One of the most collectibles is the Barbie doll. Through the years, not much has changed except for may be the outfits and the accessories truly making it a classic.

Barbie was invented by Ruth Handler and was introduced in a toy fair in New York City. Naturally, it was an instant success.

Just to give you an idea of what Barbie has done, she has had over 80 jobs from being a fashion model to even a president. There was even a version to promote the Olympics that was released to the market in 1975 and 2000.

There are those who say that Barbie was sometimes controversial. One example is when the company decided to make the doll join the army. She served as a medic during Operating Desert Storm in 92 that had to go through the approval of the military to make sure the uniforms were authentic. To promote the quest for space, the company even made the astronaut version with the last in 1994.

So you could say that Barbie has been through a lot for almost 50 years. So how much do collectible Barbie dolls sell for? If you happen to have one that has never been opened, there is a chance you could sell this to someone for $2,500. If you have one of the first that came out especially in 1959, you could get a check worth $10,000.

The next question once you have it is how do you take care of it? Here are some tips that you should follow to keep you collectible Barbie dolls in good condition.

First, never store this in the attic or basement. This is because although they are safe in a box, the temperatures in these places change which could ruin the doll. Also, the Barbie doll should be placed face down because if this is left on their backs, the eyes could fall off after some time.

Since most people want to show this to the world, be sure to dust them regularly. This is because if you don’t do anything about it, you may be forced to wash it and lower its resale value.

Another thing you have to do is keep your collectible Barbie dolls away from other children or pets. If left out in the open, this can be bitten or mangled. In short, destroyed and you wouldn’t want that to happen when you want make a profit later on.

Also, do not keep your collectible Barbie container. If you want to, go ahead but be very careful because the slightest moisture that enters the air tight plastic container may cause mildew or molds to grow. This can be prevented of course by putting a few small holes so moisture will be able to evaporate.

The most important tip is never expose your collectible Barbie doll to direct sunlight or any bright light as this will make the color of her skin and the outfit made.

So how do you sell your Barbie collectible doll? You can attend a convention, offer this to a specialty store or offer this to the highest bidder online. Don’t forget that you can make some money by also selling the accessories since Barbie had a lot to offer like her cars and pets. Just check on the market value of what you have and then look for potential buyers.

Ever enjoyed a movie and want to take something home with you as a souvenir? Well some manufacturers have done that by creating action figures like for Star Wars and Aliens. One timeless classic that also has collectible dolls is the Wizard of Oz.

One company that makes this is the Tonner Doll Company. They have all the characters there like Glinda, the Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion. Each Wizard of Oz collectible doll is sold separately and is priced at $124.99.

Each character is made from hard plastic with jointing elbows, hips, knees, neck and shoulders so you can change their poses. They also have interchangeable clothes so you can put something new for them to wear.

In fact, when they first released in the market, it sold like hot cakes making it difficult for others to see or even buy them. Aside from the main characters, there are also collectible dolls with different outfits set in different locations.

There is a doll that goes out to lunch, off to a party, strolling around Emerald City and or course the basics.

You should take note though that the Wizard of Oz Collectible Dolls does not resemble any of the characters that played in the movie or even in the musical. This is just the artist’s way of portraying these characters.

Two other companies have also made their own versions of the Wizard of Oz. These are namely Madame Alexander and Barbie.

If you compare the prices of all three, Barbie is offering this at the most affordable price of less than $30 a piece. Although they are 4 inches shorter, they are still great collector’s item for anyone who loves to bring a part of the movies home.

Once you start your Wizard of Oz Collectible Doll collection, be sure you know how to take care of them so that this could still be saleable in the future. This should be stored in a climate controlled environment because changes from hot to cold or vice versa could damage the doll. An ideal place to put them would be in a chest of drawers or a trunk.

It is also best to keep them in their original packaging or air tight container so moisture does not develop. If these will be stored, this should be wrapped using acid free tissue. If there are any metals, place this somewhere else as it can discolor the plastic.

Probably the only advantage of hard plastic dolls is that you can clean the body using almost any soap detergent just as long as it does not have any ingredients that include ammonia, bleach or chlorine.

Oxygen 10 can also be used to remove stains that are not close to any painted surfaces by moistening a cotton ball. After letting it dry for a few hours, wash it with water and mild soap then rinse well.

One important thing you must remember about any doll is never get it exposed to sunlight. This will make the fabric fade which will also decrease the value of your collectible.

The Wizard of Oz Collectible Doll is must have for those who have been touched by the movie or the play. It has a different message for each of us and one line that perhaps everyone will remember is that “there is no place like home.”

Dolls are probably something you grew up with as a child. But some are not able to let go and carry this into adulthood. There is nothing wrong with that because you can make a few bucks when you are able to buy discounted collectible dolls from a reputable supplier.

One of the best places to look for discounted collectible dolls is the Internet. This is because there are hundreds of sites available and you can compare and even haggle with some of the owners to get a good price if you buy these in bulk.

In fact, you can even use this medium to sell what you have to potential buyers and use your profits to buy new items.

Before you shop for discounted collectible dolls, you have to know which products are in demand right now. This will assure you that you are able to make a profit from you buy and here are a few.

The number one on the list which has been around for close to 50 years is Barbie. Together with Ken and the accessories that this girl has, you can be sure that people who played with these years ago would love to own them again.

Another favorite is Previous Moments that was released in to the market in the 1970’s. From simple drawings, their products diversified which soon included miniature collectible dolls. You can’t play with them or change their clothes but they are nice to have as décor for any room.

If you are into Charlie Brown, then perhaps you should get the collectible dolls by Madame Alexander. Since 1923, this company has been dolls of all shapes, sizes, colors and designs. Since the outfits are interchangeable, you can make one doll appear in different time periods.

Who cannot forget the Cabbage Patch Kids? What makes this collectible doll unique is that you don’t buy them but rather adopt them. You just have to visit their website because you can’t find this anywhere else.

Who said dolls are not better than the real thing? Lee Middleton dolls are so life like that at times, people mistake for it like a real baby in distress. New collections are added each month so you just have to find out what the market wants and sell this to interested buyers.

Surely, everyone has heard of Hasbro. This toy company gave us GI Joe, Transformers, Star Wars and a host of other action figures which caters not only to girls but boys as well. There are so many to choose from that you can already open your own specialty store.

One doll that is giving Barbie a run for her money is Bratz. Although very new in the market, sales have increased over the past 4 years. Since you already know how to take care of collectible dolls, can you imagine how much you can sell this for in the next 20 or 30 years?

Lastly, there is American Girl dolls. What make this unique from the rest is that they are ethnically diverse.

Each of these discounted collectible dolls has something to offer to the consumer. You just have to do some shopping, work on your pricing and take care of them properly so you can get a return on your investment.

Dolls come in different colors, sizes and shapes. If you find collecting dolls that measure 10 inches or difficult because there is not that much space in the house, perhaps you should only go for small collectible dolls.

But are small collectible dolls not as saleable as the bigger versions? Not necessarily because size is not an issue here but rather other factors that will be explained in this article.

First is the age of the doll. If you collectible doll was produced in 1960’s or even earlier, its value increases. The reason is because it is rare and old which means it is not something that people will not be able to find at the store. You have to remember that during the early days, no one ever thought of collecting dolls and this was just a toy to play with and thrown away when it is no longer in good condition.

Is the small collectible doll original? If the doll you possess is in good condition, then its resale value is also quite high. However if this was patched up, give it a second look because it may still be worth something to a prospective buyer in the future.

Before you buy a doll from someone, check on its quality. You should check it thoroughly and if there are problems, you can forget about it entirely or ask the seller for a discount.

Another factor that you should look for when shopping for a small collectible doll is the clothing. Is it original? Some say this will lower its value but this is not true because there are some collectors that can dress it in the same fabric when the doll was made and this makes it look good as new.

The body type also has influence on the doll’s value but this depends on who is looking at it. In general, if the body is still intact, then it will fetch for a high price. Equally so if this was repaired given that there are doll hospitals that can put everything back together again.

Lastly, small collectible dolls are more valuable if there are markings on it. Such things will tell you perhaps when it was produced. This can be found on maybe the shoulder plate, the back or maybe on the nape. This could either be in scripted or stamped.

If you put all of these things together, you will realize that there are a lot of things that determine the value of the small collectible doll. There are books on this subject so you can learn more about it. One of the biggest dangers is being fooled to buy a original when in fact this is a fake that can easily fool anyone especially for those who are new to this hobby.

Since there are a lot of small collectible dolls in the market, it is best you decide which one you want to focus on so it will be easy to ask a dealer if the item is available. Don’t forget to also check antique stores or even the flea market because you can get lucky sometimes and get a good bargain.

Soon, you will have your own small collectible doll collection. Some collectors just keep on adding while others trade or sell these to get something new. What you decide to do with it is up to you.

There are a lot of people interested in collectible antique dolls. Aside from the ones that are still being produced, the ones that really go for a lot of money are the limited edition collections and some of the first which are no longer being sold.

If you are business minded, you can make money by buying them from someone and then selling it to interested buyers. To help you along, here are a few things to help you out.

First, you have to ask yourself whether you are selling what you have meaning your own collection or starting from scratch which means you will outsource for these goods in order to make a profit. The first one is easy but if you run out, then you have to go to option 2 which is to acquire these from a distributor or wholesaler.

The nice thing about dealing with a distributor or wholesaler is that they will sell these to you at a low price and sometimes give a discount but only you have in large quantities.

Another option is for you to attend trade shows or estate auctions that although will cost a little more, has a sure chance of fetching a higher price from an interested buyer.

So how do you sell it? Well, since we are living in the digital age, why not use the Internet. You can create your own website to sell these products but if you don’t know how, this can still be sold by uploading it into an auction site.

A good example is eBay because it is one of the more popular ones around. But when you do sell your collectible antique doll, make sure you have some photos so people will be able to see. It is best to take a few shots from various angles since they are unable to hold like you could when you are in a store.

You should also provide a description of the collectible antique doll you are selling. A brief history of the item, what materials were used, when and where it was made. You should also mention the doll’s condition so they know if this is brand new or pre owned.

For those who will order, make sure you select the payment option. A lot of auction sites use Paypal aside from the credit card. You don’t have to worry about shipping policies because this is already controlled by the web provider but again if this is your own, you better be sure that the item they selected will be delivered in good condition and on time.

The biggest challenge of having your own website selling collectible antique dolls or any other product for that matter is after sales service. What if the customer is not happy with what was delivered? If you want these people to purchase from you again, you have to be true to your word. This can be achieved by responding to any queries they may have or offering a money back guarantee if they are not satisfied.

If you are able to make this work out, you can make a lot of money buying and selling collectible antique dolls. The question you have to ask yourself is whether you have what it takes to run a successful online business.

Who knew that the toys we buy can be profitable? Perhaps only the manufacturers but if you are able to find a good supplier and a list of buyers, you can make money buying and selling porcelain collectible dolls.

Porcelain dolls are not the different from Barbie because they come in different colors, outfits and sizes. What makes this stand out is perhaps the material since it is made from porcelain that is in essence clay and not plastic. This makes porcelain collectible dolls not really something you can play with even if you can change the clothes from time to time.

But how are porcelain collectible dolls made? Well, in Europe the materials for the arms, body, head and legs are baked then painted. Once this process is complete, this is then sewn together , dressed up and then placed in a box.

Since this is prone to dirt and dust unless there is something covering it, porcelain collectible doll owners have to regularly clean it to keep it in good condition.

Where can you find porcelain collectible dolls? Well, some say that the best are made from Europe like France and Germany. Since it is very expensive to fly there, you will probably have to search for these items online, select what you want and then have this shipped to you.

Before you buy anything, you should do a background check on the seller so you know this person will be able to deliver what you paid for.

What is the average price of porcelain collectible dolls? Believe it or not, you can find a few that sell for $10. If it is really of good quality, you may have to spend something from $500 to $1,000.

The most sought after porcelain collectible dolls are those from the Victorian era simply because they don’t make it the way they used to but there are makers who make similar copies which look very authentic.

If you want to know if what you have is real or a copy, look at the marks on the back of the neck. Just like an artist who puts his signature on the canvass, you will find here who, when and where it was made. So, if you happen to get a porcelain collectible doll at a reasonable price, consider that a good bargain.

What should you look for in a porcelain collectible doll? If you plan to sell it later on, consider the condition and the quality. The skin especially on the face must be life like. The eyes should be firmly in their sockets and if you happen to see a doll that opens its mouth, check if all the teeth are complete. If there are some teeth missing, shake it because they are probably still in there that can be restored by bringing it to a doll hospital. But closed mouth dolls happen to be two times more valuable than open ones.

As much as possible, only buy porcelain collectible dolls that still have their original clothing and wigs. If this has been altered or you plan to make alterations, you better check if this will do any damage or not because this will either increase or decrease its value.

Porcelain collectible dolls are works of art and you have to see one to really appreciate it. Are they worth buying? In the long term yes because as long as it is in good condition, you can get a return on your investment.

Everyone loves to decorate their home to their liking and some people will decorate their entire house without even thinking twice, but some of us have budgets too follow. If you’re like me and you have a budget that you need too follow then you should make sure that you stay on budget first of all, and secondly you should work on decorating one room at a time. The reason that I would recommend decorating only one room at a time is simply so that you can save the money faster. When you do it in pieces the money you need will obviously be split into pieces as well, so if you need to do it this way then don’t worry about it as many of us do. The important thing if you do it this way though is too make sure that you decorate the right rooms first. Now depending on your tastes and wants you might have some different opinions on the top three rooms to decorate first, but most people will be in agreement with me. I have put together a small list of the three rooms in any house that should get decorated before any other room, and I have always followed this when decorating my own home.

Kitchen

The kitchen is a room where a lot of families will spend a lot of their time and this means that you should decorate this room first. The kitchen is usually a vocal point in the home, and it’s the number one selling feature you have when selling your home. Of course if you don’t have a nice kitchen then you won’t have the benefit of it helping you sell your home, and it could even prevent your home from selling period. A kitchen renovation doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg, and if you can do the work yourself then you will save a ton of money. Half of renovation costs are labour so if you cut that cost of the equation then you will already be saving yourself roughly 50 percent on your kitchen remodel. The most important things too do when decorating your kitchen is too change the cabinets, flooring and appliances. Apart from that everything is extra and you can choose to do it or not. Just make sure that you stay in your budget for the project and you’ll be fine.

Bathroom

The bathroom is used everyday by every member of the household and it’s a room that shouldn’t be left undecorated and you should do the bathroom right after the kitchen. Having a nice new toilet, bathtub and vanity is the common essentials and depending on the size of your bathroom you may also need a stand-up shower and more storage space. You should also change the painting and flooring, typically I choose paint and tile, but recently I’ve been considering switching it over too wallpaper. Wallpaper looks awesome in a bathroom and if you can keep it from peeling off then it’s a lot more attractive then paint.

Bedroom

The bedroom is the last room on this short list of three, but it still holds a strong value in my books. This is where some people might not agree with me, but I feel that the bedroom should be number three on the list simply because it’s where you spend your most relaxing hours of the day. I love being nice and comfortable when I’m sleeping and I find that a cozy décor only adds to the comfort of my bedroom. Some of you might think that the living room should be third on this list since it’s a room where you and your guests will usually be sitting, but personally I think that the guests should wait for the décor over me own bedroom. I spend a lot of time in my bedroom though on my laptop and watching TV so that could be a reason why I have this as number three on my list.

All three of these rooms are important to decorate, well all rooms in your own are important to decorate but these are the most important. When you’re on a budget you should make sure that you only do one room at a time so it doesn’t strain your wallet too much. Doing one room at a time also allows for renovations too be going on in one section of your house while you relax in the other half, which is another reason why it’s wise too do only one room at a time. It can get pretty crazy during renovations and if you’re not prepared and organized then you may find yourself losing control of your house and mind.

Many older people grew up in the country and then moved too a metropolitan area due to modernization of the country, and although you can’t have the outside country feeling you can have that feeling inside of your home or apartment. There are some nice and simple tips that I’ve written down for all of you who want to make a room in your house feel like it’s a room from a country home. There are lots of reasons as too why people decorate their homes too feel like the country and you can have whatever reason you want. I have personally decorated two rooms in my house too feel like the country and I did so simply because I like having that old fashioned look in some areas of my house. I stayed away from rooms with high traffic, due to not wanting to hear anyone’s design expertise, but I absolutely love the look and feel that I get from the two rooms in my home decorated too feel like a country home. Follow these simple tips that I’m going to leave you with and you’ll be well on your way to creating the perfect escape from the city life. These tips don’t all need to be followed in order to get the country feel, but for maximum effectiveness try following as many of the tips as possible.

1. Too get the comfort feeling of leaving in the country no matter where you are begin with painting your walls either a white or soft cream color so that you can have a neutral appearance on the walls. Most country decorators will choose too paint the walls one of these two colors for two reasons which are too create the feeling of comfort and also so that any great decorating pieces can stand out against the bare walls which is something you want when going for the country look.

2. Make sure you use some sort of wooden furniture and decorations in the rooms because this is the essence of a country feeling room. Pine and oak will generally be the most common woods used in your decorations and they also work best with your budget which is always an important part of decorating.

3. You should refrain from using big and bold patterns that stand out like a sore thumb when going for the country look because that is not what it’s about. You should use soft and comforting patterns that go with the flow of your wooden furniture and cream colors.

4. Having flowers and plants work great for creating that country feel inside your home so don’t be afraid to spice things up with a bit of color throughout your plant and flower selection. If you want some color in the room then this is a great time to add some as it won’t be too much for the theme of the room.

5. Wooden flooring is a vital aspect of any country themed room and if you plan on pulling it off then you need the wood flooring. This will be the most expensive part of the renovation too do, but it will make the entire room come together and you will love the look it gives. You will see this money back at resale anyways so consider it a wise investment in maintaining the value of your home.

All of these tips are great for creating that country look in your home and you should try following as many of these great tips as possible to get the full effect. A country look in your home can offer you a very comforting place to relax and spend time in. Surveys have shown that roughly 30 percent of people in the United States enjoy the country look in their home and have a room themed like that. This means that you’re not the only one who enjoys the country look, and you won’t pay for the decorations come resale time because people like seeing it. It could even improve the overall sale price of your home which would be awesome for anyone, and you should consider this when decorating. Anything you will see back when you sell your home is a good investment so don’t look at it as money down the drain. If you don’t live in the country, but want that country feel then get too work and start renovating a room in your home today so that you can experience the comfort.

When you have daughter, you probably gave her a stuffed animal or a doll. She would take this around wherever she went but at a certain age, they don’t like to play with them anymore and have found other interests. Does this mean that you can’t give dolls anymore? Maybe not for playing but collectible toy dolls are extraordinary gifts because this may soon turn into a hobby.

The difference with a collectible toy doll is that you don’t play with it. This is displayed and kept in good condition at all times so one day you can probably sell it or swap it with something else. It is very similar to a stamp or coin collection because their market value goes up every time. But in some cases, this does not the happen because of the law of supply and demand.

So what is the secret to increase the value of the doll? It is simply that this is an item that is very hard to find. One reason is that only a few of that particular item was made and there are only a few of them left. Back in the 60’s to 80’s, nobody thought of keeping toys in their original packaging.

Once it is given, the box is thrown away and then the doll is placed with the rest on the shelf. If it gets broken or the child gets tired of it, this is given away to charity or dumped in the trash.

That is the life of the doll or any other toy. But lately, everyone is feeling nostalgic and there is a desire to bring back things from the past. Some are even willing to pay a huge some of money for it like there was a time that a 1959 Barbie doll was worth $10,000.

But because know better now about how to take care of their collectible toy dolls, experts say that no doll will ever fetch such a huge price anymore. If you are lucky, you can probably make about $2000 which isn’t that bad.

So which collectible toy doll is worth giving as an extraordinary gift? There are a lot of brands so it is really difficult to point them all out. Your decision should probably be based on the personality of the recipient because if they are able to relate to it, they will appreciate what you gave rather than just saying thank you and just putting it in the closet.

You are probably asking next where you can find the collectible doll. The most obvious place is the toy store but to save you time and money going through the various shelves, go out and head down to a specialty store. The people who usually run these places are collectors themselves so they help you select which one is right for your daughter.

Another place is the Internet. There are various websites to check out and you will often find that the items there are much cheaper than the ones offered in the specialty store. Once you place an order, this will delivered to your door after a few days. You can gift wrap and then give it to your daughter on her special day or any other occasion.

Collectible toy dolls are extraordinary gifts. Since Christmas is over, perhaps this will be something worth giving on her birthday.

If you live in a small apartment then you probably have run into difficulties trying to find some great decorations for it, and trust me a lot of people do. In order to decorate your small space you will most likely need to think out of the box, meaning your typical decorating ideas won’t work like they do in a house with a lot of space. One of the biggest problems is trying to find decorations and furniture that will work for your apartment, but if you live in a metropolitan city there will be some shops you just need to find them. If you don’t then you might need to do some shopping on the internet, as there is tons of great items on the internet that will help you decorate your small space.

Finding smaller furniture is a must for a small space because you want too allow for as much walking space as possible. There are lots of great low seats that you can buy online and will work perfectly for a small living room area. You may not have room for a couch so you might be limited too just chairs, but there is also an option of a love seat which is only two cushions. Another item you will need too shop for is a flat screen TV that you can have hanging on a wall in the apartment. A TV that doesn’t hang on the wall will take up way too much valuable space that could be used for something else. For instance you could put a nice table under the TV against the wall that will allow you to have some storage for anything that you need it for. In apartments you will need lots of storage space so any extra storage you can get in your apartment is a plus.

You will want too get some storage units too place either in a closet if you have one, or in the hallway if you don’t. There are some great options and one of the nicer looking options is wicker, and it’s also very affordable too buy a couple wicker storage units.

Decorating a small apartment can be very difficult and most would think since it’s a small space it would be easy but could you imagine trying too fit everything you need in only two or three rooms. If is very difficult too do, and you will need to use your imagination when possible. If there are walls you can build into then you need to consider building storage units into the walls.

Another tip you can use when decorating a small space is too use sliding doors instead of doors that need to open up because then you will save a lot of space in your rooms. Some people have adapted this method and it’s only one of many creative ideas you can use when decorating a small space.