DIY Toy Display Ideas: Showcase Your Treasures with Style and Flair!

Are you a proud toy collector looking for creative ways to show off your cherished treasures? Look no further! We’ve got you covered with some fantastic DIY toy display ideas that will make your collection shine. Let’s get started!

1) Floating Shelves

Floating shelves are a sleek and modern way to display your toys while keeping them safely out of reach. Simply install some shelves at different heights, then arrange your toys by color, size, or theme. This will create a stunning visual effect that’s sure to impress your guests.

2) Shadow Boxes

For a more dramatic display, consider using shadow boxes. These enclosed frames allow you to showcase your toys in a museum-like setting, protecting them from dust and damage. You can even add a personal touch by creating custom backdrops or including small props to bring your toy scene to life.

3) Custom Built-In Cabinets

If you’re handy with tools or have access to a skilled carpenter, consider designing custom built-in cabinets to house your collection.

These cabinets can be tailored to fit your space and accommodate various toy sizes. Here are a few ideas:

Include glass doors to keep your toys visible yet protected.
Add interior lighting to highlight your toys and create a striking display.
Incorporate adjustable shelves to accommodate different toy heights and allow for easy rearranging.

4) Repurposed Furniture

Vintage or thrifted furniture can be a budget-friendly way to create unique toy displays. Look for pieces like old bookcases, dressers, or china cabinets that can be transformed with a fresh coat of paint and some creative staging.

5) Magnetic Boards

For smaller toys or action figures, magnetic boards can be a fun and interactive display solution. Simply attach magnets to the back of your toys and arrange them on a magnetic board. This makes it easy to change up your display whenever inspiration strikes!

6) Themed Dioramas

Get creative by crafting themed dioramas to showcase your toys in action. For example, build a miniature cityscape for your superhero figures or a whimsical forest for your fairy tale characters. You can use materials like foam core, cardboard, or craft supplies to bring your vision to life.

7) Hanging Displays

Make use of vertical space by creating hanging displays for lightweight toys. You can use fishing line, ribbon, or clear plastic cords to suspend toys from the ceiling, creating a floating effect. Just be sure to secure them safely to avoid any accidents!

8) Rotating Displays

If you have a large collection and limited space, consider rotating your displays periodically. This will keep your collection fresh and give each toy its moment in the spotlight. You can even create themed displays based on seasons, holidays, or special events.

9) Display Cases

For fragile or rare toys, display cases can provide the ultimate protection. Look for cases with built-in lighting and adjustable shelves to create a stunning focal point in your home.

10) Mix It Up!

Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment with different display methods to find what works best for your collection. Mix and match these ideas to create a dynamic and engaging showcase that reflects your unique style and personality.

In conclusion, displaying your toy collection should be as fun and creative as the toys themselves. With these DIY display ideas, you’ll be well on your way to transforming your home into a toy collector’s paradise. Happy displaying!

All About Doll Collecting

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!

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!

The Super Fun Guide to Comic Book Collecting

Whether you’re a lifelong fan of caped crusaders and webslingers or just getting started in the world of comics, collecting these classic stories and characters can be an incredibly rewarding hobby. Comic books allow us to escape into fantastic worlds and go on thrilling adventures with our favorite heroes.

Starting and curating your own comic book collection is easier than you might think. Here are some helpful tips to get you going on this super fun hobby:

Start with what you love. Are you a Marvel fanboy or fangirl? Can’t get enough of Batman and DC titles? Build your initial collection around your most beloved characters and series. It helps when you’re passionate about what you’re collecting.
Go for quality over quantity. Comics in pristine or near-mint condition will always hold their value better. Be selective and focus on titles that are important to you rather than grabbing up every comic you can find.
Decide if you want to collect runs or key issues. Some collectors try to get full runs of certain titles or characters. Others focus on landmark “key” issues like first appearances and origin stories. Figure out your preference as that will inform what you look for.
Find a local comic shop you like. Having a go-to shop you’re comfortable with makes collecting much easier. The owner and staff can get to know you and help you find titles you’ll love. Many shops also have back issue sections rich for discovering new books.
Check out comic cons and shows. These events (like Comic-con or Fanaticcon) allow you to browse through a huge selection of vendors and sellers. You can often find rare issues as well as excellent backstock condition comics.
Store your collection properly. Invest in protective sleeves, boards, and boxes. You can purchase these online or in your local comic book shops. Remember, it’s an investment. Keep your books away from moisture, sunlight, and anything that could damage them. Handle them carefully.
Catalog and document your collection. Use an app or database to keep track of what you own. Note important details like publishers, issue numbers, condition, etc. This will help you follow and value your collection.
Enjoy the hunt! Seek out online sellers, garage sales, thrift shops and more to uncover hidden gem issues. The thrill of finding a coveted book for your collection is part of the fun.

Collecting comics is a wonderful hobby full of nostalgia, adventure, and excitement.

Whether you treasure Marvel’s mighty heroes or DC’s iconic superheroes, let your passion guide you as you build your perfect comic book collection. Excelsior!

What to bring to an event (besides your smile)

We will be attending Fanaticcon 4 (Ottawa) and Ottawa Comiccon is happening in September plus we also have the Toys, Dolls and Teddys show in October, so many events I don’t know if we can make them all but we will try!

All these events got me thinking about something I could share with our readers, people like us who either participate or attend their favourite collectors events; how to prepare for a fun time and avoid unnecessary stress.

Going to events is always exciting but they can also be costly and overwhelming if you just walk in blindfolded. There are so many people to see and things to look at or do, where do we start?

First off, get tickets early. Don’t wait until the day of the event. Even if tickets are available at the door you don’t want to stand in line and have to wait. Plus, sometimes advance tickets come with perks and a discount.

Dress appropriately, unless you’re in costume. It can get pretty hot even in a well ventilated or laid out area. Lots of bodies in one space heats things up. Luckily, most events have wristbands or stamps or ticket stubs of some kind which allow attendees to go out for fresh air, grab a beverage or whatever and come back to enjoy the rest of the show. Also, wear comfy shoes because you will walk, a lot.

Charge your phone the night before (or if it’s an evening event charge it during the day beforehand) and bring your charger in your car. I once attended an event and had my phone die during a really awesome moment I attempted and failed to capture on video because SOMEONE (me) didn’t think to charge their phone before the event. Don’t do what I did. Don’t miss the moment.

Bring drinks and snacks in a cooler. If the event allows you to leave and come back, you’ll already have some things to munch on from the comfort of your cooler and save on spending at a cafeteria or worse have nothing if the venue doesn’t have any food sources.

Bring a bag. Reusable shopping bags can be found anywhere, usually we keep them in the trunk of our vehicle since you prettymuch need them wherever you shop. This goes for conventions too! You don’t want to walk around with your arms full of goodies (trust me it’s easy to get carried away with buying the things). A simple reusable shopping bag can come in very handy.

If you carry a purse or wallet, bring the bare minimum. I suggest paying cash for any items just to avoid any issues with disloyal currency and maybe theft at a bigger venue with more people. Carrying a heavy wallet or purse is just annoying imo.

Bring your best attitude and have fun! Take your time to look around(maybe you’ll see something and take a trip down memory lane), don’t be shy to talk to the vendors and artists, cosplayers love when you admire their costumes. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything, you can still have a full and fun day at an event if you prepare.

Have any tips to add? Leave a comment below this post!

Fanaticcon 4 This Summer!

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!

What is Fanaticcon?

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!

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

Find all the info on the Fanaticcon Ottawa Facebook Page

This will be our 3rd Fanaticcon and we are looking forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new geeks and nerds like us!

‘80s Nostalgia: Calico Critters!

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.

Which CC family is your favourite?

Blast from the past: New Kids On The Block Jordan Knight Fashion Doll

“Oh oh oh oh oh, hangin’ tough!” What young girl in the late 1980’s to early 1990’s was not dreaming of one of the hottest not bands in the world at the time, New Kids On The Block. These guys blew up out of nowhere and they’re faces were everywhere.

The NKOTB phenomenon

Aside from the usual music swag like cassette tapes and posters, you could get a New Kids On The Block cassette tape player, microphone, outfits, hair accessories, keychains, hats, whatever else you can think of and even fashion dolls.

Nine Year Old Me

Nine year old me was recently thrilled when Mr Toybox came home with one of my favourite pop stars of his time: Jordan Knight from New Kids on the Block. I actually had the opportunity to party with and also meet him with a group of other ladies back in 2011 during a media conference in Toronto. He’s a pretty cool dude.

These NKOTB fashion dolls were all the rage. They actually had several collections, this one being called “Hanging Loose” which all the dolls are dressed in “street clothes” where the other collection is in concert and the guys wear fancier concert costumes.

About the doll:

Jordan Knight “Hangin’ Loose” Fashion Doll is dressed in a red and black vest over a sleeveless black shirt, he’s wearing black pants, red socks and black loafers. He also has what’s called a “rat tail”. It’s what people thought was “the cool version of a mullet”. Basically cut neat and tidy in the front but turn around and he’s got a kick ass long tiny braid!

Other than that it’s a basic doll but for $13.99 at Walmart back in the day (the original sticker is still on his box!) you couldn’t go wrong! I had the entire “Hanging Loose” fashion dolls collection and a concert version of Jordan and Joe!

I would love to re-collect them all but like any celebrity fashion doll they are overpriced most of the time and hard to find. We got lucky and found this guy on the Facebook local marketplace. I honestly don’t think the seller knew what they had with the price we paid for him, practically a steal! You never know what you’ll get when you shop local!

Happy hunting!

Star Wars: The Mandalorian Collection

One of our favourite shows produced by Disney is the new Star Wars: The Mandalorian starring Pedro Pascal as the main character.

{Spoilers ahead!}

If you haven’t seen or heard about this show, you must come out from under the rock you’ve been hiding and join us when Season 3 hits Disney+ sometime soon we hope.

So far, through the first two seasons we’ve watched our hero Din DJarin battle his way through a quest to protect a special cargo and bring him back where he belongs. This little cargo being the ever popular “Baby Yoda” or as we now know him, Grogu.

Of course we jumped onto the Mandalorian bandwagon and got our hands on some of the best collectible toys that were available at the time. Oh I remember the frenzy when the show first aired and everybody who’s anybody wanted a Grogu for the upcoming holiday season only to find out they’d be delayed due to popularity and the toy makers basically not being prepared for it.

Thankfully waiting paid off and our two biggest brands “Hasbro” and “Mattel” released some really great Mandalorian stuff!

Plush Grogu: one of my first Grogu collectibles. I have always been a Yoda fan so for me, having a new character of the same unknown species 40 years later is really cool!

Talking Grogu Plush: This Grogu is a smaller plush version with a little voice box inside. Press his belly and he makes cute Grogu sounds from the show! He comes with a little soup bowl and frog, if you’re a fan of the show you’ll know what those are for!

Animatronic Grogu: My favourite (and most expensive) Grogu in my collection.

He is just like the Furreal Friends Star Wars Co-Pilot Chewie except: Grogu! He makes sounds and even moves. His eyes blink/close, he raises his hands (using the force), he tilts his head and wiggles his ears, if you lay him down he falls asleep; it does a whole bunch of cute things from the TV show. There were only three left on the shelf when I got it last Christmas! He now lives in our special glass Star Wars display case!

3.75” Mandalorian and Grogu action figure set. We haven’t taken it out of its packaging because its that nice. lots of detail on both Mando and Grogu. Comes with accessories like a little seat for Grogu, for those who like to play with their toys.

We would love it if we could get our hands on the 6” Mando figure but as of late we haven’t been able to. There is so much stuff out there for the Mandalorian from stuffies to action figures and even stuff for kids although I wouldn’t consider this show one for younger kids. It would be fun to collect them all but lack of space, you know.

until next time!