Fangirl Arts and Crafts

When I am not spending my free time at the Goodwill or the flea market, I love to get arts and craftsy.    I thought I would share a few my favorite projects.  

I am big fan of the Goodwill bags of fun.   You know you get the good, the bad, and the ugly.   When you weed out all of the good stuff, sometimes you have a pile of leftovers.   What do you do with them?  Re- donate, yes I have done that.    Dump them in the isle of misfit toys?   yes, I end up with a box full of stuff.  

I had the idea to make this I Spy mirror for my son's bedroom.    It is an easy project and doesn't really require a lot of materials.   Most of them you can either find around your house or at your local Goodwill.

I found an inexpensive wooden framed mirror.  Then I glued an assortment of leftover toys to the surface.  Some are game pieces, vending machine prizes, happy meal toys and bottle caps.  

Unfortunately, the picture isn't the greatest, so it is hard to see some of the really small toys, but you get the idea.    These are great for kid's rooms or your own geek caves.   They can be customized in any theme.  

One of my other hobbies that I love to paint.  Since I can't always find awesome geek wear for some of my favorite characters, I make my own.    These are my hand painted Admiral Ackbar tennis shoes.    I picked up again, an inexpensive pair of canvas slip on shoes.  Then I decked them out to celebrate Admiral Ackbar cereal.    I have re-created several pairs and sold them in my Etsy store.  




 I also do Star Wars cosplay.  I have got to show my love for my character.   Here is my favorite picture me, in my Admiral Ackbar costume.    That is me with Tim Rose,  Admiral Ackbar himself.   I had the opportunity to meet him last year at Fanboy Expo in Knoxville.


Hope you enjoy some of my fangirl arts and crafts.

Some flea market finds: Psycho the Go-Bot, Harley Quinn, and Ecto1

Yesterday, the weather was beautiful thankfully!  After a week of freezing temps and 25 mph wind, it was time for Spring to finally show up.   Of course, everybody had the same idea to head out to the flea market.

Since we had to park in the back, that gave us the opportunity to fortify ourselves with bag of freshly made cinnamon and sugar mini doughnuts as we walked around.     The only item I really had on my list to purchase was a new cell phone case.   Yeah, I know I am cheap like that.  But it gives my phone the opportunity to have a wardrobe.

So we are walking through the rows and I quickly notice that the day was most likely going to be a dud. When you don't see any naked Barbies or the ubiquitous box of Happy Meal toys, you know the pickings are slim.

I did purchase a couple of items from one of the regular dealers.   I know that in the past I have talked a lot of crap about Go-Bots.  They have gotten stereotyped as the Transformers' K-Mart cousins.   Well, they still are.  They weren't the cool kids in the Transformer world, but where was this guy?    Future Machine, aka "Psycho" was introduced into the Go-Bot line.   Thanks to Let's Anime, I learned a little  more about the origin of this bot.     It was originally call "Psychoroid" the passenger vehicle of  the space adventurer Cobra and his sexy sidekick robot companion.    That's who the little people in cockpit are supposed to be.
In car mode, it is a sleek futuristic car.  You would think it would be a little more elegant in robot
mode, but it is really kind of clunky.    

All I know is that I need a bigger shelf for my Transformer tribe.  I started out with 2 Transformers that were mine as a kid, and thanks to the Goodwill and now the flea market, I am currently at 17 and counting since January.



My newest collection, which, well.... kind of started this week.... is the Hot Wheels.   I mean secretly, I have always secretly loved Hot Wheels.  But now they are speaking my language by making more famous movie and TV cars.   I am in love with them!  My little collection has jump from one General Lee that was mine as a kid to 6!    Friday night, I found the Mystery Machine at Walmart.   I debated for about 5 minutes on if I was going to open it.   My husband is of the mind that stuff should stay on card.  But for me, I am a tactile person.  I want to touch and feel and play with these wonderful little bits of awesomeness.    Then Saturday at the flea market, I found the Ecto 1, seen here with my General Lee.   I also have several  versions of the Batmobile still on card, that I am going to open and display with these.   Now I have a short list of Hot Wheels that I am looking for.



The last item I picked up makes my fangirl heart skip a beat.  I got a loose Batman: Animated Series Harley Quinn!!  The best part is that she is practically complete.  She is missing her gun, but still has her punching glove.   As an added bonus, Harley came with this little black cat, which goes to the animated Catwoman!!  I love finding those impossible small parts that make my loose figures just a little more complete.

These few little items made my day.

Thrift Find- Zbots and Warriors of Virtue

The bags of fun have been lacking, which comes with the territory.   I mean I can't expect gold or at least gold to me every time I walk in the door.   My husband says I am a collector of misfit toys. And, well... I guess it is true.  Like take Yun for example.  I knew I had to have him.    At first look, it is a weird looking kangaroo dressed for some kung fu action.   Ultimately that is what it is.  Thankfully, Google can make sense out of searches for "weird kung fu kangaroos".

 I was able to find out that it came from a 1997 movie called Warriors of Virtue.   Have you seen the movie?                                                                I know I had never seen the movie.  Well, that is until I watched it on Youtube.  I found it to be cheesy but watchable.

According to IMDB,  the synopsis for the movie is:
A young man, Ryan, suffering from a disability, wishes to join the other kids from his schools football team. During an initiation rite, Ryan is swept away through a whirlpool to the land of Tao. There he is hunted by the evil Lord Komodo, who desires the boy as a key to enter the real world. Ryan is rescued by the protectors of Tao, five humanoid kangaroos, each embued with the five elements and virtues. Ryan learns his valuable lesson while saving the land of Tao.

Ok, so back to the figure.  I think Yun has an interesting looking face.  For that reason, he has found a new home.    FigureRealm   has a virtual checklist, showing 16 figures in the line.  Now I am curious about them all.    

It is no secret that I have a thing for robots.  I have a real soft spot for R2-D2s and Transformers.   The little Zbots from  the same bag were a happy addition to my robot collection.   Made by Micro Machines in the early 90s, Zbots came in two types: the Zbots  and the villainous Voids.   

Little figures like these rule the world.  They are great for so many reasons.   I love the colors and they have interesting body shapes.  These are all good guys, because they all have a  Z  on somewhere on their chest.  

I need a bigger shelf for my robots, because there is always room for one more.   

Monster High Update- Werecat Fearleading 3 pk and Scaris dolls

Today was a great day for Monster High hunting.   I was able to pick up the Werecat Fearleading 3 pk which is a Toys R Us exclusive.   They also had a special offer going this week.  If you spend $40 on Monster High products you got a free Monster High throw blanket .  It is a $17 blanket, the fearleading pack is $43, so my daughter will love the new blanket.








I also picked up the last of the Scaris dolls.   I had not been in a rush to pick up the budget dolls.  The only one that I had really been looking for was, of course, Deuce.   Which I was able to pick up another one, giving me 3 Deuces.  I will be saving those for later trades.   Walmart had them marked down to $10 this week, so I thought now would be a good time to pick them up.  I have updated my Monster High Collection post, so you can check out the other items in my Monster High Collection.

Thrift Find- 1995 Hallmark Sweet Valentine Barbie

The bags of fun, haven't been all that fun lately at my favorite Goodwill store.    I mean last week, they had a bag of used pencils with a couple of  Happy Meal toys thrown in for good measure.   So, when we saw a few Barbies and some Bratz dolls  in the bags this week, it was worth taking a look at.   The Bratz had fallen victim to bad hair cuts, which was ok with me.  Not really a fan of those dolls, but the Barbies were worth taking a looking at.

The best of the Barbies was this one.   She is a 1995 Hallmark Sweet Valentine Barbie.  

The dress is in overall good shape. There is a little damage to the sheer material in the front panel.    She still has her original necklace.   The hair style needs a little work, but it isn't terrible.   I think I will be able to brush it out and then boil perm it back to its original styling.

 Like most thrift store Barbies, this beauty is barefoot. But, it should be easy enough to pick up a pair of pink heels.

In the bag with this doll were some other fashion doll accessory pieces which I plan on trading off.

Total: $2.25

Wordless Wednesday- Beastman's Beauty Parlor

Thrift Find- Books, books, and more books.

My favorite Goodwill has officially entered the Lanard zone.   I know I have complained about this before, but good lord! it has been a dry spell, except for the books.    The books have been really good lately.   We picked up 2 first edition Harry Potter books, 3 Goosebump paperbacks,  these 2 big 80s treasures and an old school reading book from 1966.  


I thought I would share these fun retro throwbacks!   I loved watching Alf when I was a kid.  I don't remember any story books like this one though.  The illustrations aren't that great, but it is a typical Alf adventure.
Gremlins 2 was a laughable sequel to the original Gremlins.  Still, Gizmo is freaking awesome!!   The mutant gremlins were entertaining.  

I didn't take pictures of all the books that I have picked up the last 2 weeks.    I was really excited to pick up a few Goosebump books.   My son has really fallen in  love with those books.    I never read them as a kid.   I guess at the point they were popular, I was too old for them.  

I keep hoping some decent toys will show up soon.  

Monster High Collection update: Scaris 2 pk found today!!

I had some free time this morning, so I was able to check out the local Toys R Us.    Since it was early in the morning, I was able to get there just as they were stocking.   I kind of hit the jackpot.    Toys R Us has been having a great sale on Monster High (BOGO 50% off).   With the 2 pk. being 29.99, I was  able to get the second set for $15.    I am not sure what I will do with the second set.  I might just open them.

I really love this set of dolls.   It is a toss up as to which one is the prettiest!   I love Lagoona's hair clip and shoes.    The Cleo is really striking.   I am so glad that they are giving her a little more attention.   I think this Cleo and the Picture Day Cleo  are 2 of the best styled Cleos.

It was also a great day because I went for so long without finding a Scaris Deuce and now I am finding him on a regular basis.  I picked up another one this morning.   I think the extra guys will become trade fodder in the near future.

I have updated my Monster High Collection post.   You can read more about my Monster High dolls there.

Monster High Collection Update- Roller Maze Clawdeen

I was in Target this morning picking up a few items for my children   Of course my usual trek around Target includes a stop on the Monster High isle
 Lately, they haven't had much of anything new.  Target  must have stocked the new RM dolls this morning          I picked up the single RM Clawdeen since I got the K-Mart Roller Maze 2pk that already had Abbey.  But, both were on the shelf.


Just a few thoughts about the doll.   I think this is one of the prettiest Clawdeens to come out in a long time.   I love the green and purple hair on her.

  I have updated my Monster High collection  post.   You can check out all of my other MH dolls.

Found Scaris Deuce in the wilds of Walmart, FINALLY!!

A couple of weeks ago, I updated my Monster High collection with the Scaris Deuce.  I had bought him from a friend in Chicago.    I just had not been able to find him anywhere in my local stores.    Well, tonight we were in Walmart picking up a few items for the weekend.   So naturally, we always check to see if they have anything new in the toy department.  

The stock workers were starting to bring out the pallets of stock.   It was a small amount for the toy department.  There was one lone Mattel box sitting on the pallet.  Usually, the boxes will say what is inside, but this box was different.  It had just a few shipping like labels.   We almost passed it by.  But, we got to looking at the label, it said MH Scaris.    WOO HOOO !!  JACKPOT!    This Deuce is box fresh.   Finally!! We got one in the wild!!   score for the toy safari!

The Dark Path of My Little Ponies - Collection Picture Post

I am a child of the 80's and I remember when the My Little Ponies came out.  I never cared for them.  Matter of fact, I really hated them.  I wasn't that horse crazy girl who begged for a pony every time my birthday came around.    My biggest question about them has always been, what exactly is the purpose of a my little pony?

Well recently, we got some ponies from the bags o' fun at the Goodwill.  A few days later,  we picked up some more at the flea market.  The plan was to clean up and style the ponies hair.   We would then list the ponies in one of the doll groups I belong to for sale or trade.  Two things happened:   A.) my little girl decided that she didn't want to sell or trade them.   and
B. )  I found that the simple act of brushing their hair is relaxing.  I guess it is their simplicity that has help keep this toy line thriving.  I have been sucked in by their cuteness!  The ponies have sort of mesmerized me.   I find myself becoming more interested in the line as I research and identify the ponies we have.  In researching the ponies, I have really learned a lot about the toys. Some of the ponies we picked up are considered hard to find.   I never realized how many years the pony line has run and all of the types of ponies.

I am kind of like my daughter and finding that I don't really want to sell them.   Secretly, every time I walk in a Goodwill, I hope to find at least one.     Just yesterday, we came home with a custom bag o' fun full of nothing but ponies.( Yes, I re-pack the bags o' fun more to my personal liking.)  Surprisingly, we have yet to get any duplicate ponies.   We have only been collecting MLPs for about a month and half now.  And, well they have grown on me, especially the generation 1 ponies.  The ones I so hated in my childhood.

Generation 1  refers to ponies made between the years of 1983-1992.

The first pony in our collection is a G1 Blosson.    Blossom is one of the original 6 ponies.   This Blossom was in rough shape when we got her.  After a good soak and a lot of scrubbing, I finally got her cleaned.   There is some damage around the tail area.  But after  a good comb out, I think she looks pretty good for a well loved 30 year  old toy.

The next few G1 ponies were in even worse shape compared to Blossom.   These poor little ponies fell victim to bad bang trims and some bad custom makeup.



Parasol was a mail order rainbow pony from 1982-83.   She is a soft pink color with glittery umbrellas on her back haunches.  Overall, she cleaned up well.  There is still a few ink marks on her. She lost the first 5 strands of mane.  Hopefully, I can find some hair to match and re-root those few strands.

Sunbeam is a G1 unicorn.  It is pale blue with white and a streak of yellow hair.  It has a glittery sun for a cutie mark.   This one cleaned up rather well.  No ink marks or cut hair.

Melody is a pegasus pony with glittery musical notes.   This one had a big letter H written on her and took  a lot of work to clean.   Thankfully, she has all of her hair.














Sealight the Sea Pony  The Sea Ponies, I get the idea.  But, they are just really strange looking.   They are not free standing unless you have their display shell.   I am not sure if they were supposed to be some sort of bath toy.  There really isn't any other way to play with them.

 Sealight is from 1982 and would have a large green sea shell.

Peach Blossom and Honeysuckle are Flutter Ponies.    Sadly, though they no longer have their wings.   These ponies are G1, year 4 dated 1986 Hasbro.

Peach Blossom is in good condition but Honeysuckle has some damage on her leg and it looks like she got zebra striped with a pink highlighter.  Her hair is also really super frizzy. I am still working to tame her mane.

Bunnyhop is a Precious Pocket Pony (G1).  This one is really cute. The cutie mark is a wand.  Attached to the string is a little pink rabbit that comes out of the hat.

The picture doesn't do this one justice.  It's hair is much nicer looking now.  It had just gotten a long bath and a scrub with a magic eraser. 

This is Pretty Puff (G1).  She is from the Secret Surprise line.   I was really excited to find this one complete.  The saddle is the lid for a secret compartment.

This one was also in really good shape.  It is dated 1990 Hasbro.

This is Pretty Beat (G1) from the Rockin Beat Pony line.  Her retro colors really date her.  The colors kind of remind me of those old Caboodle make-up carriers.   This one is complete with its guitar hair brush.

It is dated Hasbro 1990.




That is all of the Generation 1 ponies that we have found  so far.   The rest of the ponies pictured are Generation 3.



The first G3 is a Toys R Us Birthday Flower Pony, September Aster.   This one is a rare exception.  This one my daughter actually got as a prize from a little festival we went to.  Come to find out it is one of the harder to find ponies.












This is Port-o-bella  which comes from a K-Mart exclusive 2 pk.

The other ponies in our growing collection are common, but still they are growing on me.

We have Twirlerina,  a Pegasus pony with a bow cutie mark.

Extra long hair Dibble-Dabble is one of the Jewel Ponies.   Her hair was a hot mess and took a lot of work to get brushed out.

Her cutie mark is a paint pallet with a gem stone in the center.

This one is Citrus Sweetie.  In researching, I found out that this one is supposed to be scented.   It still has a little bit of scent but it is very faint.

This one is Star Beam.   There are 2 versions of this particular pony.   There is a regular release and a discount store release.  This is the regular release.  The difference in the 2 is the fancy hoof.











Snow'el is a Target exclusive pony.   Interestingly,  there is a pegasus pony with the same name and another pony with named Mittens with the same cutie mark.









                             

                  Strawberry Reef

Tea Lily is a baby pony.   She appears in 3 MLP sets.   One is an Avon exclusive, another is a JC Penney exclusive set.

The last set is a discount chain 3 pack.      In that set, you got Tea Lily, Sweetberry (pictured with Tea Lily) and Peach Surprise.

This is the first time that I have actually found ponies that go together in the same place.

Fairy Fun was released as a Halloween pony.    She should have a set of fairy wings that would complete her.

Soda Float is supposed to be scented like root beer.   This is the second pony in our collection that at one time was scented.

This is one of the many versions of Pinkie Pie.   This particular one has Pinkie Pie and some balloons on the leg.









Not Pictured:
Pink SunSparkle-  Is a baby pony that when released came out with the Celebration Castle.   She was also included in an exclusive Target 3 pack.
We also have Bunches of Fun.  She is another pink pony with a bouquet of flowers on her back haunches.   She is currently undergoing restoration.   She got painted with either blue glitter paint or glitter glue.   It is taking a little bit more work then I expected to get her in good condition.

Like my Monster High collection post, I will update this post as we add more ponies to our collection.   For now, I don't think the ponies will be going up for sell or trade.  I see us adding more to our collection soon.