1980’s nostalgia comes to store shelves with a new release of The World of Strawberry Shortcake toys from The Loyal Subjects.
Excited to have added the new 5 1/2” Strawberry Shortcake doll to The Toybox Collection! Scented like strawberry she is dressed in her classic strawberry shortcake dress, apron, hat, leggings and shoes. She has 29 points of articulation, Strawberry Shortcake is fully poseable, elevating the play experience and allowing kids to unleash their creativity.
The doll comes with 10x stickers, and 4x surprise accessories that may include combinations of the iconic comb, strawberry purse, beloved animal friends, cakes and fruit baskets, lunchboxes, and super rare finds too. All packaged in a classic red window-style gift box with 4 punch-out surprise reveal boxes on the back. Her clothes and accessories are also interchangeable between other dolls in this series.
We found this doll at Walmart Canada for under $30. A fun and adorable addition to Mrs Toybox’s doll collection.
‘Tis the season for joy, laughter, secret Santa, and of course, the arduous task of gift searching. If you’ve got a beloved toy collector in your life, don’t sweat it, for Santa’s very own content marketing specialist is here to gift you with ten fantastic Christmas gift ideas.
Pinch of Pixar: This season, add some whimsy to their collection with a limited edition Pixar figurine. These high-quality replicas add a sprinkle of childhood nostalgia to any collection and are a sure-shot hit for every Toy Story, Cars, or WALL-E fanatic.
Masterly Miniatures: If your toy-enthusiast appreciates craftsmanship, miniature architectural models are calling your name. From the intricate towers of Hogwarts to the majestic Titanic, these sets will provide both hobbyist joy and a delightful display piece.
LEGO Lovers’ Delight: The iconic plastic bricks aren’t just for kids. The recent LEGO releases cater to adult collectors, including intricate replicas of famous city skylines. And if they’re Star Wars fans? The Millennium Falcon set will make their Christmas truly out of this world!
A Piece of Pop: Funko Pop’s charming figurines are a great pick for a modern collector. With a vast range to choose from, including iconic characters from movies, TV series, and comic books, you’d be hard-pressed not to find a figurine that tickles their fandom!
Tactile Tinkerer: 3D wooden puzzle models like the UGears collection are fantastic for a hands-on collector. The mix of building, artistry, and mechanics make every piece a memorable keepsake that channels the spirit of childhood in every adult!
Action Figure Fervour: An action figure of their favorite superhero or anime character is a timeless gift. With beautifully detailed designs and interchangeable accessories, these figures will help your collector recreate epic battle scenes from their favorite franchises!
Modeling Magic: Airfix model kits offer an exciting journey from a box of plastic components to an astonishingly authentic display piece. A Spitfire or a Lamborghini, perhaps?
Time-Honoured Trains: For a more traditional touch, consider a vintage-inspired model train set. With an old-world charm, these sets delicately blur the line between toy and treasure, making it an excellent pick for those who cherish history and artistry.
Box of Board Games: A deluxe version of a classic board game like chess, scrabble, or monopoly could be a fantastic pick for those collectors who love a bit of social interaction with their collecting!
Gift Cards for Collectors: Undeniably, choosing for a collector can be strenuous. For a no-fail option, a gift card to their favorite toy store or an online marketplace is a great choice. It allows them to hunt down that elusive piece they’ve been stalking for months!
With these gifting gems, we guarantee your presents will be serving up some happy, toy-filled memories these holidays! Remember, elves, in the world of adult toy collecting, it’s not just the thought that counts, it’s also the fun of unwrapping a gift that adds a quirky, enjoyable chapter to their unique collecting journey.
Don’t forget: while you’re shopping for your toy collecting loved one, why not pick up something extra and drop it off at your local malls toy drive for kids in need? ‘Tis the season to give!
So, let’s step into Santa’s boots, tip-toe down the chimney, and deliver that festive joy, one perfect gift at a time. Merry (toy-filled) Christmas!
Dolls have captured the hearts of children and adults alike for centuries. From antique bisque dolls to the latest fashion dolls, collecting these little works of art is a fun hobby that allows you to surround yourself with beauty, revisit childhood memories, and connect with other enthusiasts.
Mrs. Toybox has been collecting different dolls over the years from fashion Barbie’s to porcelain dollhouse dolls and articulate ball jointed princess dolls! Her collection continues to grow and it’s one of her favourite hobbies today!
Mrs Toybox BJD collection
If you’re thinking about starting your own doll collection, here are some tips to help you get started.
Choose a Focus
With so many types of dolls out there, it helps to pick a particular kind to collect. Do you love the artistry of porcelain dolls? Are you nostalgic for the Barbie dolls of your childhood? Do the big eyes and colorful fashions of Bratz dolls appeal to you? Decide on a focus before you start buying, as this will help build a cohesive collection.
Start Slowly
It’s easy to get carried away when you discover all the dolls out there you’d love to own. But collecting takes time and budgeting. Start small with just a few special pieces, like a doll from your childhood or one that speaks to your interests. Add to your collection gradually so you can really treasure each new addition.
Display with Care
One of the joys of collecting dolls is creating lovely displays so you can fully appreciate each one. Choose an area with indirect sunlight and minimal humidity to avoid damage. Glass cabinets are ideal for protecting antique bisque or porcelain dolls. For vinyl fashion dolls, open shelving works well. Elevate dolls away from dust and arrange them attractively.
Join Other Enthusiasts
Connecting with fellow doll lovers adds so much fun to this hobby. You can get advice, share finds, and just enjoy talking dolls! Check for local doll clubs in your area that meet for events and shows. Online groups like ones on Facebook are ideal for connecting with collectors in your local area.
2023 Barbie Movie Barbie and Ken are her in box treasures!
From selecting that first special doll to creating dazzling displays, doll collecting is a rewarding hobby.
Follow these tips and you’ll be well on your way to starting your own fabulous collection. What doll will you add next? The possibilities are endless!
This was our third time attending this local comic, game and toy convention. It’s always great to see how hard everyone worked and how it all came together. It was great to get out and mingle with some familiar face and meet some new ones.
We did our rounds and checked out all the amazing vendors. We brought our two youngest kids this year. It was fun and both of them (plus the Mr.) left very happy shoppers having found some treasured comics and must have video games.
I think the highlight for all of us this year (aside from going to begin with) were the cosplayers walking around. Incredible jobs done on their costumes and being in character just put the cherry on top. They’re always also so friendly and welcoming to take a picture! We ran into a Jawa, Darth Maul, and we also saw the capital ghostbusters among many other characters. So fun!
Thanks to the team at Fanaticcon for hosting us! We had a great time! A day well spent! Stay tuned for future announcements about Fanaticcon 2024!
It’s that time of year again folks, when Mr and Mrs Toybox start getting hyped up for some summer collecting and also summer events happening in our local city!
This summer, geeks and nerds alike will be gathering in Ottawa, Ontario for our favourite local event: Fanaticcon 4!
Fanaticcon is described as a fan-driven convention for nostalgic toys, collectors items, games, art, cosplayers and more! It’s a day to get together and celebrate all things geeky with other enthusiasts like you!
What happens at Fanaticcon?
Vendors
Fanaticcon will have over 33 vendor booths to check out featuring some of the Ottawa areas finest nostalgic toys and games vendors, collectibles, artists and much more. There are also games and prizes throughout the day. Make sure to stop at Flacs Collectibles and Kaboom Comics stations!
Flacc’s Collectible’s!
Cosplay
Expect to see the unexpected! Fanaticcon attendees have amazing cosplay skills and they will definitely be on display once again this year for us to be in aw of! Plus, there’s a contest and you have a chance to win a prize if your costume is judged THE BEST of Fanaticcon!!! So fun!
Celebrity encounters
Come and rub elbows with some spectacular special celebrity guests like Abby Hagyard (You Can’t do that on TV/Carebears), Ken Sangoes (Nightmare on Elmstreet 3), Kurt Lehner (Celebrity Artist) and more including Lance (the loser) from Canadas Worst Driver 6 for pics, chats and fun!
I did actually meet the real Abby but this prop was too fun to pass up!
There is just a whole lot of awesome going on at Fanaticcon, it’s impossible to write it all here in the blog. Seriously, you walk in and it’s like 🤯 – mind blown, where do we start!!!
If you get VIP tickets and come early you get first dibs on all the vendors. Plus, kids under 12 get in free and have the chance to get a surprise bag (first come first served).
How much is it to get in Fanaticcon?
$15 at the door 11am-5pm or $20 early bird VIP 10am-5pm. Kids under 12 are free!
When and where is Fanaticcon?
August 13th 2023 at the Ottawa Conference and Event Center
Back in the good old days of the 1980s, Mrs Toybox had some little tiny animal friends called Calico Critters. They’ve become very popular around the world since then, also going by the name Sylvanian Families.
One hobby we have is searching local online markets for nostalgic toys to both buy and we also post ones to sell that we’ve acquired. One search lead back to childhood with the Calico Critters.
A seller was selling a brand new Hopscotch Bunny family and a CC Livingroom Furniture set. For the price and the memory, we couldn’t resist. Although her first CC family were bears, she thought the bunnies were absolutely adorable.
A few days later on another pointless search we found a CC cottage with furniture! It’s so friggin cute!
There are so many things to collect for the Calico Critters, you could really spend a fortune. Mrs Toybox is stopping with this one small display. She said she has enough with all her dolls and action figures.
Before we begin, we know that Mattel is one of the biggest commercial toy companies in the world and while we would love to post a sponsored content, this isn’t one of them.
Ever since she was a kid, Mrs Toybox has been a huge fan of Barbie. While she didn’t have the Malibu or Dream houses, she did have many different Barbie’s.
I’m sure by now you’ve heard that the movie is coming out this summer, unless you’re living under a rock. So naturally there are or were Barbie dolls available.
All I can say is CA-CHING! Wow. For Barbie’s these go from 39.99$ each to 99.99$ each depending which version you were lucky enough to get. Why am I saying this? Our local toys r us sold out within the first day of release. If you wanted a special 99$ Barbie or Ken you’re SOL my friends. They can now be found overpriced on eBay.
Let’s start with Barbie
Isn’t she pretty? I love her outfit and the accessories she is wearing. The pink is just so her.
I wasn’t going to buy Ken
What blasphemy is this? I wasn’t going to buy Ken? Oh good Lordy lord! No, seriously I did not want to spend $80 on two dolls who’ll stay in their boxes because I want them to stay perfect BUT Mr Toybox pointed out that technically they’re a set. So, here we have Ken. Why he is in beach clothes and not town clothes like Barbie is beyond me. I guess I’ll have to see the movie to find out. He doesn’t come with much special other than his loud clothes and a surf board.
I love that they are both ball jointed dolls and can be fully posed with many points of articulation from the head down to the ankles.
So there you have it folks, the collectors editions Barbie Movie Barbie and Ken. Good luck finding them so close to the movie release! 🙂
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