Flash Back- paper dolls and lunch boxes

[ 1960's Little Women paper dolls]

I once had a set of these paper dolls. They were played with for many long hours. I made them walk, I made them talk. I changed their little paper outfits thousands of times. Darn, how I hated when the tiny paper tabs tore and you had to repair them with tape. They were never quite the same after being taped but I loved them no less!! I often wished the girls were all posed the same so I could have all outfits work on all girls. The coat that had the cape and hand muff was my favorite, but I think I gave equal rotation to all pieces. I was named for two of the sisters- my first and middle names.
My friends had paper dolls too. We would have great fun playing paper dolls together. Sometimes we would try to make new clothes for them too!
I bought paper dolls for my 2 girls when they were little. They loved playing with them and also felt the same about the tabs tearing off. I even made a carrying box for each of them with doll images cut from magazines and catalogs decoupaged on the outside and a little button/ elastic loop closure and a silky cord handle. They found them a few months ago and the elastic loop was not stretchy anymore. I teased that it meant they were getting old. The girls not the dolls!!!

[1960's Aladdin metal lunch box]

When I was in grade school I had a lunch box identical to this one called Junior Miss. I do think mine was less beat up though. I LOVED this lunch box!!!!!!! I would stare at this girl everyday at the lunch table in the noisy cafeteria and wish I had long BROWN hair and GREEN eyes like hers!!!! I LOVED her hat with all the flowers and vines hanging down. Even to this day, I often doodle flowers and vines like that with colored pencils!!!
Lunch in those days was usually a peanut butter and butter (Oleo) sandwich carefully wrapped by Mom in wax paper and an apple and maybe a cookie. I think my thermos broke early on (remember how the insides of those old thermoses would literally shatter if you dropped them?) so I bought my milk for 3 cents. 3 CENTS!!!!!
When I look at her long brown hair and green eyes under that wonderful hat I am instantly taken back to the sights, sounds and smells of the grade school cafeteria!!!
Surprisingly, I have many, many of my childhood things still. That's what comes of never moving around from house to house. That, and having a SAVER for a Mother. I do not know what happened to either of these things- the paper dolls or lunch box. I would love to have these items once again to hold in my hand and look at. Maybe someday I will again.
(These photos were borrowed from ebay.)

sweet image

One from my personal collection of vintage ephemera to use in your own art projects. I think it is about 50 years old.
Have fun!!