Barbie Dream House Colorforms

Last weekend, we celebrated my cousin's 20th birthday. While sitting around waiting for some silly basketball game to end, I began talking about memorable birthday gifts. I recalled that some of my most favorite gifts were given to me by their dad. Their dad is also my "God Father." Remember the "A" necklace I once blogged about?

I was turning 7 on November 4, 1979. That was the year Colorforms released the Barbie Dream House. I'm confused because I thought that was the year I received my "A" necklace -- maybe it was some sort of combination gift from Uncle Tony making them even more memorable? Who knows.

Anyway, if you're a regular FourthGradeNothing.com reader, you may recall me whining about how I had always wanted a Barbie Dream House  but for whatever reason, my folks missed the boat on that gift. Okay, fast forward to the Barbie Dream House Colorforms. 

I was a serious Colorforms fan and die-hard Barbie fan - this shiz was like the best of both worlds. The Barbie Dream House set was incredible. The backdrop was 3-D and consisted of multiple rooms ready to be filled with fashionably funky late '70s  furniture, trinkets, Barbie and Ken figures, clothing and more. I was in heaven!

Poof - dream sequence ruined ... Can you imagine the horror I felt when my cousin (she's in her early 20s) shot me a confused look and asked, "What are Colorforms?" It's times like that you realize your true age. For you younger folks who have never heard of Colorforms, please keep reading! 

Five Fast Colorform Facts

• Colorforms were invented in the 1960s by a creative New York City couple named Harry (a painter and art director) and Patricia Kislevitz. 
• Colorforms consisted of colorful thin, die-cut flexible plastic shapes which would adhere to the shiny laminated cardboard. Pieces could be reapplied and moved around. The downside was that within a few weeks, the sticker-like pieces lost their adhesiveness from being touched with dirty kids' hands.
• Mattel and other brands marketed Colorforms throughout the years -- producing Colorforms for a variety of cartoon characters, movies and toys including Peanuts, Holly Hobbie, Strawberry Shortcake, etc.
• Colorforms came in many shapes and forms - there were games, 3-D cutouts and more. 
• The Colorforms tag line and slogan was "It's More Fun To Play The Colorforms Way" and it really was. Still confused? Think of those window clings people put on their windows around the holidays, it's a very similar concept to Colorforms.

View a vintage Colorforms commercial 

For a complete history lesson and cool Colorforms facts and info, please visit toy inventor and legend, Mel Birnkrant's Colorforms web site at: Melbirnkrant.com/colorforms.

1980s Bopper, Deely Bopper & Antenna Headbands

Posing in my '80s headgear with my silly younger
brother at his McDonald's birthday party

I've covered wonderful '80s fashions including plastic charm bracelets, gummy bracelets, parachute pants and more. Now here's one wacky fashion accessory I'm hoping some other 1980s kids remember. Back in like 1981/1982, I loved what I called my "antennas"  -- I wouldn't leave home without them. I was a weird kid, I know. These antennas were basically a plastic headband with springs attached to glittery hearts, stars and other strange objects. 

Newspaper story from  80sactual.com

I loved my 1980's headgear which were professionally referred to as "Deely Boppers" and "Head Boppers."  I wore these wacky antennas to the mall, babysitting, birthday parties, Friendly's and even to Disneyland in California. My folks were so cool, they never questioned my outlandish styles even at the tender age of 10. 

If you were an '80s kid, did you own a pair of these wacky antennas?

Pac-Man 1980s Scratch-off Game Trading Cards

This morning it occurred to me as to why I love scratch-offs or scratcher lottery ticket games so much.... PAC-MAN! As a kid, I was obsessed with collecting these Pac-Man Stickers & Rub-off bubble gum trading style cards from Fleer. The object of the game was to scratch off each dot which would translate into points I believe.

Each pack included three cards, three collectible stickers and the usual hard-as-a-rock stick of pink chewing gum. No matter that the stick of gum was always covered in a white floury substance. I loved it just the same.

Ironically, the New Jersey Lottery put out a Pac-Man Lottery scratch-offs  back in 2005. I loved them, yet never won a dime.  

Anyone remember these Pac-man Rub-off game cards? As always I'm dating myself.