Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Mermaid Wedding in September: The Destiny of Things, Story 315

Mermaid Wedding in September:  The Destiny of Things, Story 315

These were ordered in April and will be used some time this month!

Little mermaids in 30 or 50 or 100 count, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

I am so happy someone is celebrating with these for their mermaid wedding celebration!  There have been several mermaid wedding I've been told about and I can't remember if this is the one where the bride works as a mermaid or not!  How cool, fun and memorable!

These are very versatile because Etsy buyers have told me they use them as drink or cake toppers for many different kinds of themed parties.  From Little Mermaid to Peter Pan, Day of the Dead fiesta la sirena (mermaid), nautical bon voyage, pirate mermaid fairy and Bohemian beach parties!

Oh and a biker party and reunion party too!

Little mermaids in 30 or 50 or 100 count, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

Saying Goodbye:  I've been collecting these for decades for my art and finding red ones used to be difficult, but now it's pink and light blue that are more rare to find.  So I ended up with many of the green and blue ones which seem to be more common and started to list them on Etsy and now they are one of most popular items.

Mini mermaids in smaller amounts from 6+, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

What I Learned:

1.  There is a silver lining to everything and even my hoarding has some silver linings, like I would have never thought that some of my hoard would become best sellers at our shops!

2.  Etsy and many Etsy buyers have made my dehoarding more fun and more enjoyable than I ever thought possible.

3.  Even though I'm probably only half way through my hoard I am making progress and it feels so good!  I used to get so upset and feel guilty when I had a hoarding relapse, but I've learned to not be so hard on myself and go with the flow.

 All green mermaids are very popular and I do not know why!
Anyone out there know?  All green available here

Thank you kind Etsy buyer from VintageToGoEasy .  Congratulations and best wishes towards you and yours this September on your wedding day!

Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever!

Thank you all readers from all over the world who have stopped by to take part in my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things with your visit!

 A mermaid mixed with animal drink or cake toppers, available here

I am adding new items weekly to each shop until I have 800 of my dehoard listed!

Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 198 items, The Destiny of Things- 180 items, VintageToGoEasy - 189 items and now JunkDrawerAndMore - 182 items!    
 
Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
 Bulk mix of 24 drink or cake toppers, available here
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Monday, September 14, 2015

Circus Themed Birthday Party Vintage Clown Flag Toppers: The Destiny of Things, Story 314

Circus Themed Birthday Party Vintage Clown Flag Toppers:  The Destiny of Things, Story 314

Vintage clown flag toppers for a circus birthday party!

Vintage Happy Birthday clown flag toppers, sold out.
Vintage USA flag cake topper picks, available here

I was wondering who was going to buy these and if it was going to be for a circus or carnival themed occasion.  I had over 100 of these and she bought them all!  I am so thankful to her!

I had a box and half of these left over from my teaching days.  Some classes celebrate student's birthdays by the month, but we celebrated each of ours all on one day!  It was everyone's birthday that day and we spent months planning it with committees and meetings.

We made wish lists, discussed and voted for a theme, colors, etc.  It was complicated and time consuming, but worth it because it taught students organization, planning and execution of how to make a big shabang that includes everyone and their wishes!

It was a fun way to learn how to throw a party for 30 people from making wish lists, planning, forming committees, working on a schedule to make the designated party date, etiquette, economics (students would be very surprised to estimate and then add up how much food and supplies for a party will cost), making invitations, decorations, deciding on games and how many people can be be invited on a budget and working within a budget, etc.

It was a great classroom reward too because we would need to stay on schedule and get the rest of the academics done, so we'd have party planning time by the end of the day!

I don't really miss teaching, but I do miss buying all the stuff for all the different parties we'd plan!  Even though I donated most of the funds for party decor, favors and games, we did have a classroom money system to offset some of the costs.  Everyone contributed in some way and everyone would be so proud after the party and our classroom was back to normal!

Such memories....

Vintage Happy Birthday clown flag toppers, sold out.
Vintage USA flag cake topper picks, available here

Saying Goodbye:  Today I am glad these went to a little guy's circus themed birthday party.  I used to find myself in conflict when some of my school detash found new homes, but now I think I'll be very happy when all of it is gone! 

Vintage Happy Birthday clown flag toppers, sold out.
Vintage USA flag cake topper picks, available here

What I Learned:

1.  Immersion Therapy does work!  Although it's a slow and scary process, it is working for me.  The slow but constant repetition of letting go of things is helping me overcome my hoarding fears, anxiety and panic every time something of mine finds a new home!

2.  Also I find my hoarding relapses are becoming less and less as I have found other activities to take it's place, although sometimes my alternatives are not comforting or comfortable, it does feel good to be trying my best to change some bad habits!

3.  For example, this month I'm focusing on more exercise.  I have severe health issues due to allergies, insomnia, etc, and am usually to exhausted to work out on a regular basis, but the past two months have been different for me and I'm sleeping more regularly.  I am feeling stronger every day in more ways than one!

Fun circus or carnival party decor, available here
Kids find it very curious that this what people played with before video games! photo via VintageToGoEasy


Thank you kind Etsy buyer from The Destiny of Things and VintageToGoEasy letting me know these are for your son's circus themed birthday!  I hope he and everyone else enjoyed them!

Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever!

Thank you all readers from all over the world who have stopped by to take part in my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things with your visit!

 Simple yet interactive fortune teller fish fun, available here
In amounts of 50, 100 or more, available 
photo via Hoarder Rehab

I am adding new items weekly to each shop until I have 800 of my dehoard listed!

Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 198 items, The Destiny of Things- 177 items, VintageToGoEasy - 190 items and now JunkDrawerAndMore - 187 items!    
 
Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
 These toppers are always fun for drinks or cupcakes and all ages love them,
available here.  photo via JunkDrawerAndMore

"It's never too late to have a happy childhood."  Tom Robbins, Still Life with Woodpecker
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Friday, September 11, 2015

UPDATE Photo from Mixed Media Artist of 100 Mini Guns: The Destiny of Things, Story 313

UPDATE Photo from Mixed Media Artist of 100 Mini Guns:  The Destiny of Things, Story 313

I just love it when someone takes the time to send me a photo update!  So these guns went from  this.....

100 random chosen color gun mix, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

A mixed media artist who ordered these guns sent me an update photo of how he uses them in his art:

 Looks like someone had a lot of fun arranging them around!
photo via Etsy buyer artist 

How fun!  They look so cool arranged like that with the color block background and remind me James Bond for some reason.  I could spend hours sitting around arranging them too.

He said he's over the moon with these gun trinkets because they are so colorful and have excellent details and the perfect size for his assemblage collage art!

They are fun to play with as you can see below:

If you need these in smaller amounts of 15 or 25, get them here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

Saying Goodbye:  These are selling out fast, so I have my own stash of 100 or more put away.  I was tempted to keep them all, but since it seems I have more ideas for art projects rather than actually putting my ideas into action, they are listed on all the shops in different amounts.

These are most of the colors available here

What I Learned:

1.  I am so happy there is another repetition mixed media collage artist out there!  I just love art in repetition and it seems to go right along with my hoarding ways!
2.  Other Etsy buyers have let me know that they use these for jewelry to make earrings and charm bracelets, some use them as cupcake toppers and some use them as party favors for their rockabilly themed parties.

3.  I'd like to hang mine all the way around a bandanna as a scarf or quilt.  I just love dangles.

4.  I think I am doing less hoarding with more dehoarding and moving towards doing more art projects and focusing on my health now a days.  I like the difference in the way I feel too!

Here they are with matching boots and guns, available here

Thank you kind Etsy buyer from Hoarder Rehab for making my day by remembering and taking the time to send me a photo and sharing with me how over the moon you are too with the 100 gun trinkets!  I just love them too.  So happy to hear another artist is using them in repetition.

Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever!

Thank you all readers from all over the world who have stopped by to take part in my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things with your visit!
 
 For the past month or so, these have been the most popular guns!  It's not easy keeping them in stock!  10 gold mini James Bond guns, available here
photo via JunkDrawerAndMore 
 
I am working on my dehoarding goals and am starting to list new items at each shop!  My goal is to list 200 items on each shop again!  I am challenged with Etsy's new listing formats and also I'm getting used to a new computer system, so the listing is happening slowly, but surely!
 
Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 198 items, The Destiny of Things- 181 items, VintageToGoEasy - 193 items and now JunkDrawerAndMore - 188 items!  
 
Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
 These used to be our most popular mini guns until Etsy buyers requested the middle guns and calling them the James Bond guns! Available here
 2.  From the mosaic artist:  Mini Gold Toy Prize Trinket Guns:  The Destiny of Things, Story 270   
 
 
"It's not about "having" time, it's about making time." This is what I need to focus on next!
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Thursday, September 10, 2015

Small Plastic Mini Jars 2 oz: The Destiny of Things, Story 312

Small Plastic Mini Jars 2 oz:  The Destiny of Things, Story 312

I just love these mini jars for organizing my hoard!

6 small 1.5 - 2 oz plastic pop top containers, available here
photo via JunkDrawerAndMore

and an Etsy buyer loves them too for all the little things you don't want to get lost from jewelry to stamping.

I also use them for sorting all kinds of embellishments from bells, beads, rocks, wiggly eyes, buttons and shells, etc!  I love to sort and usually use them to sort by size or color.  I have several art projects going at once, so I usually keep them organized in little boxed kits and inside these kits are these jars of embellishments.

For example, I keep my mini origami paper, gold thread, needle and bells sorted by color in these containers and usually make my mini hanging origami cranes for garlands and gift toppers while I get my daily Vitamin D sitting outside or watching our latest show on netflix.

10 hanging mini origami cranes with bell, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

I just love these plastic jars and use them often when I find a box of mixed junk to sort while I'm dehoarding.  These smaller 1 oz jars are the ones I use most often for bead embellishments, especially beads on thread because I can just use the lid for a few without losing them or losing track of them.

8 mini 1 oz containers with pop off lids, available here
photo via JunkDrawerAndMore 

I also use them to send gifts through the mail or in care packages when I don't want something cute and small to get lost in a larger package.

4 small screw off top plastic containers, available here
photo via JunkDrawerAndMore 

We have several quilters and teachers in the family and I often make them little sewing kits with these containers, as you can see a little spool and thread, buttons, needle threader and needle will fit inside for those little emergencies.

6 small 1.5 - 2 oz plastic pop top containers, available here
photo via JunkDrawerAndMore

Saying Goodbye:  I reuse these from project to project and keep my own stash ready to organize on the days I dehoard.  

8 mini 1 oz containers with pop off lids, available here
photo via JunkDrawerAndMore

What I Learned:   

1.  I am so happy that others love to use these too and find them so handy!  Many Etsy buyers have also told me they use them to hold samples of their cosmetic products and paints for crafting, but I do not know how waterproof or spill proof these actually are because I do not use them to hold liquids.

2.  I am partial to any clear container and recycle almost all  clear food containers to hold my various projects and keep them organized.

Do you think perhaps I'm hoarding clear containers?  I don't think so because I am recycling and it's helping me organize my life rather than disrupting my life.  Although I do not like the thought of having to throw them away.  Hmm....

I love to organize my jewelry finding with these wheel boxes, available here
 photo via JunkDrawerAndMore

Thank you kinda Etsy buyer from JunkDrawerAndMore for taking the time to send me a few words of how you use your containers.  I always find it comforting to find something common with a non hoarder! 
 
Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever!

Thank you all readers from all over the world who have stopped by to take part in my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things with your visit!
 
 Here is how I use my mini origami cranes as gift toppers, available here
photo via The Destiny of Things


I am working on my dehoarding goals and am starting to new list and relist at each shop!  My goal is to list 200 items on each shop again!  I am challenged with Etsy's new listing formats and also I'm getting used to a new computer system, so the listing is happening slowly, but surely!
 
Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 198 items, The Destiny of Things- 181 items, VintageToGoEasy - 193 items and now JunkDrawerAndMore - 189 items!  
 
Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
 Mini love cards to add as gift toppers or care packages, available here
photo via JunkDrawerAndMore
 
Related Stories:
 
 
 
Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. A person with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. Excessive accumulation of items, regardless of actual value, occurs. 
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Friday, September 4, 2015

DIY Fairy Lights with Gum Ball Capsules: The Destiny of Things, Story 311

DIY Fairy Lights with Gum Ball Capsules:  The Destiny of Things, Story 311

Need a fun activity to do with the kids's this Labor Day weekend?  From this:

50 to 100 gum ball capsules, available here
20 to 30 gum ball machine capsules, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

To this!  I received a short note with a photo update of a DIY fairy light project from an Etsy buyer!  How fun and cute!  Here is the photo:

photo via creative Etsy buy from Hoarder Rehab

Who knew that these could turn simple plain Christmas lights into fun bedroom fairy lights for a child's bedroom.  Or take them out into the backyard this Labor Day weekend gatherings or for some Back to School fun!

50 to 100 gum ball capsules, available here
20 to 30 gum ball machine capsules, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

Saying Goodbye:  Here is another one of my hoarded collections that have become popular items on Etsy.  We weren't allowed to spend our money on gum ball machines back in the day, not even we used our own allowance or baby sitting money!

So when I got my first summer job, I started to buy them and ended up liking the gum ball capsules better than the toy prizes!  I did end up collecting all the things I wanted as a child when I was a teen, like an adjustable birthstone ring where the stone breaks off in a week, a compass ring, googly eyed monster pencil toppers and my favorite was a mini version of Van Gogh's bloody ear!

50 to 100 gum ball capsules, available here
20 to 30 gum ball machine capsules, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

What I Learned:

1.  As a child, I just loved all the kitschy toy prizes, even if my friends had them but I didn't and some of them made it through time travel as a teen and I still have them!  Some I think I still have may be lost in my hoard, like Van Gogh's ear and my Botan Rice Candy prizes that were toys before they replaced them with stickers.

2.  I have quite the collection of gum ball machine capsules too.  Some colors are more rare than others and I collect my own stash for my art project that mostly has my childhood jewelry that I can't part with or no one would want, like my prized champion hopscotch chain bracelet!

3.  My students loved to make rings with these and put there favorite things inside or keep their money safe or their lunch ticket close by them.  Great for mini traveling pocket toys.

4.  They also make great containers for confetti to throw at weddings, especially carnival, circus or zoo themed ones.  I've used them with erasers and coins inside for pinata fillers and also with candy inside as simple table confetti for many party celebrations.

3.  These bring back such good fun memories and I hope they make new ones for others out there too!

50 to 100 gum ball capsules, available here
20 to 30 gum ball machine capsules, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

Thank you kinda Etsy buyer from Hoarder Rehab for taking the time to take and send me a photo with a few words of your fun fairy light project! 
 
Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever!

Thank you all readers from all over the world who have stopped by to take part in my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things with your visit!

10 vending machine capsules in Halloween colors, available here
 photo via JunkDrawerAndMore

I am working on my dehoarding goals and am starting to new list and relist at each shop!  My goal is to list 200 items on each shop again!  I am challenged with Etsy's new listing formats and also I'm getting used to a new computer system, so the listing is happening slowly, but surely!
 
Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 197 items, The Destiny of Things- 183 items, VintageToGoEasy - 195 items and now JunkDrawerAndMore - 193 items!  
 
Check out all the shop for fun treasure chests fillers for pirates and mermaids, like stickers, gum ball capsules for you to fill, trinket gun charms and more!

Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
 Ninja Turtle colors, available here, we will switch out the yellow for orange
photo via VintageToGoeasy

Related Stories:

 
 
 
 Patriotic or Big Top Circus Carnival colors, available here
 
Happy Labor Weekend to you and yours! 
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Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Christmas Cracker Bon Bon Trinket Fillers: The Destiny of Things, Story 310

Christmas Cracker Bon Bon Trinket Fillers:  The Destiny of Things, Story 310

Order these now for your DIY Christmas out of country cracker bon bons!

 Fortune Fish, choose your amount from 30 to 100, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

Starting from September, we get a several "out of country" orders from these from Etsy buyers making their own winter holiday cracker bon bons for Christmas and New Year's celebrations.

I had  no idea what a "bon bon" was until I googled it today and found out they are like paper covered tubes that look like candy with treats inside!

photo via Google at wikipedia

Two sisters from Europe emailed me and let me know they are making bon bons for Christmas and will be using the fortune fish inside them.  Fun for all ages! 

I wonder else they are going to put inside for surprises!

 Fortune Fish, choose your amount from 30 to 100, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy
 
I am so happy they ordered them early because shipping without tracking to other countries can take up any where from 4 weeks to 12 weeks!  And without tracking we have no idea how long it will take to reach it's destination or if it's stuck in customs waiting for the buyer to pick up!
 
As a matter of fact, I had a package mailed from San Diego to Los Angeles, but after a month it hadn't arrived so we received a refund.   Three months later it showed up!!!!  USPS never ceases to amaze me!

Another time we had a package returned to us from Australia six months after we shipped it.   We tried to contact the buyer, but never heard a peep.  The record holder is 8 months!  A package was returned from Switzerland with no contact from the buyer either!  I'm  guessing these packages get stuck in customs and the buyers don't want to pay the extra duties?

Now we send all packages foreign and domestic with insurance because one never knows how packages just disappear into thin air!

Anyways, that was way off topic!

 Fortune Fish, choose your amount from 30 to 100, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy
 
Saying Goodbye:   My original hoard of these are long gone and since they have become popular all year long at all our shops we keep them in stock.  So I am happy to say I never have to say goodbye to these and keep many handy for cheering people up or handing out to bored children in waiting rooms or standing in line.

These would be fun in a bon bon filled with a special trinket or candy!
In amounts of 20 to 30, here or 50 or 100 here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

What I Learned:

1.  My aunt had these once at Christmas dinner.  They were on our plates as decoration, but they didn't have fun trinkets in them.  I think they had something to read out loud.  I really can't remember, but as a kid I guess it wasn't that fun.

2.  I think my Aunt called them crackers too, but nothing cracked about them!  When I googled about them today, they look like a cross between a large look piece of wrapped candy and a fire cracker and in the old days were pulled a part like a wish bone and it made a fire cracker sound when broken.

3.  According to wikipedia, Christmas crackers are part of Christmas celebrations primarily in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Commonwealth countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.
 
4.  Maybe I'll make some this year for all the little ones I know using recycled toilet paper rolls that I used to save when I was a teacher for various crafts, like finger puppets and as a recovering hoarder can't seem to throw out!
 
 Cardboard cracker rolls n amounts of 30 or 40, available here
 
Thank you Etsy buyers from VintageToGoEasy and Hoarder Rehab for sending me little notes each year starting in September letting me know these are for bon bons!  So nice to know that a bon bon is a cracker bon bon now.  
 
And thank you for the inspiration and idea to make them this year for children and adults in my family!
Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever!
 
Thank you all readers from all over the world who have stopped by to visit my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things!
 
 I think I'll put some of these in the bon bons, so the young and young at heart can keep track of their drinks, available here
 photo via JunkDrawerAndMore
 
I am working on my dehoarding goals and am starting to new list and relist at each shop!  My goal is to list 200 items on each shop again!  I am challenged with Etsy's new listing formats and also I'm getting used to a new computer system, so the listing is happening slowly, but surely!
 
Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 197 items, The Destiny of Things- 181 items, VintageToGoEasy - 195 items and now JunkDrawerAndMore - 191 items!  
 
Check out all the shop for fun treasure chests fillers for pirates and mermaids, like stickers, gum ball capsules for you to fill, trinket gun charms and more!

Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
 And some of these for the kids, someone's always losing a tooth!
Mini treasure chests for pirates and mermaids, available here

Related Stories:  Fortune Fish have been used in so many various ways!

 
 
 
4.  As Underwater birthday theme decor, see update photos and story here  
 
5.  Other wedding themed ideas:   Fortune Fish:  The Destiny of Things, Story 238
 
"May these bring back old memories while making new ones!"---Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things!
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