The Top Three Barbie Games

While those are fun tasks, there is much more to Barbie games than most parents realize. If you decide to bite the plastic bullet and spend an afternoon playing Barbie games with your youngster, you can expect her to be playing one of the top three Barbies games enjoyed by young girls.
Dress Up
The most common game, especially with younger girls, is a simple game of dress up. Barbies come with a huge assortment of outfits, and there is nothing more rewarding than putting together an outfit and seeing the final product on your very own Barbie doll. Children learning to dress themselves might actually use Barbie dolls as a way to practice the critical skills, but for the most part, dressing up Barbie is just plain fun.
If you want to give your child a special treat, you don't need to buy her a new Barbie doll to add to the collection. Rather than spending your money on one doll with one outfit, surprise her with five new outfits that she can mix and match for her current Barbie doll. You might just have a young fashionista in the making.
Character Play
Once your child starts developing an active imagination, you can expect to hear voices coming from her Barbies - provided by your child, of course. This game is character play where each Barbie is assigned a role, or many roles, in an unfolding drama. The Princess Barbie needs help from the Friendly Barbie to defeat the Evil Barbie in time to hop in the Barbie Jeep and pick up Ken for a hot Barbie date.
When you play with your child during this sort of Barbie game, be sure you listen and understand the game and story before jumping in. Some children become incredibly agitated when the story changes unexpectedly. You might think it's funny to add Super Barbie to the mix, but she'll likely see it as an intrusion. Rather than grabbing a doll and making a new character, get her instructions on which character you should be in the current game she's playing.
Online Barbie Games
The newest form of Barbie game takes your child online. There are countless Barbie games online that let your child dress up Barbie in more outfits than you can imagine. The latest fashions are available on websites featuring dress up games, and with new outfits and dolls added daily, it's not hard to see why spending time online with Barbie is a new favorite activity of young girls.
Playing online Barbie games is simple enough. You should let your daughter have creative control, but you can encourage even more creativity by making up a story about why the doll is wearing a particular outfit or dressing different dolls for different roles in a story she's been working on. Then you can print the completed Barbies and have custom puppets ready to take on their designed characters.

Collecting Vintage Barbie Dolls

If you're one of the avid fans and collectors of modern Barbie but would want to possess valuable Barbie items, then you might want to consider collecting for vintage Barbie dolls. Vintage Barbie dolls-those dolls copyrighted by Mattel Incorporated from 1959 to 1972-are becoming quite valuable pieces in the world of antique collection.
If you're interested in getting your hands into those vintage Barbie dolls that can be quite valuable over the years, then you better start visiting flea markets, antique stores, and doll shops for prospective pieces. But, before you hit those places where you can find possible vintage Barbie dolls, make sure that you memorize this checklist so you'll know what to consider before purchasing it.
- Check if the ears of the vintage Barbie doll have turned to green. Collectors say that this is a very important thing to consider in buying vintage Barbie dolls because it reflects the overall condition of the doll.
Green ears usually result from the chemical reaction between the plastic and the metal earrings or accessories used by Barbie, so if the vintage doll has a green ear, it means it weren't taken care of properly. But if you still want to purchase the vintage Barbie doll despite having this major flaw, make sure that you ask for a discount.
- Check is the face of the doll is greasy. The plasticizer that leaks out from its face usually causes greasy face of a vintage Barbie dolls. This condition is hard to cure or cannot be cured at all. So make sure that before buying any vintage Barbie dolls, you check the face meticulously in order to check its status and condition.
The simplest remedy in removing the grease off the doll's face is by applying powder on it but better be careful because this remedy can worsen the doll's condition by taking off the vintage doll's facial make up.
- Check if the limbs of the vintage Barbie doll can be bent without restraint. If you are a collector, you should know by now that some Barbie dolls are quite prone limb breakage because they have brittle joints. Others even loose limbs that cannot be repaired so make sure that you test the limbs of the doll before finally buying it.
- Check is the vintage Barbie doll has a fresh, complete and original face paint. Bright and original face paint on the lips, cheeks, eyes, eyebrows, nose and finger and toenails paint are quite valuable assets of a vintage Barbie doll. Make sure that they are intact.
Other things to consider are bendable knees, original outfit and box or case, the doll's skin tone, original set of hair, appropriate and correct parts, and split or pinpricks in certain body parts.

Barbie Doll Collecting - Something For Everyone

Barbie doll collecting has been around for quite a while time and has accomplished many things. She has been everything from a fashion model to an astronaut. It is safe to say that Barbie is so popular that almost every little girl owns at least one. But Barbie is not just for little girls, she is a highly collectible doll. There are Barbies made for play and there are Barbies made for collectors.
The first thing that you need to decide when you start collecting Barbies is what kind do you want to collect? There are thousands of different types of Barbies out there. Very few people would have the money or the storage space to collect them all. Let's look at the different types of Barbies that you can collect:

• Vintage Barbie dolls. These are dolls made before 1972. These are the dolls that you will most likely pay the most for. Some vintage Barbies can sell for over a thousand dollars.
• Pink Box Barbies. The pink box Barbies are the Barbies that are meant for play. They are inexpensive and can be found in abundance in the toy aisle of your favorite store.
• The collectible box Barbie is especially designed for adult collectors. They cost a little more, but are usually not outrageously expensive.
• Collect by themes. There are many types of themes for Barbie collectors. There are movie themes, such as Gone With The Wind or the Wizard of Oz, celebrity themes, such as Barbie as I Love Lucy, holiday themes, fantasy themes, and the list goes on and on.
• Fashion designer collection. These are Barbies who have been designed by famous fashion designers such as Bob Macke or Christian Dior.

Barbies have a condition grading system much like baseball cards. The grades range from C10 being the best to C1 that is the absolute worst and looks like your dog's chew toy. It is important to know this grading system by heart if you are going to do some serious collecting. It can help you determine the value of any Barbie you may find.Once you start your Barbie collection it is also vitally important that your learn how to store them properly. Improper storage of your doll can cause irreparable damage to the doll and its clothing. The garage, attic or basement is not the place to store your dolls. These places are not climate controlled and the fluctuation between hot and cold can damage the doll. Moisture can seep in and cause mold and the doll may make good nest building material for rats or mice.
Do not store your dolls in closed plastic bags or plastic Tupperware type containers. These containers can trap in moisture and cause mold to form on your dolls. Some plastic containers will emit gases that can harm plastic or vinyls, as well as paper.
Storing your doll in their original boxes may seem like a good idea; however it can actually damage the dolls due to the acid in the boxes. If you want to store your doll in the box, wrap it in acid free tissue paper first. Remove any jewelry or metal items from the doll because over time they will discolor plastics.
The best place to store your dolls would be in a trunk or chest of drawers in an area of the home that maintains a constant temperature. Wrap everything in acid free tissue paper prior to storage and check your dolls periodically. Under the right storage conditions, your Barbie dolls will still look brand new decades from now.
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Barbie Dolls Collections For Your Own Choice

For most of us, they thought that dolls are just little girls favorite toy and to play with. As a matter of fact almost all little girls preferred a Barbie doll as a gift for them rather than any other type of toy. However, not only little girls were fun of this toy. They are the Barbie collectors; some of them is already 40+ years old but then still love and fun of collecting Barbie dolls. For them it's an interest to one thing that seems to be so special and that they want to have and keep as a remembrance or souvenir.
Mattel in the past years had produced a range of Barbie dolls already. They aim to encourage enthusiast or collectors of Barbie's to increase their interest and likes in collecting Barbie dolls. We usually watched this dolls in movies, story books and etc. This is where these collectors gain their interest to collect these dolls.
Mattel categorized Barbie doll using a color tier system in 2004 for them to be easily recognized by collectors. This is used to indicate which kind of retail store stocks the particular type of collectible doll, and also to signify the amount of dolls produced worldwide.
The four colors in the collectible tier system.
1) Pink Labeled
2) Silver Labeled
3) Labeled as Gold
4) Platinum Labeled
First tier is pink--Barbie doll's signature color - and then the additional tiers add other colors representing even higher standards like silver, gold, and platinum. The Pink Tier will include fun, keepsake dolls such as the Dolls of the World - The Princess Collection and the "I Love Lucy" celebrity dolls. Pink Label dolls will come packaged in a box with a clear acetate front trimmed in pink, which makes a nice display for NRFB (never removed from box) dolls.. The Pink Label dolls will not be limited in production numbers. Although all Barbie dealers can carry these dolls, shops such as Wal-Mart and WalMart.com are their main destination.
The next tier is the Silver Label dolls. The packaging is similar to the Pink Label, but with the box trimmed with silver. The criteria for the Silver Label tier is that no more than 50,000 of any Silver Label doll will be produced world wide. Included in the Silver Label are the 'Wedding' series, the 'Birthday Barbies', 'Ballet Barbies' and 'I Dream of a Season' dolls. Some types of Kelly doll and Tommy doll also can be found under the Silver Label.
Following the Silver is the Gold Label collectible dolls. Gold Label dolls are produced in quantities of no more than 25,000 of each doll. The packaging is different from the previous tiers. Silver Label dolls come in a "cake box" type package with an extra see through layer to protect the doll. The box has artwork and photography on the back and lid with gold decorative trimming. Included under the Gold Label are 'Designer Fashion Model' dolls, 'Designer Bride', Vintage Repros' and 'Pin-up Girls' collectible dolls.
And the last tier is the very limited Platinum Tier. These dolls are produced in editions of less than 1,000 worldwide, and the tier includes premium one-of-a-kind dolls available at select events (like a Bob Mackie OOAK (one-of-a-kind) doll created for Dream Halloween)
No matter what label of dolls you prefer, as long as your happy and enjoying it? It's OK. Sometimes we put all our love to thing we treasure the most. Often, collecting things such like Barbie collectibles is one way of expressing and showing people what type of person are you, because your interest to one thing reflects your personality in life.

Why Doll Collectors Love Those Cheap Vintage Barbie Dolls

Doll lovers around the world go wild when they find cheap vintage Barbie dolls. These dolls are searched for at both thrift stores and garage sales. E-bay auctions are also good places to find many of these classic dolls. Barbie dolls are known as being relatively cheap in price. They can usually be purchased new for $10-15.These dolls are not the sought after ones that collectors want. Today's modern Barbie differs greatly from the desirable vintage Barbie dolls.
To the uninitiated doll collector, one Barbie doll might appear to be the same as another. Doll experts and Barbie collectors know that this is not the case. The older Barbie dolls are made of very different materials and many of them had hand painted details. The oldest dolls will have a more solid and heavier feel. The clothing and accessories for the vintage Barbie dolls were very well made and Barbie collectors are always on the lookout for these treasured pieces. The truest vintage Barbies are those from the 1959-1972, but even those dolls made up through the early 1980s are very collectible today.
If you look at an older Barbie doll, you will notice that the earrings and necklaces were made to look like pearls and diamonds. These pieces of doll jewelry looked much like the real deal and were extremely popular when these Barbies were first being produced. Today these tiny bits of fashion accessories command very high prices. One of the reasons that the prices are high is that people were not saving and collecting Barbie dolls in the 1960s. Dolls, accessories, and jewelry pieces were discarded or vacuumed up to be thrown away. This means that only a small amount of dolls and accessories are actually around for collectors to grab. Even though there were millions of dolls made and sold at $3 each, limited numbers can be found today.
Finding cheap vintage Barbie dolls today is as much a thrill as finding a winning lottery ticket. Collectors know that most of these dolls command high prices, so when a bargain Barbie comes along they snap it up instantly. Some of these dolls have wonderful wardrobes that come complete with undergarments, gloves, nightgowns, bathing suits and prom dresses. The list of Barbie clothing pieces is staggering in number and stunning in detail and design. There are even rare clothing items that can fetch prices of $500 and up for a MIB piece. MIB stands for mint in box condition. This means that the dolls or accessories look just as they did when they were first offered for sale 40 or 50 years ago.
For collectors who hunt those elusive mint condition, cheap vintage Barbie dolls, unearthing one of them is a miracle. There are tales of some dedicated doll collectors coming up with some gems at garage and estate sales. Sometimes these vintage dolls can be bought for fewer than 10 dollars and this is a great buy indeed. While these dolls could easily be sold for a substantial profit, the collectors usually just add them to their own personal inventory. All of the older Barbies from 59-72 are becoming extremely difficult to find and collectors know this and prefer to keep them for their own enjoyment.

Vintage Barbie Doll Collection Guide

Did you know that Matell estimates that there are 100.000 Barbie doll collectors that 90% of them are middle age woman and that they buy up to 20 dolls a year? that blew me away to when i saw those figures for the first time, that is why vintage Barbie dolls are so high prized these days and for people ho can't take big risk of are on a tight budget i have made this guide on what to look out for when you are buying vintage Barbie doll.
When you start of collecting vintage Barbie dolls the best course of action is to familiarize yourself with all the details you need to know about collecting vintage Barbie dolls before you start visiting flea markets, antique shops, toy stores, and other places to purchase a vintage Barbie doll, here are some of my best tips i can give to a starting collector.
1) The Date.
As you can understand the date that a vintage Barbie doll is created is very important for the value of the doll so make certain that you take the time to inspect the copyright date, the date refers to the year the vintage Barbie doll was launched or created.
TIP: the vintage Barbie dolls that have a high value are those marked with "1958" or "Japan" at the rear end or it is marked at the bottom of one of the feats.
2) Condition.
One of the most important things is the overall condition, because vintage Barbie dolls are getting more worth when time pass by, it is very important to have a close look at the overall condition, do you see discoloration. neck splits, body splits, hair that is in a poor condition, lips chipping, rubbed of texture, are the ears green due to discoloration when wearing ear rings, missing parts, faded clothes act, make certain that all of the fingers and toes of the doll are still intact and that the have a even color.
3)vintage Barbie Doll Accessories.
You have to pay close attention to the vintage Barbie doll accessories, Experts that have been collecting for years say that the valuable vintage Barbie dolls are those wearing outfits that have still all the precise details, so make sure that you keep that in mind the value of the American is in the accessories.
4)Metal Tubes.
Search for vintage Barbie dolls that are created with metal tubes, if you listen to the expert collectors the number one collectors item is the vintage Barbie doll with the metal tubes in them.
5) Vintage Barbie Doll Trademark.
This is a very important tip always and i really mean always check for the dolls trademark you would be surprised how much garbage there is on the market, so check for the Mattel, Inc. mark.
These are the fife most important steps to get into the world of vintage Barbie doll collecting, it is a great hobby and a sound investment, vintage Barbie dolls are getting scarcer every day making your dolls rise in value.

Collectible Barbie Dolls - Make Money With Your Collection

Barbie will be 50 years old in 2009. Wow I wish we all looked that good at 50. Of course she has had plastic surgery over the decades. She has even had a complete body replacement.
Barbie was first made in 1959 by Mattel and millions have been sold all over the globe since then. On March 9th 1959 Barbie was exhibited at the New York Toy Fair and that date is her official birthday. She wore a one piece black and white zebra striped swimsuit,high heel open toe shoes,hoop earrings and had white sunglasses with blue lenses. She has blonde or brunette hair pulled back in a ponytail and she has strongly arched eyebrows and white irises. She was made from a type of plastic which has faded to white over the years. She has copper tubing in her legs and holes in the feet for mounting on a pedestal. She is marked JAPAN on the bottom of the right foot and on the body she is marked Barbie TM Pats. Pend. Copyright MCMVIII.
If you find one of these dolls in good condition you have a collectors delight which is worth quite a bit of money. The exact value depends on the condition and completeness of the doll. Any missing parts or damage will lower the value substantially. This doll is known as the #1 Ponytail Barbie.
The #2 Ponytail Barbie is the same as #1 except that there is no copper tubing in the legs or holes in the feet. The pedestal was changed and made with extensions to support the doll.
The #3 Ponytail Barbie is the same as #2 but has different eyebrows and blue irises. She may have blue or brown eyeliner makeup.
The #4 Ponytail Barbie is made from a non fading plastic which retains it's flesh color. She has blue eyeliner makeup.
The #5 Ponytail Barbie was made with a hollow plastic body rather than the solid type found in earlier editions. The markings are similar with the difference that she is marked R Pats. Pend. rather than TM Pats. Pend. A new hair color was added to the line,known as titian,and dolls with this hair color are scarcer and therefore worth more than the brunette or blonde dolls. The plastic in some dolls had a problem which caused a greasy appearance with age. The regular matte faced doll,if you find one,is more valuable than a greasy faced doll.
The #6 Ponytail Barbie was made from a new vinyl which does not develop a greasy appearance as it ages. Her lips and fingernails are a pinkish red rather than the previous bright red. She is clad in a red swimsuit and has open toe,red,shoes.
The #7 Ponytail Barbie was made in various different hair colors including brunette, titian,lemon blonde and ash blonde. Her lips and nails are coral red. This new edition was brought out in the 1962-1963 period and the markings became Midge TM copyright 1962/Barbie copyright 1958 by Mattel. Dolls with this new marking are often called the #7 Ponytail Barbie but many people still call them #6. Dolls made before the changeover in 1962 are scarcer and more valuable than the new edition.
Condition is undoubtedly the most important factor in putting a value on early Barbie dolls. Collectors want a doll which is clean,completely original and not damaged.Such a doll fetches top price. If the doll is in its original packaging,and in mint condition, it is a highly desirable collectors doll and will fetch a premium price. Dolls which have in any way been repaired,restored or repainted are worth less than those left in the faded original condition.
Where can you expect to find early collectible Barbie dolls? The answer is almost anywhere,if you know what you are looking for. The vast majority of people do not know what an old Barbie doll looks like or that it is valuable. You can find old Barbie dolls sometimes by looking in thrift or second hand stores, fleamarkets and garage sales. Be sure to carry a magnifier to read the markings on the Barbie dolls when you are out there searching. Best of Luck.