Hobbies & Interests Page 2 Games (Part 1)
How to Use -- Contents
There are millions of Internet Web sites devoted to hobbies. Our intent is to give you a sample in each category so you can start a new activity or improve one that you already enjoy. We provide historical references, sites of people who actually display their hobby online, as well as suggestions.
Use this index grid to jump right to the topic. If the category you want is not here, select something close. To make things easier, we may place the same link in several areas. For example, "collecting airline sickness bags" is listed in "Travel & Transportation" as well as in "Strange & Unusual." Due to the huge amount of resources for Hobbies, we have divided this into 20 pages. As you click on a link, it will take you directly to that topic on a new Slightly Creaky page.
Hobbies Categories
Updated July 17, 2010
Each area includes hobbies, how to do, and collecting
Also See Recreation Pets
Collecting (General Information) |
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Playing Card (Games - Collecting) |
Board Games (Playing - Collecting) |
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Miscellaneous (lots of stuff) |
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Online Games Page 1 |
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Online Games Page 2 |
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Open |
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Geography (inc. maps & flags) |
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Communications (inc. telephones) |
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China (pottery, glass) |
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Animals (live & preserved) |
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We try to avoid commercial sites, but in many cases they are the only ones who provide ideas and information. If you are looking to buy or sell, please use a generalized search engine.
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Caution - Proceed with care
Slightly Creaky is not responsible for the content of web sites listed here or the actions taken by the people owning, managing, or participating on these sites. Once you click on a link you are leaving our site.
These listings are the result of thousands of hours of research. It is the property of Slightly Creaky and may not be reproduced in any form. Every attempt has been made to provide an accurate description of each organization. Contact us if you find an error.
Have We Missed Your Hobby?
We are constantly looking for more information, more links, as well as featured articles. Please help us improve our site and service. The Internet had millions of web pages dedicated to hobbies; we can only sample a few of them. Our purpose is to give our viewers a taste of what is out there so you can start a new activity or improve one that you already enjoy.
If you know any sites we should include write to suggestions@slightlycreaky.com
Playing Cards
Playing Cards
We do not link to gambling or commercial sites
Also see Online Games
| "Traditional multi-player card games for which rules are available from this site are listed below in alphabetical order, together with the number of players needed. Alternative numbers of players are given in brackets, so "4 [5] players" means that the game is basically for 4 players, but it is possible for 5 to play." | |
| Alphabetical Index of Card Games | |
| House of Cards | From A to Z (and numbers as well) the "How to Play" and rules for over a hundred card games. |
| Choosing Which Games To Play | "Rules for every card game imaginable. From Poker to Old Maid, and everything in between. " |
| Invented Card Games | "This section of the card games site is devoted to new games played with existing cards. The idea is to provide a forum for card game inventors to publish their ideas, and to try out and comment on each other's games." |
| The Rules of the Game | "Welcome to The Rules of the Game, a website designed with simple instruction to your favorite card games." |
| "There are many type of solitaire card game. What you probably know is the Klondike solitaire since this the most popular solitaire game. The other types of solitaire of card game have different rules than the Klondike solitaire. A few of the other types of solitaire is spider, pyramid, free cell, and golf. " |
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| Introduction to the Card Game Solitaire | |
| Solitaire Worlds | Illistrated variations. |
| iPhone Gems: Every Solitaire Game, Reviewed | "There are some good free Solitaire titles, so you don’t need to shell out for the more expensive options if you just want to play a basic card game." |
| The Solitaire Information Site | "In most games, the foundations are built up by suit, although this can vary. Also, once cards are moved to foundations, usually they cannot be moved again. Most solitaire games are won when all the cards have been moved to the foundations. " |
| Variations in Solitaire | "Unique variations of solitaire is one of the things a solitaire lover seeks" |
| How to Play Solitaire and Variations | "When people speak of Solitaire they usually mean it's best-known version Klondike. Klondike is often the default and sometimes only game on computer solitaire programs. To confuse matters even more Klondike can be played with a variety of rules." |
"The American Contract Bridge League, the world’s greatest bridge club for the world’s greatest game. Our mission is to promote the fun and challenge of bridge and support educational and playing opportunities for bridge enthusiasts throughout North America." |
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| ACBL | |
| Great Bridge Links | "This page is intended to be a resource for bridge writers, editors, journalists, publishers and illustrators. " |
| Play Bridge Online | A Pay Site. "When you play bridge online with us, the friendly club atmosphere will be in your home, you will play real bridge with real people and see real Bridge Cards on your screen. You can Play online bridge with us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, when you like, for as long as you like and we provide a real Bridge card game that you will enjoy." |
| Learn To Play Bridge! | "Bridge is by far the greatest card game of all, and it can provide immense challenge and enjoyment for the rest of your life. This is intended for the complete beginner, one who knows nothing, or almost nothing, about bridge." |
| The Bridge World | "The Bridge World is the world's oldest continuously-published bridge magazine. For over seventy years, the world's brightest bridge minds have gathered each month to share their winning secrets in its pages. Every monthly issue of The Bridge World is packed with reports, articles, stories, tips, examples, quizzes, and more to help advancing bridge players improve their understanding and appreciation of the game. Virtually every important bridge analyst in the history of the game has contributed to The Bridge World" |
| Bridge Rules | "Rubber Bridge is the basic form of Contract Bridge, played by four players. Informal social bridge games are often played this way, and rubber bridge is also played in clubs for money. Duplicate Bridge is the game normally played in clubs, tournaments and matches. The game is basically the same but the luck element is reduced by having the same deals replayed by different sets of players. At least eight players are required for this. There are some significant differences in the scoring. Two types of duplicate bridge will be covered; teams of four and pairs. Chicago Bridge is played by four people (like rubber bridge), but a game is complete in four deals. " |
| "The game of poker consists of many different variations, in total there are more than 120 forms of poker although a few are played by many people. The most popular forms of casino and poker are Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hold’em, Seven-Card Stud Poker and Draw poker." | |
| Top Poker Guide | |
| Home Poker | "Over 1,000 home poker games and variations!" |
| Poker Blog | "Poker is my profession, my passion and my past-time. I live for poker!" |
| Poker Rules | "There are many variations to the game of Poker. It is a truly American game enjoyed by many people. Here are some of the rules to some of the games of Poker. This is not a complete list of Poker Rules, but has some of the more popular poker variations." |
| Invented Poker Variations | A collection of non-traditional variations of poker. |
| Poker Hints & Tips | "Every month, well known Poker writers review famous and infamous hands in tournament and online play, and suggest what you should or should not do" |
| Best Texas Holdem | "If you’re looking to sharpen your Texas Hold’em skills you’ve come to the right place." |
| Blackjack | "The blackjack table in a casino is generally set up with seven seats or betting stations, although some games have as few as five. " |
| Blackjack Variations | "Being the most popular casino game, it is no surprise that there many variations of the game, and increasingly more and more casinos are creating custom variants." |
| Blackjack Variants and Blackjack Variations | "Blackjack is probably the most popular card game in the casino besides poker, and there are several variations in terms of both the games that are offered and variations in the rules from casino to casino for even the standard game." |
| Blackjack Rules and 113 Variations | "These pages assume that you know the basic Blackjack rules and does not describe them. Instead, 113 common & oddball variations of Blackjack are described. " |
| Blackjack Strategy | "Unlike most other casino games, blackjack is a game whose outcome is greatly influenced by the player, right from the moment the player cuts the deck of cards. The dealer is practically like a robot. He follows set rules and makes no decisions of his own." |
"Pinochle was developed in Europe out of the popular card game Bezique. In this article, we will look at the rules and strategies of several different varieties of Pinochle -- including Partnership Pinochle, Two-Handed Pinochle, and Cut-Throat Pinochle." |
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| How to Play Pinochle | |
| DoubleDeck Pinochle | DoubleDeck Pinochle is a card game for four players. This site describes the rules, offers a Windows program that plays DoubleDeck Pinochle |
| Four Handed Pinochle | "I'll cover how you decide who leads each trick, how you decide who wins each trick, and what that all means." |
| Bizique | "Bezique is unusual among card games in that it has a life cycle. Your hand matures through the course of the game. If you start with poor cards, for example, you will likely build your hand through the game and still score. Conversely, if you are dealt lucky cards, after a blitz of melding you may find yourself struggling to reconstitute your hand. The lyrical feel of the life cycle underlies Bezique’s enduring appeal." |
| Gin Rummy Rules | "Gin Rummy, sometimes referred to simply as "Gin" is one of the most popular forms of rummy. The game is usually played by two players, each receiving ten cards. " |
| Love Rummy | "LoveRummy.com aims to educate everybody from new rummy players to experts in the game. If you are still a beginner, you may look at “How to play” and you will encounter the basics of the play. On the other hand, if you’re quite familiar already and just want to browse around and take a glimpse at some rules on different variations, this site is also a great place for you." |
| 500 Rummy | "Rummy 500 (also known as Persian Rummy, Pinochle Rummy, 500 Rum, 500 Rummy) is a popular Rummy game which is similar to straight Rummy but distinct in the sense that players may draw more than just the upcard from the discard pile. This significantly increases the level of complexity and strategy involved in the course of play." |
| How To Win Gin Rummy Card Game | Hints on how to play a variety of rummy variations |
| Gin Rummy Rules | "The main purpose of Gin Rummy is to win more final points than opponent. The game is usually played to 100 points and is made up of a number of hands." |
| "Canasta ("basket" in Spanish) became a big hit with millions of Americans in the 1950's when it arrived from South America along with other cultural imports like the Samba and the Bossa Nova. Today the game is enjoying a resurgence. It's fun to play, and high-scoring" | |
| Canasta - Official Rules | |
| Crazy Canasta | "Crazy Canasta is an exciting Canasta variation that seems to have originated in the Southern USA, probably Texas, but possibly Arkansas or Arizona. After spreading to Florida, where many people commune during winter, Crazy Canasta made its way across the United States throughout the 1990s and 2000s." |
| Six Card Cribbage | "Six Card Cribbage is basically a game for two players, but adapts easily for three players, and for four players in fixed partnerships - a very useful feature." |
| Cribbage Rules | " There are different card game rules to the cribbage game, depending where you learned the rules. The Cribbage card game is interesting since it implies luck, calculation and memory of cards. " |
| Cribbage Variations | "These are all variations I have tried and have found fun. Some variations I've tried didn't work out so well, but that doesn't stop us. " |
| Cribbage Rules (old) | "This page explains the old version of Cribbage known as 5 card cribbage." |
| Six-Card Cribbage | "Six Card Cribbage is basically a game for two players, but adapts easily for three players, and for four players in fixed partnerships - a very useful feature. It is now the standard form of Cribbage and widely played in English speaking parts of the world. " |
| "Baccarat is the game often seen in movies when swanky Europeans, like James Bond are playing in a posh casino like Monte Carlo. But it is found in many casinos in the United States and all over the world. It is one of the simplest games to play. All you do is decide if you want to bet on Banker or Player and how much you want to bet." | |
| Baccarat | |
| Spades | "Spades is a highly popular American card game invented in the 1930s. Rare outside of the United States until the mid-1990s, with the advent of the Internet and online gaming the popularity of Spades has spread worldwide. This is an excellent game for spending a night with a small group of friends." |
| Hearts | "Hearts is a trick taking game in which the object is to avoid winning tricks containing hearts; the queen of spades is even more to be avoided. The game first appeared at the end of the nineteenth century and is now popular in various forms in many countries. This page describes the American version first. Some remarks on other variations will be found at the end. " |
| Hearts | "The object of the game of Hearts is not to pick up tricks that contain hearts in them. " |
| Euchre | "The Euchre deck is a twenty-four card deck consisting of a 9, 10, J, Q, K, and A of each of the four suits. " |
| Golf | "May be played with two and as many more as practical.Two regular decks, with two jokers or more, each deck.(at least 108 cards.) You may want to use an extra deck with more players. " |
| Push | "Push is for four players, two against two in fixed partnerships; as usual, partners sit facing each other. Two standard packs of cards are used, including 4 jokers, making 108 cards in all. The jokers and twos are wild cards." |
| Queens | "May be played with two and as many as six, but with four or six, you can play partners, (two and two or three and three). Cards: Two regular decks, with two jokers each deck.(108 cards), You may want to use an extra deck with six players. " |
| Egyptian Ratscrew | "Egyptian Ratscrew is an unusual, extremely fast-paced game vaguely reminiscent of slapjack, spit, speed, stress, nurse, etc. for two or more players. It can get pretty hot. Anyone can play, but to be good requires quick thinking, fast reflexes, and tough hands." |
"A big advantage over stamp collecting is that playing cards are much larger and more stable. You don't need a magnifying glass and a pair of tweezers to enjoy the pictures. You can touch the cards with your hands without risking damaging them. " |
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| Why Collect Playing Cards? | |
| The Playing Card Page | "The Internet source for information about playing cards and playing card collecting" |
| Collecting Playing Cards | "Playing cards have been known since at least the early 1300’s, and it is a safe wager that almost since that time there have been people who were fascinated enough by the card images, artistry and folklore surrounding the cards to collect them." |
| Chicago Playing Card Collectors | "Our subject matter is extensive. Out there for the hunting, as the stuff for our ever expanding albums and display cases, are endless varieties of cards. Our members' preferences include singles and/or full decks; cards from the antique and vintage to modern; from the general to a host of topical themes. " |
| 52 Plus Joker | "Originally formed to cater to the interests of collectors of American antique playing card decks, 52 Plus Joker has long since broadened the scope of the club to include the collecting of playing cards and related items of all sorts, and from around the world! " |
| The Magic of Tarot Card Reading | "The power of the tarot is much more than simply the interpretation of the symbols on the cards. The story it tells goes much deeper than that. It's as if an energy field is created by the spread that is thrown, and a light trance state is entered into by taking a few deep breaths. And then the reading begins." |
Board Games
Board Games
Also see Online Games and Computer & Console Games |
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US Chess Federation. "If you're a newcomer to this 1500-year-old game, we want to help you get better. Browse through uschess.org's detailed material including the official rules, a glossary and a FAQ and chess history designed specially for those starting out." |
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| New to Chess? | |
| The Rules of Chess | "Chess is a game, played by two players. One player plays with the white pieces, and the other player plays with the black pieces. Each player has sixteen pieces in the beginning of the game: one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns." |
| American Checker Federation | News information, collections, and magazines. |
| How to Play Checkers | "Checkers is a game so easy that even a child can play it, yet so fascinating that both American and international tournaments exist. Sporting a few simple rules and an endless variety of strategies, Checkers lives up to the old saying, "takes minutes to learn, but a lifetime to master!" |
| Backgammon Rules | "Backgammon is a game for two players, played on a board consisting of twenty-four narrow triangles called points. The triangles alternate in color and are grouped into four quadrants of six triangles each." |
| Gammoned.com | "Backgammon is an exciting game , which blends luck and skill together. A wonderful game, which has been played for many centuries and will be played for many more years all around the world. Read on to learn about backgammon rules and the game secrets and basic moves. In addition, if you are unsure of any of the terms used here on this page check out the Backgammon Dictionary that explains everything." |
| "Mexican Train is a domino game, played mainly in the USA. and Canada It is best played with four or more players. A double twelve set of dominoes is used. This contains all possible pairs of numbers from 0 (blank) to 12, giving 91 pieces in all. In addition some markers: one penny or poker ship for each player and one special marker, nickel or a different colored poker chip for the "Mexican Train"." |
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| Mexican Train Dominoes | |
| Domino Games | More than a dozen types of dominoes including Mexican Train and Chickenfoot. |
| Free Dominoes Online | Two versions. |
| Domino Rules | " Dominoes or variants of it are played in almost all countries of the world but it is most popular in Latin America. " |
| Domino Euchre | "You can play domino Euchre as two or three individuals, but the game is by far best as a four-player partnership game. Use a standard 6-6 set of dominoes. " |
| "You Blew It" Dice | "This is a dice game, played with six dice and just about any amount of players, depending on how slow or fast you wish to play." |
| Farkle Dice | "When a player’s accumulated score is 10,000 or more, each player has one last turn to beat that total. The player with the highest score wins." |
| Dice Collecting | "Dice come in many shapes and designs, and there are collectors with thousands of different examples. If you want to collect dice you could collect a specific or specialised kind of die or collect across the whole range of different types. " |
| Dice Collector | Be careful - the dice will follow you around this site. |
| "Like many other traditional games, there are a wide variety of forms and rules of Mah Jong which makes things somewhat difficult for anyone trying to find the definitive set of rules. The first rules given here are based on the original Chinese game which is the simplest and probably the most skillful form. Also given are additional rules for the British game. This version differs slightly to the typical Chinese game because only one chow is allowed per hand and the Chinese game has fewer "special hands". Some will find the British game more interesting than the Chinese game but the Chinese game is more elegant and traditional." | |
| The Rules of Mah Jong (Chinese & British versions) | |
| So You Wanna Learn Mah Jong | "Most people think of mah-jong as "that Chinese game with the noisy tiles." And they'd be right. Also known as mah-jongg, ma-diao, mah-cheuck, baak-ling, and pung-chow, playing mah-jong can be as complicated as figuring out what to call it, but it's also exciting, challenging, and a great gambling alternative to poker." |
| Strategy of Mahjong | "Although apparently viewed as a game of pure luck in some circles, in reality Mahjong features considerable strategy and over the course of an entire match, Skill will tell over Luck." |
| Mahjong Rules | "The purpose of the game is to be the first to complete a hand. A completed hand consists of four sets of three (or four) tiles in a suit plus an identical pair of any suit. " |
| Mah Jong Rules Traditional Chinese Style | "The object is to collect a set of fourteen tiles grouped into four melds of three tiles each and a matched pair. The melds can be either three identical tiles, known as a Pung, or a straight of three tiles of one suit marked with consecutive numbers, known as a Chow." |
| How Do You Win at Mah Jong | "The History of Mahjong game can only be traced back to the latter part of 1890 in the area of Ning Po (China). As the game spread through China different regions adopted the game, each with its own unique set of rules. " |
| Everything You Need To Know About Japanese Mahjong | "This site began its life as the Internet's only place where the Japanese three-player variation of mahjong was discussed in English. However, it must be admitted that, whatever the merits of the three player game, when compared to traditional Japanese "four-player" mahjong, it has only a regional following. By contrast, traditional "four-player" mahjong is played throughout the whole Japanese archipelago." |
"This site is a central resource for board game information, rules, software, and links, focused on the traditional and family board games that many people know and love, as well as new games you might not yet be familiar with, but which we think you'll enjoy." |
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| Board Game Central | |
| Wikipedia's Board Games | "A board game is a game played with counters or pieces that are placed on, removed from, or moved across a "board" (a premarked surface, usually specific to that game). Simple board games often make ideal "family entertainment" since they are often appropriate for all ages. Some board games, such as chess, go/weiqi, xiangqi, shogi, or oware, have intense strategic value and have been classics for centuries." |
| How to Clean Board Games | "Cleaning board games isn't as difficult as you might think. Just exercise a bit of caution along the way, and everything should turn out fine." |
| A History of Board Games | "The oldest complete board game found thus far is "The Royal Game of Ur" -- which was discovered in 1926-1927 by Sir Leonard Woolley in royal tombs in what is now Iraq -- dating back to more than 2500 B.C.E." |
| What’s More Fun: Playing or Collecting Board Games? | "By all means keep your eyes open at the next yard sale. Maybe you’ll come across a rare Elvis Monopoly game for just a buck." |
| How To Start a Board Game and Card Game Collection | "Collecting board games can be a wonderful hobby. There's an almost infinite number of ways to set up your collection, so it can reflect your personality and tastes." |
| Collecting Board Games | "For serious board game players, it would be hard to stick to a board game and play the game for itself. There are serious players who prefer their pieces to be the best there is in the market. Most of the time, these players are not content to have only one set piece in their collection. They start to get serious in collecting pieces and before they know it, they've collected more than they could play with. " |
| How To Find Game Rules or Instructions | "o matter how hard you try not to, chances are good that you'll lose the rules to at least one game sometime during your life. These tips can help you find what you need." |
| Board Game Collecting Tips | "Since the oldest games don't come on the market very often, some of the most popular board games with collectors are more modern. This is especially true for those produced between 1946 and 1999 featuring licensed characters from comic strips, movies, television, and radio shows." |
| Making a Game of Collecting | Internet listing of links for board game collectors. |
Stuffed Animals
Stuffed Animals
| Collecting Stuffed Animals - Getting Started | "Plush toys have the advantages of being easy to obtain, esthetically pleasing, highly variable, and personal to each collector. It?s easy to make your own collection distinctive and fun to use." |
| Stuffed Animals Collection - Why and How to Start One | "When first beginning, have a theme. This way your collection will be organized and unified. Plus, it gives you a place to start. For example, you could have a jungle theme. For this theme you could get stuffed lions, stuffed leopards, or any other tropical rainforest animal. Or maybe you want a forest theme." |
| Fun Things To Do With Stuffed Animals | "One of the best things about stuffed animals is that they are one of the most versatile toys you can own. Below are some ideas about things to do with stuffed animals. " |
| I Love Stuffed Animals | "Anonymously connect with people who share your experiences-- like those who say 'I Love Stuffed Animals'. Read hundreds of true stories, share your own story anonymously, get feedback and comments, chat in the discussion forum, help others, and meet new friends" |
| Care Bear Price Guide | "These items are NOT for sale!! This is just a guide to help you purchase Care Bear items." |
| Raikes Collectibles Catalog
by House of Bears |
"The Raikes Catalog is arranged in chronological order from 1985 through the present time. Pieces that were released together are identified as an Edition and grouped together in a section." |
| Guide to Collecting Stuffed Animals
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Collecting stuffed animals can be fun, but finding the best deals and properly caring for and preserving these treasures does take some work. |
| Great Gift Ideas for Stuffed Animal Collectors | "When trying to come up with a gift for a stuffed animal collector logically I think stuffed animal! However if your collector is fussy about what they like to collect such as a certain designer brand or a certain animal or color you could be out of luck." |
| Stuffed Animals Reviews | Reviews and commercial links |
| How to Properly Clean Stuffed Animals, Stuffed Plush Toys | "They're cute to look at, soft to cuddle with, and fun to play with. Even if you have just one, you'll need to know how to properly clean your stuffed plush toy." |
| Animal Bags! | "These bags are similar to classic bean bag chairs, but with a twist! Instead of being filled with some sort of stuffing, these bags get filled with your ever growing collection of stuffed animals! " |
| Bad Taste Bears Collecting Club | "In 1999, the BT Bear Company turned into collectable figurines. They began with just the first six figurines on sale in the Gadget Shop, UK. Within the first year, the range increased to twelve figurines and in the months that followed, due to an increasing demand, they launched a collectors club to provide a point of contact for the Bad Taste Bear fans." |
| Collecting Beanie Babies: You Can Find Every Animal Imaginable for Your Collection | "Beanie Babies were a big hit back around 1996-1999. They were a huge fad and there were extremely hard to find. Some of the lucky people got to the beanie babies before the rest of us and they bought the rare versions of the beanie babies." |
| How to Collect Beanie Babies | "Beanie Babies continue to be very popular among collectors. Whether you want to collect them for fun or to make money, it pays to know where and when to find them." |
| Ducky on the Net | "May the luck of the ducks be with you always." |
| World's Largest Rubber Duck Collection | "Charlotte Lee, of the USA, has earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the World’s Largest Rubber Duck Collection. In 2003 her collection weighed in with 1,439 unique rubber ducks, and that number has been growing steadily since. A recent estimate puts the count at well over 2100 unique rubber ducks." |
| Tips From an Obsessed Duck Collector | "My thing is ducks. I have several hundred around my house. I had to box many of them up because I am still working on a way to display them. I began my collection seven years ago when ducks became my theme to life. " |
| Duck Web | "I've been collecting rubber ducks since 2001. The first few came from drugstores and department stores, but after I received a Rubba duck for Christmas I began searching online for the other ducks listed in its accompanying brochure. I entered my fledgling duck collection in the 2003 San Diego County Fair, and to my surprise it was not the only one there. Although I came to duck collecting on my own, it's apparently not an uncommon hobby." |
Jigsaw & Other Puzzles
Jigsaw & Other Puzzles
Also see Online Puzzles and the Mind Games in Education & Self Improvement
| Par Puzzles | "Par Picture Puzzles were originally designed by the two past owners of the company as a hobby, planned for their amusement alone. Their aim was simply better puzzles...not profit. They experimented for months with pictures printed on different papers. They tried many woods, styles of cutting, saw blades and glues. They developed rigid specifications." |
| The American Jigsaw Puzzle Society | "The American Jigsaw Puzzle Society is an organization devoted to sharing information on jigsaw puzzles and related areas of interest to all puzzle enthusiasts, and we hope that you will find our site useful in this regard." |
| History of Jigsaw Puzzles | "We invite you to step back, for a moment, into quieter, simpler days, before television or computers, when people relaxed and entertained themselves by sitting around a table or on the floor, working jigsaw puzzles. They would talk as they worked, about the puzzle before them, or about events of the day, or about their dreams and their memories. Join those of us who still pursue this relaxing, stimulating, and wholesome pastime." |
| Jigsaw Puzzles - A Brief History | "The origins of jigsaw puzzles go back to the 1760s when European map makers pasted maps onto wood and cut them into small pieces. The "dissected map" has been a successful educational toy ever since." |
| Mr Puzzle | " Brian has been making a full-time living from puzzles since 1993 and has been collecting puzzles since he was a boy. His personal collection is now approaching 2000 pieces which he points out is by no means a large collection compared to others in the world. Some collectors have between 30,000 and 40,000 pieces in their collections. Some puzzles in Brian’s collection are more than 150 years old." |
| Association of Game & Puzzle Collectors | "The world's foremost organization dedicated to the collection and preservation of games and puzzles. We conduct research and explore the history of games and puzzles from ancient times up to the present, and disseminate information about games and puzzles" |
| Puzzle Grail Forums | Online message board forum for puzzle lovers |
| The British Jigsaw Puzzle Library | "This is a lending library and puzzles are exchanged mainly by post. Members are sent puzzles according to their preferences with regard to size and difficulty. We undertake to exchange them as promptly as possible and not to supply the same puzzle twice. All the puzzles are wooden without picture guides and our team of cutters keeps adding to our collection of about 4,000 puzzles. The variety of style and degree of difficulty are wide and we take considerable care to suit each member. " |
| Passion for Puzzle Blog | "Next to his daily work Marcel is interested in puzzles and in web design. " |
| How to Collect Vintage Jigsaw Puzzles | "The jigsaw puzzle first gained popularity with adults around 1900. These puzzles remained popular during the Great Depression, when people needed inexpensive means of entertainment. Many of these vintage toys are still available today. Here's how you can collect them." |
| Private Puzzle Collections | "On this page are links to private mechanical puzzle collections. You can see what other puzzle enthusiasts are collecting." |
Dolls & Puppets
Dolls & Puppets
Also see Doll Crafts |
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| "If you're a doll collector, whether antique or contemporary, looking for good company and lively, intelligent discussion, you've found the place! The Antique Dolls Collectors Online Advisors is a online community of doll collectors working together to create a friendly, and informative site for doll collectors online -- we offer information and advice as well as a place to just relax, sip your well-deserved coffee and soak up some knowledge about antique collectible dolls, gain some moral support and much encouragement." | |
| The Antique Dolls Collectors Online Advisors | |
| Terminology: Antique and Vintage Dolls | "Are you new to antique and vintage (pre-1960s) doll collecting? Don't be lost--here are all the buzz-words and definitions you'll need! Talk like a pro!" |
| How to Take Care of Collectible Dolls | "Collectible dolls--they can be objects of devotion, recipients of emotions, triggers of wonderful memories, beauties to behold, and sometimes a handful of cash when they are sold. But you wouldn't want to caress a dust-laden collectible doll with tattered clothes if it looks like a bugaboo from a previous century." |
| Doll Reference Web Site | "A guide to doll collecting and identifying dolls 1800-1970's, Antique to Vintage dolls, over 10,000+ photo's, descriptions and markings are included; dolls are listed by manufacture or by type of material that the doll is made from i.e.. wood, bisque, composition, hard plastic, vinyl, etc.." |
| A Page of Dolls from All Countries - Links | Exactly what it says |
| Antique Doll Information Exchange |
"This Bulletin Board is for the exchange of information on Antique Dolls only!" |
| How to Buy Antique Dolls | "Do you disdain Baby Go Bye-Bye and other soulless synthetic wonders of the modern world in favor of the lustrous porcelain faces, kid bodies and natural-hair wigs of antique dolls? Here's how to become a collector." |
| Doll Identification | "This page describes various body types of small dolls, primarily those small vinyl "theme" types made in the 1980's. I hope this page can help you find out just who that mystery doll you found at the local flea market or thrift shop is. Most these pages show an example of the body type, and links that will help you identify individual dolls. Click on the thumbnails to view more information for that doll type." |
| The Doll Net | "On-line Shops, Bulletin Boards, Mailing List, Chat Rooms, Virtual Cards, Awards, Gallery, Free Patterns and Tips, Doll Challenges, Profiles, Books, Online Classes and more." |
| The Forgotten Dolls | "The Forgotten Dolls collective is intended to provide a complete and detailed listing (with photographs) of different lines of obscure vintage dolls and their accessories, since no other complete resource for these dolls exists on the Internet. It is a privately-run and -funded site run by an avid collector. All photographs are of items in my personal collection, taken by yours truly. If it's not in the shop (bottom of the left menu), they are not for sale, and they are not pictures reproduced from a dealer's catalog." |
| This Old Doll | " Dolls are much more than toys or pretty ornaments. They tell a story about what it was like to live in their time. Their clothes show us fashion, their composition tell us about the technology, the construction certainly tells us that there was a time when children were taught to be careful with their toys." |
"Approaching her 40th birthday, Barbie is one of the most popular collectibles in the United States. She has over 120 new ensembles each year and has more than a billion pairs of shoes. Every second, two Barbies are sold somewhere in the world." |
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| Antique And Collectible Barbies | |
| The Barbie Collecting Start Page | Links to online sites and articles. |
| Crazie for Barbie | "When collecting Barbie, the doll values in a guide used for a Barbie doll collecting can be either tangible or intangible but either way we have a value guide for you." |
| How to Start a Barbie Collection | "Buy some basic Barbies if you're starting a child's collection; add to the collection gradually. Do some research if you're interested in collecting valuable Barbies." |
| Barbie Doll Collecting Forum | Join the conversation. |
| Why People Are Collecting Vintage Barbie Dolls | "Barbie dolls have been around for a long time, a American business woman named Ruth Handler is seen as the creator of the Barbie doll concept, the first of the popular dolls had seen the light in 1959 and was inspired by a German doll called Bild Lilli. Every little girl knows Barbie and has probably played with a Barbie Doll but Barbie dolls weren't only for little ladies, she is a highly collectible doll." |
| Barbie Dolls, Clothing andAccessories | "My goal is to provide a comprehensive resource to vintage Barbie dolls, clothing, accessories and other collectible fashion dolls, beginning with Barbie's debut in 1959." |
"Since many similar questions are for general doll collection information, I decided it would be beneficial to develop this page to share the information, and perhaps answer your questions immediately." |
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| FAQ About Doll Collecting | |
| Kachina Dolls | "Taken from the Hopi Indian word meaning supernatural, a kachina is the essence or spirit of a particular thing. The kachina is an ancient concept, but kachina dolls have only been made since the late 1800s. Kachina dolls produced by the Pueblo Indians, particularly the Hopis and Zunis, were designed for use in religious education." |
| The BobbleHead Gallery | "On the pages of this unique sports art gallery you'll see examples of all original, hand painted bobbleheads (or nodder dolls)." |
| Bobblehead Collection | "Most people consider a cute bobblehead as excellent gift item. But did you know that you can make money out of your bobblehead collection? Collecting bobblehead now can become your hobby but 10 to 15 years from now, the value of your collection can bring significant financial reward for you. " |
| The Enduring Charm of Raggedy Ann And Andy | "Raggedy Ann and Andy have been in commercial production since 1920, which qualifies them as an antique doll, a vintage doll, and a modern doll." |
| eBay Raggedy Ann Buyer's Guide | "When looking for Raggedy Ann and Andy items you can look on the search page by putting in Raggedy and it will bring up all the Raggedy Ann and Andy items that are listed on ebay." |
| Raggedy Ann & Andy | "I am addicted to these floppy red headed sweet dolls. I cannot seem to stop myself. I don't want to! I know there are many more of you like me out there. This page is dedicated to all of us." |
| The Disney Dolls WebRing | "A thorough listing of disney collectables including Disney dolls, videos and movies, disney plushes and playsets, Disney posters and lithographs and much much more." |
| How to Collect Russian Nesting Dolls | "Russian nesting dolls all descend from the original matryoshka dolls that bear an image of a peasant woman. They come in a variety of designs with classic and modern subjects." |
| Daruma Dolls | "Daruma dolls are said to represent the priest Bodhidharma, a 6th century Indian priest considered the founder of Chinese Zen Buddhism" |
| Fisher Price Little People | "You know you're really a Fisher-Price Little People collector when you pay $40 for some very tiny lime-green bathroom scales...." |
We are seeking links for this category - If you know any good non-commercial web sites, please let us know. Collectors' Forums are also welcome. suggestions@slightlycreaky.com. |
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"With an endless number of choices, deciding how to start a dolls' house collection can be daunting. The diversity of materials, price ranges, styles and periods for a dolls house can be overwhelming to a beginning collector." |
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| How To Start a Collection of Dolls House Miniatures | |
| The Great American Doll House Museum | "Activity abounds in the miniature village. Visitors will be intrigued by the social interaction and historical detail in its hundreds of buildings, and by the vivid characters that fill its streets, back yards, and parks." (Danville, KY) |
| Museum of Childhood: Doll Houses | (UK) "The oldest house, the Nuremberg House of 1673, is one of the Museum's greatest treasures. There is also a small group of 18th century houses, including the magnificent Tate Baby House of about 1760, and a rich holding from the 19th century. Some were made by carpenters whilst others, such as the house given to the Museum in 1921 by Queen Mary, have royal connections." |
| Famous Doll Houses from Around the World | "Dollhouses can range from a simple one-room cottage to a great multi-levelled castle of intricate design. Some of these houses are modern, others are Colonial, and still others unlike any real house ever made. Here is a short list of the world’s most famous dollhouses from around the world that truly are unique." |
| 1/12 Scale Dollhouses | "The fascinating hobby of recreating houses and their contents in detailed miniature is by no means a recent one. It has been in existence for centuries in one form or another. The earliest recorded replica of a fully furnished house was owned by Albert V, Duke of Bavaria, in the mid-sixteenth century." |
| Miniature Collecting 101 | "Actively making decisions about what specific items you intend to collect, what story you want your collection to tell, what you can afford, how you will improve and how you will use your collection, will add to your knowledge and interest as well as creating a better collection in the long run." |
| Dolls House Parade | "The earliest records of dolls houses or "baby houses" as they were also called, date back to the sixteenth century, but these were exclusive, tending to be replicas of wealthy family homes and were built as a record of the times rather than for hobby or play purposes." |
| Dolls House Emporium Discussion Forum | "This is a family friendly Dolls' House Discussion Forum." |
| Maple Street | (Commercial - UK) "Designed as a place to bring the whole family, The LARGEST dolls house and Miniature shop in Europe (possibly the world!) With huge discounts, seven day opening, on site parking for up to 80 cars and coaches why not take some time out and pay us a visit - we know you will enjoy it!" |
| Free Doll House Plans | "Building a dollhouse can be a rewarding project for the builder as well as the one who decorates it." |
| It's A Small World After All | (CBS News) "The earliest known American-made doll house is a pavilion structure dating from 1769. It was made by a 14-year-old girl. But Sara Henry, chief curator of the Museum of the City of New York, says most of the historic houses in the museum's collection were really designed by and for adults. " |
| History of the Doll House | "Doll houses fall into the category of toys, no matter how luxurious they are, but it sounds a bit unbelievable that they have been kept as museum pieces and collector's items and extremely valued for their exquisiteness by lords, kings and queens. Germany is known as the ancestral home of doll houses and Japan is famous for its unrivalled traditional doll palaces." |
| How To Display Miniatures | "Most people don't plan too far ahead, but depending on the number of collectibles in your miniature range, or how broad a collection you want, you should have some sort of idea about how much your collection can grow, and roughly how many items you will collect." |
A collection of Internet links and resources. |
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| Puppetry Exhibits and Museums | |
| Puppets and Stuff | "The heart of the puppet community here is the Forum where you can find tons of information from the history of puppetry to how to market your own puppet company. We discuss just about everything that is related to puppets and puppet theater. You can see the last five topics that where posted in the left hand column. You might be able to tell by the listing that puppetry often involves other abilities other then just how to build or manipulate a puppet. You can find areas to talk about staging, sound, lighting and even other forms of childrens entertainment like story telling, clowning or magic." |
| The Puppetry Home Page | "The Puppetry Home Page is produced by Rose Sage Barone of Sagecraft Productions and Nick Barone of Nick Barone Puppets, who are aided by contributors from the puppetry community world-wide. The Puppetry Home Page is a free resource for the puppetry community and is dedicated to helping people connect with the world of puppetry." |
| Jim Henson Foundation | "Since 1982, the Jim Henson Foundation has made over 440 grants for the development of new works of contemporary American puppet theater. Each year the number of applicants and the scope of their artistic vision continue to grow. We are proud to support the extraordinary work of so many fine artists." |
| Muppet Central | "Muppet Central provides fans with current news and information, along with an active discussion forum so people can meet and talk about the latest Henson happenings." |
| Puppet Resources | "Welcome to Puppet Resources, the home of free puppet scripts, skits, plays, and resources. You can search for scripts using keywords or phrases, browse the script categories, and even share some scripts that you've written ... and everything is completely free!" |
| Puppetry Definitions | A collection of Internet links and resources. |
| No Strings Attached | "No Strings Attached started using puppets in church way back in 1993 as part of a fun weekend. We got hooked." Included making and using puppets and set design. |
| Online Puppets Companies | "For a long time I have been searching for the websites of puppet companies (or those using puppets in shows), performing artists and puppetry organizations. Here, you will find the websites of various puppet companies and puppeteers around the world." |
| World Ventriloquist Association | (On Yahoo Groups) "This is the world's largest group of professional and amateur ventriloquists. The World Ventriloquist Association list is dedicated to providing the finest forum in ventriloquism for professional and amateur ventriloquists worldwide." |
| The British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild | "Our Aims and Objectives are to protect and promote the skills of puppetry and Model theatre; to improve the standards of puppetry in all its forms, and to establish a basis of communication between its members, in both Great Britain and all parts of the world." |
| Finger Puppet Heaven | "Finger Puppet Heaven is a place where the magic of Finger Puppets can come alive. These beautiful, hand crafted toys have delighted both children and adults for centuries. Now you too can join in the fun." |
| Bibliography on Shadow Puppetry | "Shadow puppets are flat figures. They are cut out of leather, which has been treated to make it translucent. Shadow puppets are pressed against the screen with a strong source of light behind it. The manipulation between the light and the screen make silhouette or colour shadow and viewers sit in front of the screen" |
| Marionette Links | Online resources |
| Union Internationale de la Marionnette | With French, Mexican, and British links. |
| Czech Marionettes | (Commercial) Pictures and possibilities. |
| Proptology | (A magazine for those who work behind the scenes) "Over the past generation, the building, buying and handling of props in North American theatres has been steadily evolving from a tedious function performed by whichever actor or stagehand was unlucky enough not to escape it, to a serious profession of skilled specialist artists and craftsmen. Props have ceased to be seen merely as objects required to illustrate the action in the script; they have taken their place with costumes, lighting and all other aspects of production as essential contributors to the total performance." |
"Not all doll repairs are difficult and time-consuming endeavors. Some repairs can be made quickly and don't require extensive knowledge of doll repair." |
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| Doll Repair: Common Problems and How to Fix Them | |
| Doll Restoration | "Essential information and sites dealing with restoration, conservation, repair and preservation of dolls and other collectibles. Specific information on dolls, as well as general conservation and restoration information for collectibles." |
| Babyland General Hospital | "Cabbage Patch Dolls were the first in a series of "crazes" that swept the United States starting in the early 1980's, although Babyland General Hospital had been giving birth to the moppets since 1978." |
| The Doll Hospital | (commercial). "Restringing, Rewigging, Setting Eyes, Compo Repair, Repainting, Cleaning, Parts Replacement, Dressing, and More. Do not throw away your beloved doll, have her restored to be cherished again. Our prices are very reasonable and turn around time is usually within two weeks." |
| Doll Repair | "Unlike children, dolls suffer in silence. They may get torn or lose an arm or leg without complaint. After years of use or storage their stuffing may go flat, or they may need a gentle cleaning to revive them." |
| Doll Conservation And Repair | "Our eight part series on Doll Conservation and Repair will help you fix, repair, and beautify all your garage sale and less-than-perfect doll finds. Whether you are repairing or preserving Barbie dolls, antique dolls, or composition dolls, this series has information that you can use." |
Action Figures
Action Figures
| Action Figure Times | Columns, forums, blogs, and information about action figures. |
| Bug-Eyed Monsters | "I started this site back in 1996 or so as an homage to the classic toys of the 60's, 70's and early 80's that fueled my imagination and brought countless hours of joy to play time. I was inspired by the other toy lovers I found via Usenet and the nascent Internet, and wanted to contribute to the collective knowledge of toydom. Much of what is documented on my site has probably been superceded by countless WIKIs, but I enjoy the site as much as I enjoy my toys, so I keep it up anyway." |
| Toy Soldiers | "The toy soldier has been mass-produced for the juvenile market for over 150 years and collecting them has become a very accessible and affordable pastime for many thousands of people worldwide. Okay some individual toy soldiers are expensive but nonetheless you can still amass a sizeable collection for a reasonable outlay." |
| How to Start an Action Figure Collection | "Action figure collecting can be a fun, rewarding and profitable hobby. It’s easy to start collecting and there are no hard and fast rules to starting an action figure collection." |
| Action Figure Webring | "Anything to do with action figure collecting, including news, pictures, custom figures, archives, essays and merchant sites." |
| Collecting Action Figures Today | "Ever since George Lucas had the idea to market toys and action figures around Star Wars in 1977, collecting and loving action figures has become one of the most fun and exciting hobbies around." |
| Harry Potter Action Figures | Links. |
| A Beginners' Guide to Action Figures | "After spending what seemed to be almost an eternity scouring the net, I still had yet to come across a web page or site that covered most of the basics of what the novice action figure collector needs to know before diving head-first into this rather large and unforgiving hobby." |
| Star Wars: The Collect To Collect Code Of Honor | "The principles behind the Collect to Collect credo are two-fold: aid your fellow Star Wars enthusiast and discourage those who collect strictly for the sake of profit." |
| Star Wars Collectors Club | "The Star Wars Collecting Community is one of the greatest in the world. " |
| GI Joe Action Soldier and Adventure Team | " GI Joe was first put into action for the Toy Fair in 1964" |
| Master Collectors Online | " This Fun Publications, Inc. web site brings you the latest information about the world of collecting and provides a great resource for collectors of all ages." |
We are seeking links for this category - If you know any good non-commercial web sites, please let us know. Collectors' Forums are also welcome. suggestions@slightlycreaky.com. |
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