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.”

Perhaps one of the most difficult gifts to buy is the one that you’ll be giving during anniversary. This is because not only will your gift have to please you friend, it will also have to please the partner. This is especially true if you are not really close friends with one of the partner.

Another thing that makes anniversary gift giving difficult is the fact that there are limited items that one can give. Notice how most people would give the same gifts during weddings and anniversaries? This is the reason why! Gift ideas for anniversaries are very few and some are so expensive that it is not even within “thinking” distance.

Still, there are still ways to make your anniversary gift shopping a more fruitful experience than some people. Here are some tips that can help you with your search.

Think Necessity

Sometimes the ugliest of gifts can be the most useful. Think of what the couple might need at home and consider that in your gift list. For instance, who would think of buying shower curtains or even a cleaner for the shower. This may not seem appropriate but if you are close friends with at least one of the couple, these kinds of gifts are better appreciated than perhaps drinking glasses or photo albums that are always on the list of anniversary gift ideas. Take note though that you are close to the couple as this may seem pretty intimate.

Think unique

The word unique can have a hundred different meaning. One thing that you have to remember is to make your gift more personalized. Even if it is something that you can buy anywhere, you can put something in it to make it different. For instance if you bought an oven toaster, why not include something that they can cook or bake with the oven toaster? You can also make your own gifts. For instance, buy two towels and stitch their initials on the cloth.

Think Memories

Memories can be great gifts to people. But as memories are abstract, you can only give photos, music and even cards instead. Why not take a picture of the couple and have it framed? Go to a local craft store and have the picture concerted into a cross-stitch pattern that you can make. You can even start the work and then have them finish it. Another great idea is to compile their favorite music and photos and turn them into a video presentation. The list goes on and on.

Collectible doll figurines are an interesting hobby. This is because it can add personality to your home which many would think that is impossible.

A collectible doll figurine is much different than an action figure because it is made of different materials aside from plastic. They can’t move or anything and is placed in part of the room which serves as a focal point.

Some of the more popular collectible doll figurines to get are animals, mythical figures, themed, holiday and those that have religious importance. In fact, most collectors stick to just one type.

One brand that is sought after by many collectors is Royal Doulton Figurines. This company started business way back in the 1800’s and the price of their items range from less than a hundred dollars to those over two thousand dollars.

Another famous manufacturer of collectible doll figurines is Precious Moments. Most of the figures made here are based on the illustrations of Sam Butcher. When you go into a store, you can hardly miss it because they are always children with tear drop shaped eyes that have heartfelt and inspirational messages.

So how do you start this collectible doll figurine hobby? Well, you can buy your very first by looking for it online and then finding others by looking for a wholesale supplier. Once you have a lot, you can already show it off for display and pass it off to the next generation.

But if you have plenty in stock and want to buy others, you should use various mediums to auction, swap or sell these off to potential buyers. A few other places where you can find collectible doll figurines are at an antique store, garage sale and flea market. You just have to look carefully so you do not miss out on the opportunity to add something you new to your collection.

If you want to learn more about collectible doll figurines, there are books and related information on the web the can help. You should also visit a specialty store; ask family and friends who are into this hobby to share with you a few tips so you know what you are getting yourself into.

These resources will teach you how to negotiate with sellers and the current price of collectible doll figurines that you plan to buy or sell so that you won’t feel short changed or fooled.

When shopping for collectible doll figurines, be careful so you only buy genuine items. There are a lot of copycat manufacturers around so see if it has a signature label and if you are still in doubt, ask someone for assistance.

You should also inspect it for cracks or any other damage so you don’t waste your time running back to the store and getting a replacement.

The nice thing about collectible doll figurines is that you don’t have to keep it inside a box when this is placed on display. It may not look like much when you just have two or three pieces but as that collection grows you will enjoy looking at them more because each piece is a work of art.

In fact, collectible doll figurines are also ideal gifts to give especially if it personifies the recipient. Who knows, it’s possible that the first one you gave may also get them into this very popular hobby.

Celebrating one’s anniversary for the first time is perhaps the most special and the most anticipated. Unlike the succeeding anniversaries, first year anniversaries are special because it is an affirmation of one year of romance for couples. Besides, this is the period in the relationship when love and reminiscing is still in the air and couples still find the time to celebrate the day that the relationship or the marriage started.

By tradition, gifts that are often given to couples celebrating their first anniversary are made of paper. This is true for all, whether they are close or not to the couples. Some couples even abide with the annual themes and give each other gifts that are made of materials that are prescribed.
According to the themes, paper is the material that is prescribed to be given at this period of the relationship. The modern gift that is recommended for the first year is the clock, perhaps to symbolize the continuous passage of time.

Of course you need not give an actual paper as gift. Although you can probably give a notepad or some papers with a personalized letterhead, it does not have to be an actual paper. You can give as gifts items that are made of paper. And there are a lot of items that you can choose from.
One great gift idea is to give a book for the anniversary. Partners can give each other books of poetry or books that have romantic content. Some even suggest giving a book about Kama Sutra or maybe a book in the Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus series.

Another great first anniversary idea is a photograph that you can frame. Choose a photo that best reminds you of your good times together and then have it framed. You can even have it enlarged in developing centers. Some also invests in expensive picture frames.

Another idea along the same lines is creating a photo album that will tell the story of your year together. This is especially great if you have lots of photos together and you are both “memory” addicts. You can even make the making of photo albums a tradition every year. This will actually help preserve the memories and will help you maintain your bond.

Another paper idea for an anniversary gift is to laminate or frame your marriage certificate or any paper that remind you of each other. This can be something as small as movie tickets from your first date or a bus ticket the first time that you rode home together.

Isn’t it funny that some of the toys you had before are worth a lot of money right now? You are probably kicking yourself for not taking care of it back then but hey, you didn’t know that this would happen in the future and such is the case with collectible dolls.

How is this possible? Well, we have to back to the basic rule of economics which is supply and demand. Some companies don’t make these collectible dolls anymore so you have to buy it from someone who has kept this for years.

Take for instance the Barbie doll. There was a time that dolls manufactured in 1959 could fetch for close to $10,000 but that figure has gone down now to just around $2,500.

But not all collectible dolls made back then are worth a lot of money now. One example is the Mike Hazard, Double Agent. If the doll or others like it did not make a huge impact on the market, then nobody will even think about buying it. They would rather spend their money elsewhere on something that has better resale value should they decide to sell it again in the future.

So, how can you increase the value of your collectible doll? If you were smart, you should have kept the original packaging. This will also protect it from dirt and dust.

If it has some tape, you should remove it because this will discolor the fabric. The same goes if there is any metal present because in time, it does rust.

If you are tired of playing with it or simply grew tired, make sure that this is stored properly by putting in a layer of acid free tissue in between the doll and its clothing. This will help stop the fabric colors from bleeding into the toy’s body. If it does have inset eyes, you better store it face down.

Most collectible dolls leak sawdust. If this is happening to what you have, you should put a few drops of glue in the hole where it is coming from. But if the hole where the sawdust is coming from is too big, you better patch it up. This should be checked regularly so you are sure that the problem has been contained.

Should you own a doll that sleeps or closes its eyes, this should be cleaned using a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water. The proper way of doing it is laying the collectible doll on its back holding one of the eyes open and putting in enough solution to clean it. The same should be done with the other eye several times then turn it over so the mixture will drain out. After a few minutes, make it stand up straight and dry the eyes using a piece of cloth.

You must never change anything in the doll especially its structure because you do not know to what extent the damage it can do. If you screw up big time, this will greatly depreciate its value and nobody will probably want to buy it from you. If what you have is made of wood, don’t get it wet as this too causes stains.

So where can you find these collectible dolls? Try the local toy store, specialty shops and online. You will surely find what you want there and get a good bargain so you can resell this later on.

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.

Anniversaries are special occasions that couples celebrate to affirm their commitment to each other. This is why most couples will go to lengths to celebrate anniversaries, especially those that are part of what people call relationship milestones.

Often, it is the man that is expected to buy anniversary gifts for their wives or partners. Tradition dictates that they arrive home bearing flowers while the woman prepare a special dinner. Still, some women also buy gifts for their husbands during this special occasion. This will make the occasion extra special and more unique.

But what should they give their husbands? Well, that is the question. By tradition, it is easier to buy gifts for women. They will actually be happy with sappy items like bouquet of flowers or a poem that you have composed. With guys, it is much different. Only a few will actually appreciate a poem or a special gift that you have made. Often, they will look for gifts that they can actually use.

The best approach then is to buy gifts that they can use and personalize them. This will ensure that they will not only appreciate the gifts but they will also be reminded of the love that you have for each other.

Below are some anniversary gift ideas that might just work with your husband or partner.

Know what they need

Look for things that they might need. For instance, do they need a mug or a thermos at home? Do they need a bag where they can put their laptop? Do they need a tie that they can match with their new corporate suit? The key is to find something that they need at the moment. This way, they will better appreciate the gift and remember you. Once you have found something that they need, personalizing it is much easier. You can embroider his initials on the gift item. You can even embroider both your initials on the item.

Stick to what they can wear

Another way to find something that you can give to your husband or partner on your anniversary is to find something that they can wear. Although you can give him something he needs to wear, there are other gift items that he can wear just because. Why not buy him a new cuff link or a new rubber shoes? What about buying him a gold bracelet or watch? Or maybe a chain that he can wear around his neck?

If you want to know what are the newest dolls available from a toy company, the best thing for you to do is check out the collectible doll catalog. You can see most of these online or even brochures which are sometimes given out to customers in the store.

But what prompts manufacturers to introduce these changes? Well, this is usually based from the input of dealers and the feedback of customers and collectors. This gives management the opportunity to listen to what the people want and not just what they think is saleable.

After all, how one product sells depends on customer satisfaction and if this not achieved, then this means that the company will not be able to make a profit.

One way of attracting more people to buy the collectible doll is by changing the packaging. Although it is just a cardboard box, how it is presented is sometimes the deciding factor when the person is choosing between two different dolls.

Another option is to change the logo. Let’s say the company has been around for many years. In order to boost sales, they have to come up with something unique like a limited edition series. This can be released annually that will be added revenue as there will still be the regular items that people can buy.

But what if you do not want to designate one doll as a collector’s or limited edition? For that, some companies are using a color coded system. This is good especially for the collectors so they know how valuable is one doll compared to another.

Take for example Barbie which has implemented this color coded system into 4 groups namely pink, gold, silver and platinum.

The Pink doll comprises of their Dolls of the World, the Princess Collection and “I Love Lucy.” A significant number of these will be produced so there is plenty for it to go around.

The Silver on the other hand includes the Birthday Wishes line. The reason why it is silver is because the packaging is silver trimmed. Unlike the first one mentioned, not more than 50,000 of these units will be produced so if you count how many people there are in the world, this could fetch a certain amount of money to a the collector.

The Gold line will carry the Fashion Model Collection and the Model of the Moment. Collectors will still be able to find it given that the company plans to produce 25,000 of these and make this available worldwide. Because of the small number, this will only be available in higher end stores.

Lastly is Platinum and this will be a bit challenging to find because the company will only make a thousand of these for the public. This will cost a bit more than the others but you can just imagine how much people will be paying for it when you auction this off or put it up for sale.

The color coded system implemented by Mattel has been done for the past 2 years. If you are not a collector and just flip through the pages of the collectible doll catalog or see it online, it wouldn’t matter to you. But for those who think they can make a profit, such a distinction is important. After all, toys such as these and others like it also follow the law of supply and demand.

Gifts for wedding anniversary seem to be always the same things, picture frames, photo albums, appliances, glassware, chinaware, kitchen utensils, etc. Sometimes, the list of possible anniversary gift ideas is so short that couples even receive two or three of the same thing when they unwrap the gifts. Your gifts need not be like that!

One way to make your gifts unique without really veering so much away from the norm is to turn what is usual into something unusual with just a little bit of imagination… your imagination. Personalizing your gifts is not only easy but also fun to do. Besides, couples who will receive your gift will all the more appreciate the effort that you have out into the present for their anniversary. Here are some ideas that can get you started on the road to more personalized gifts.

Stitch away.

A simple way to make your gifts uniquely your own is to put monogrammed initials on the gifts. For instance, if you are giving the couple towels or matching t-shirts for their anniversary, you can have them stitched with their names or initials. You can even out some personalized designs on the gifts. You don’t even have to stitch it yourself. There are craft stores that provide stitching services.

Engrave away.

Another way that will make your gifts more personalized is to engrave the initials or names of the couple into their gifts. Great gift items that you can have engraved are metal canisters for the kitchen, jewelry boxes, pens and jewelry. Key chains can also be engraved as well as ceramic items such as mugs and plates. In fact, why not give them a whole set of chinaware with their initials engraved at the back? That will be a great personalized anniversary gift.

Make your own.

If you know how to knit or to cross stitch, you can also make your own gifts. One project that you can do is to make matching jackets for the couple or maybe a couple of scarves for the winter season. You can also turn their favorite photo into an image that you can cross stitch and then framed. This will be a wonderful addition to their bedroom or their sitting room. If you are into crafts, you can also make them a handmade photo album with papers that you have hand-made yourself. There are actually a lot of things that you can do, you just have to determine what you can do.