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It has been many a few years since my family has really sent out holiday cards. It used to be that we’d get dozens every year from family and friends. And this little thing called the “internet” became a thing and then e-cards came in. And then just mass emails going…

Hey you,

Happy holidays!

TTYL

Or something like that. Actually writing cards has become a lost art. Nowadays, I only write in cards for birthdays, because birthday cards typically accompany birthday gifts. This is if I actually remember to buy a card (which I sometimes do not…). This year, I toyed with the idea of getting cards printed, I would put together a festive holiday scene in late October, order the cards in November and get them all out the door in the first week of December so that they would all have time to get to their recipients. Needless to say, I am just not that organized when it comes to the holidays and none of those things got accomplished. I did not send out a single card this holiday season, despite my best of intentions. Maybe next year?

But my dolls are much more thoughtful than I am, and they’ve been writing in holiday cards and receive cards this holiday season.

If you’re interested in printing your own, you can download the Printable Holiday Cards here.

Do you send out holiday cards? Are any Blythes on them?

The challenge? Shop for all things holiday at the dollar store with $10 (plus tax). I needed to get everything that was necessary to create a holiday scene for my dolls. It’s totally doable… Right? Right? If not, I’ll be eating crow for Christmas and I don’t think that’ll taste particularly good! So here goes…

Challenge: Accepted

I set out to my local (and favourite) dollar store. The staff there is super friendly and they’ve had Christmas themed everything in stock since around Halloween. Yes. Christmas in October. Stores just keep going earlier and earlier with their red and green and ho-ho-ho all over. But, I digress. I was on a mission! Even if Christmas music was playing over and over again and it was driving me insane – I had a challenge to complete.

I bought…

• 3 sheets of felt (white, red and green) – you had already seen some of it earlier this week with the Felt Stocking pattern -$1 for 3
• 1 package of silver jingle bells in two sizes – $1
• 1 package of silver-lined plastic beads – $1
• 1 spool of 30 gauge silver-tone wire – $1
• 1 package of 4 bath puffs – $1
• 1 teeny tiny Christmas tree – $1
• 2 festive mini-hats (meant to clip onto your hair) – $4

Things that I already own are exempt from the challenge – like glue and thread, but I will point them out when I successfully complete the challenge to do the ultimate holiday scene on a budget.

It will be a weekend of crafting for me as I figure out just what I will be doing with all of this stuff. What do I have planned for those bath puffs? Guess you’ll just have to wait and see! But it will be a festive scene, it will be a very festive scene indeed! If you want to find out what I’m doing with the beads and the wire, you’ll have to check in next Wednesday for Day 3 of Giving!

I will be sharing my very festive dolly holiday scene next Friday, so be sure to check back to see I do to make the holidays happen for my Blythes.

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My Barbie growing up never had a boyfriend – there was no Ken in the house, nor was there an appropriately sized male doll to take Ken’s place. Officially, Blythe is a star like Barbie. Sure, she’s got some younger sisters – but there is no official boy Blythe around. Blythe is to Barbie as Middie is to Skipper and Petite is to Kelly. But what of the Ken counterpart?

Boy Blythe custom on the right by Debby/lace52000.

Many customizers, both new and old to the craft, have tried their hands at revamping the style of a Blythe to look more masculine, or just young and boyish. The first thing that definitely needs to go is the stock Blythe body – after all, a boy Blythe doesn’t need a girlish figure. But what other options are there for doll bodies? Licca is out, so is the Neemo bodies that I have seen (unless there is a male version that I’ve never seen?). I’ve seen several customs that have actually used Bratz Boy bodies to seal the deal. Bonus? Bratz Boys can be found at thrift stores, and I’ve definitely seen bags (and bags, and bags) of Bratz Boys (and Girls) shoes available. Yes, they are oddly peg-legged, but one cannot be picky when it comes to finding a body that works for the doll’s new gender.

Like with all custom work, I can always appreciate the time, effort and skill that went into changing a Blythe from girl to boy. Because it is a skill that not everyone can successfully pull off. Trying to make a doll look more boyish is hard, especially with a face like Blythe’s. For me and my collection, I don’t think I’ll be adding a custom boy doll. It’s like with a lot of custom work – it’s far better for me to appreciate it than attempt to own due to cost and how I see new comers fitting into the existing family.

Blythes will be like the Barbies I had when I was younger – all girls and no boys allowed!

What are your thoughts on boy Blythes?