bubbledog blog

pac-man fever

When I was a kid, I loved Pac-Man.  I loved to play the video game, I loved to collect the merchandise, and I even loved the terrible cartoon.  I was so obsessed, that at one point, I even started a club for me, my brothers, and the girl next door.

The jewel of my childhood Pac-Man collection was a set of trading card stickers that were made by Fleer.  I had managed to buy enough packs of stickers to get 52 of the 54 stickers in the set. 

Each of these packs came with three sticker cards, three rub-off games (that were awesome) and a stick of gum.  I remember playing the rub-off game with my cousin and her friends challenging each other for our extra cards and gum. 

I still have my Pac-Man cards and I was just able to find the last two cards about three years ago - thanks Ebay!   You can check out scans of the full set here. 

I'm going to try and start regularly adding some pics and scans of my 80's treasures here on my blog, so check back soon!

wind it up

 

Lately, I have really been into trying to find these old Tomy wind-up animals.  These were called Pocket Pets and were made in 1977 (that's the date stamped on mine anyway).  I don't know how many different animals exist, but I think there are a lot more than the few I have in the picture above.  I have been trying to replace many of my wind-ups because a lot of them no longer posess the ability to "wind up."

Here is scan of the back of the packaging for one of these little critters.  Don't work too hard to see the description of each animal... it isn't worth the eye strain.  There are little gems like, "Toucan: He gets his nose into everything." and "Squirrel: The way he jumps around, you'll think he's nuts."  Oh yes, it is very pleasing to see that someone would be worse than me at writing copy.   

ebay find of the year

I was so excited to see these Fleer Smellies show up on ebay last week.  I have never seen them before and I am happy to add them to my ever growing collection of vintage scratch and sniff stickers.  These Smellies were made in 1969 - a bit before the 80's sticker craze that my collection centers around, but I am willing to make an exception. 

Each pack includes a strip of four different rectangular stickers.  These stickers can then be stuck on one of the four cards included in the pack.  When looking at the four stickers I received in my pack, it's a little hard to figure out which card goes with which sticker....

I have made the official declaration that this is one of my favorite finds of the year! The only downfall is that I have never seen them before and I will probably rarely find them again in the future... making it difficult to "COLLECT ALL 80 Smellies STICKERS" as the back of the package is instructing me to do!

flea market finds

Yet another Sunday morning was spent melting in the sun while trudging along through the Golden Nugget Flea Market in Lambertville.  Today it was worth it because it was a fruitful venture and many things (none needed) were purchased.

First up are these Scandanavian Airlines System (SAS) flight menus shown on left.  They each measure about seven inches tall by ten inches wide and their last adventure is going to be the journey from inflight menu to framed wall art for my home.

Next up, in the order of cool-ness, is a molded white fiberglass tulip chair.  It is going to take over as my sewing chair for the time being and we'll see how that works out.  It needs a little bit of touch up work on the base and it doesn't have that sweet molded base that blends smoothly up into the seat - that being said, I'm happy with it for the price I paid.

Last, but not least, is the random assortment of tchotchkes that I end up accumulating almost every time I leave my home...  a sevenites cookie jar, a vintage animal glass (from Penn Maid sour cream), a Peppermint Patti pvc figurine (supposed to be holding something, but that part is missing), and this sixties-looking wooden girl with a flower hat.  See, I needed every one of those things, right?

Total damage for the day... $31.

garmisch

I'm not quite sure where (or what) "Garmisch" is, but I assume from this music box that it is German.  I recently came across this little gem while unpacking one of my many moving boxes.  I found it at a yard sale a few years back and scored it for $1.  There are three parts: the base and two little polka danicin' cuties.  I originally bought it out of guilt because when I was looking at it, I knocked it over and broke off the little woman's head (though she's all glued up now and doing just fine).   

I love this music box though.  You place the little figurines on top of the box.  When you crank it up, the music starts and the guy and the girl dance around each other spinning around the perimeter of the box while each twirl individually in place at the same time.  It is some kind of magnetic brilliance that is a sight to be seen... one of those cheesy things that is just amazing to behold!

Jealous?

look at me booty

Well, flea market and garage sale season is officially here.  Today, the weather was absolutely beautiful and it was the perfect day for roaming a flea market.  The Golden Nugget Flea Market in Lambertville, NJ is an awesome flea market with tons of cool vintage items and lots and lots of antiques.  If you are shopping for cheap knock-off purses and "designer" colognes, this is not the flea market for you!  I would consider today's trip to be successful... some of my new found treasures include: vintage fabrics, a miny Muppet Baby Ralph figurine, some vintage wallpaper border rolls,  and an old LIFE magazine with a Swansons TV Dinner ad that is being framed and displayed prominently on the wall.

Today's item that earns an honorable mention would be The Knox Gelatine Cookbook.  I think this may have actually been secretly published by Pepto Bismol. With recipes like Crab Louis En Blox, Salmon & Grape Loaf, and the Up-To-Date Waldorf Salad (of course, completely immersed in gelatin), only a manufacture of stomach medicine could benefit.  I get a bit queasy just looking at the pictures.  Mmmmmm....

Though the Knox book will be an interesting conversation piece, my first place favorite item of the day is this set of three little Christmas elves.  They are super cute and I just find myself wanting to put them places and then observe how adorable they are!   Love them!

making the cut

There hasn't been too much crafting going on lately because I just bought a new house.  Well, not a "new" house, but a "newer" one than the house I currently own.  I'm very excited about living in the new place, but the reality and horror of going through everything I own, packing, and moving is starting to set in.  I know many things that I thought I could never part with are going to suddenly become garbage fodder in order to save time packing.  Two things that will definitely be moved in their entirety are my crafting supplies and my collectibles.  I figure I will start posting pics of some of my collectible treasures as I pack them up. 

I'll start with some of my robot guys... these three little wind-ups were made by Tomy in 1978.  I think just about everyone who is in their early to mid 30's probably had one of these at some point.  I have to buy them whenever I see them for sale somewhere.  Tomy actually made a ton of wind-ups in the seventies and I've collected many... especially their wind up animals.  When I come across them, I'll photograph them and get some pictures all up in here.