune Fish Tellers:  The Destiny of Things, Story 180 
 
8.  With an updated photo from an Etsy buyer using some of my items from the "Thank you" package, here 
 
9.  Fortune Fish at a quilting bee where old memories made new ones! Read it here!
 
10.  Miracle Fish Fortune Teller Surprise Balls:  The Destiny of Things, Story XCII, here 
 
11.  UPDATE on A Little Girl and her Miracle Fish:  The Destiny of Things, Story #112, Part 2, here
 
 
 
 Another fun teacher prop to introduce learning Spanish using a game!  It's called, Loteria and it's played like Bingo, but with cards, so the transition to play for everyone is easy!
Also, it's was a fun way to turn the tables for my Spanish only readers who were learning English to have some traditional fun while teaching our English only learners some Spanish and what it might feel like to be left out due to language barriers. 
Loteria game available here.  Photo via JunkDrawerAndMore

"Some old memories making many new ones!"---Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things!  
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Monday, June 13, 2016

Baby Block Mini ABC Alphabet Rubber Stamp Fun: The Destiny of Things, Story 388

Baby Block Mini ABC Alphabet Rubber Stamp Fun:  The Destiny of Things, Story 388

An Etsy buyer and shop owner is using these with her grand kids!

Choose a font:  30 mini alphabet wooden rubber stamp set, available here
 
She chose the Baby Block font, which is seen above next to the blue 1.  Here is her idea:
 
Note from Buyer: Hiya Kennedy! This will be fun to use with my grand kids to start spelling exercises. Hope all is well. 
 
What a fun way to get motivated for spelling activities, especially if one is a tactile learner.  I used some like these in the classroom for spelling, writing short notes and I even had some with words and pictures, so one could stamp out a story!
 
I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall to see them all having fun stamping out spelling words using these or playing hangman with them!  Would have loved to see the final products too of all the stamping fun!

Choose a font:  30 mini alphabet wooden rubber stamp set, available here
 
Saying Goodbye:  I have my own stash of these put aside and usually use them to make stickers that say, "hi" or "to" and then use those stickers to close up packaged orders for shipping out.
 
 These are brand new and are in sealed packaging, once you take the stamps out you have to carefully take them apart.
Choose a font:  30 mini alphabet wooden rubber stamp set, available here
 
What I Learned:
 
1.  I have a growing rubber stamp collection!  It's not quite a hoard yet, or is it?  It all fits in a filing box, but it is starting to overflow because I seem to have taken out my favorites and most used and keep them out separately.  Uh oh....

2.  I have found that I mostly use my stamps to create stickers and labels to use to package up our orders and get them ready for shipping.  After using them for a couple of months I get tired of using them and look for something new to use!  Yikes!  As a recovering hoarder, is that good or bad?

Here is my current stamping creations for shipping label closures.
Wooden animal figurine rubber stampers: elephant, pony, rabbit or squirrel, available here.  Photo via JunkDrawerAndMore 
 
3.  I'll have to take a photo of my rubber stamp collection because that seems to be the only way for me to actually be able to "really" see or fully acknowledge if I have too much stuff.  I know, as a recovering hoarder, my sense of spatial relationships are impaired.  That last sentence sounds funny to me.
 
4.  Here is the latest stamp I purchased to make labels for shipping out packages.

I think this is going to look really cute to make sticker closures for gift wrapping.

5.  Oh my!  While I was searching for a photo of my latest stamp, I found another stamp I ordered for making sticker closures for shipping packages!  Yikes!
 
How do you know when you have too many of a collection? I could sure use some help in this area, like what are some good indicators of a hoard pile up coming!?  What does it look like in the beginning?  because I surely know what it looks like when it has sneaked attacked me!

I thought this stamp had the most lovely design and reminds me of an embroidery border.  It's not as practical for packaging sticker closures, as the button tie string one, but I just love the design!  I'll have to see how well this looks stamped.  I wish it said, "thank you" instead of "restaurant"!
 
Thank you Etsy buyer shop owner, Linda!!!!! for sending me your fun stamping idea in my "note to buyer."  Not only do I hope it brings you years of fun for you and your grand kids, but because it really has helped me today and in the future!  What a reminder that as a recovering hoarder I need keep myself in check with my hoard! 

It's so difficult for me to decide when enough is enough! 
 
Check out her Etsy shop, Laughing Pencil Art for fun and funny caricatures and more!  Like one of my favorites, this instant download coloring page for all ages, here.  A fine selection of fun and funny fruits and veggies, here.  I love her black and white selection here, I think she captures the moment in people's expressions so magically!

Lastly check out her process in her "About" page, here!  It's not only amazing, but entertaining!  And in on photo you can see her toy collection of 25 years and maybe you'll see some of the vintage toys she's given new lives to from me!  Thanks again Linda for everything!
 
Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever!  And for all the kind people I'm meeting who are helping me indirectly and directly in so many ways with my Hoarder Rehab!  I've been gleaning so much insight about my hoarding ways!

Thank you readers from all over the world who continue to support my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things by taking part with your visits!
 
 This is my most handy dandy and used packaging stamper!  I use it every Sunday, Tues and Thursday to get packaging letters ready for orders going out on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays! 
Mechanical rubber date stamper from 2016 to 2015, available here
 
I'm slowly coming out of my little rut and I'm relisting daily and hopefully will new list items TOMORROW!  I have found a new project to start and it seems to need a whole lot of laundry washing!  but that's okay, because it gives me time to think about how to cut the stuff up.  Surprise, surprises... only time will tell.
 
Does anyone "out there" know how to get the slight musty smell out of antique delicate fabrics?
 
Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 180 items, The Destiny of Things- 177 items, VintageToGoEasy - 181 items and JunkDrawerAndMore - 176 items.
 
Maybe you'll find something to adopt and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
 I need to try out all 16 vintage animal stamp of mine soon.  These look like cuteness overload to me and super mini to make stickers! Available here.
photo via VintageToGoEasy
 
Related Stories:
 
 
 
3.  Saving time for a kindergarten teacher:  Teacher Date Stamper:  The Destiny of Things, Story #109  
 
 
 
 
7.  Mini ABC Alphabet Wooden Rubber Stamps Set:  The Destiny of Things, Story 349:  an Etsy buyer using them in a different way 
 
 
 
 I use these stamped stickers at least 3 times a week as gift bag closures for out going shipping packages, cute apple stampers, available here.
photo via JunkDrawerAndMore 
 
Thank you for taking part in my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things!
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