Anything and Everything about Haunted Mansion Collectibles

This blog is moving!

2009-05-10T03:12:00.000-07:00

Today I'm excited to announce that Haunted Mansion Collectibles is moving to a new home! Our new site will still offer the same material, but in a much better format in which to showcase my pictures more easily. Anything and Everything HMC will still be here for reference sake, but I will no longer be updating this blog. Please don't forget to update your bookmarks.

Our new home can be found at www.HauntedMansionCollectibles.com or click here.

Congratulations!!

2009-05-08T18:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! Today is a good day! I'm excited to announce, in a triumphant voice, the winners of my first ever giveaway...way...way....

Yes, I feel triumphant that this giveaway wasn't a complete flop, and that I do have some readers who are willing to open up and share and PARTICIPATE!! Thank you. You made my day!

So here are the winners of my first ever giveaway!

You know, I was just realizing that we didn't really showcase the fabulous prize we're giving away today, so I'm sure you won't mind if we take a quick moment to share photos of some really good looking models wearing the Haunted Mansion Mickey Ears. Sam has been officially fired.

Here's my daughter Tannis... much easier on the eyes... speaking of eyes.. just look at hers!

But wait, this post isn't about how fabulous my daughter is. It's about this awesome prize. Of course, the iconic Hitchhiking Ghosts sit front and center.

Take a closer look at the cute little bats embroidered on the hat.

And since I'm an equal opportunity photographer (and mother) I had to get some pics of the boy. Yes, that is what we call him 'round these parts. The boy. And boy, oh boy, is he cute!

Well, cute in a "Mom, you better not take another picture of me," kinda way. He's just gonna have to get used to it. I can't help myself.

Ok, ok.. enough braggin on and on about my kids. Onto the announcement you've all been waiting for!

The winners of the Haunted Mansion Mickey Ears are.......

Ok.. so I have a confession. When I saw that there were 6 entries, I really couldn't bring myself to pick only 4. I couldn't just leave 2 fans hanging there...yeah, its my sensitive side rearing its ugly head again..

So You're All Winners!!

*applause, applause*

cmlegnax, bRENDAN, M.Gracey, MainstreetMom, gimmepig, and loosetoon are all going to receive their very own, brand spanking new set of Haunted Mansion Mickey Ears. I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, so before I freak out over the cost of postage, send me an email at hauntedmansioncollectibles@gmail.com with your name and address and I'll send your prize.

I sincerely thank you for playing along and I hope you enjoy your prize!

I Know You're There...

2009-05-07T15:48:00.000-07:00

I realize that my husband's modeling attempts might actually frighten my readers rather than inspire them to comment! Please, readers, do not be alarmed. He can't help himself. He's harmless, really!

This is the last day to post your comment for a chance to win a FABULOUS prize! Click here, and leave a comment telling us your favorite Haunted Mansion collectible. Its that easy. Really!

That, and I have a fragile ego. Don't leave me hanging like this. I know there are more of you out there; I've checked the stats!

*Sam wanted me to add that if you don't leave a comment, he's going to fart in your general direction!

* I'm not responsible for my husband's actions. You've been warned ;)

My first giveaway

2009-05-03T12:28:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday and since its better to give than to receive, I've decided to have my first giveaway.

On a recent trip to Las Vegas to photograph my first wedding (have you checked out our other obsession yet?) we came across the Disney Character Warehouse and found these Haunted Mansion Mickey Ears. Disneyland had these ears awhile back where my dear husband, Sam, so willingly modeled one for a picture.

Well, when I saw these sitting in the bin, I thought of you and thought it would be fun to give these away on the blog! So, here's what you have to do. Just leave a comment telling us your absolute favorite collectible. It could be one you have, or hoping to get your boney fingers on someday. Just spill your guts and on Friday, May 8th, I'll randomly pick 4 winners! Hey, only one entry per person, please!

Thanks for stopping by and now, its time for me to go eat some birthday cake!

Adora Bell Haunted Mansion Hostess

2009-05-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

Greetings Guys and Ghouls!

Today's collectible is definitely more cute than spooky, but I'd expect nothing less from Marie Osmond, doll creator extraordinaire! Marie Osmond personally sculpted Adora Belle, a Disneyland Park Exclusive, which is limited to 1000 pieces. She comes complete with a Miniature Pin Trading Lanyard and Mini Pins which are permanently affixed to it. Her costume is a perfect replica, down to the pockets in the long skirt. The apron, jacket & bat bat complete the official Haunted Mansion hostess costume, but the details don't stop there.

Take a look

Adora Belle is sporting some cute Mary Janes!

Check out the lanyard this ghost hostess has!

This is probably my favorite piece of the costume.

Brace yourself! Adora Belle is gonna show you her bloomers! I don't think any other Disneyland Cast Member can get away with holding up their skirt.. but she can. Because she's just so darn cute!

Seriously, just look at that face! Adorable Adora Belle, who can get away with showing her Mickey bloomers....

Even the box she comes in is adorable...
Unfortunately her box has a few creases and marks. The box is not as perfect as Adora Belle!

And no proper hostess could do her job without this unexpected accessory, the hair net. We wouldn't want any hair in our snake and spider stew, now would we?

It seems as this Adora Bell has been carefully repackaged in her original box and is ready for shipping! Yes, Haunted Mansion Collectible readers, it is time for me to say goodbye to this precious collectible.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention a few things..The original trading pins are not included in this purchase. This item is number 531 of 1000. If you're interested purchasing this Haunted Mansion Hostess Adora Belle Doll, please send me an email at hauntedmansioncollectibles@gmail.com

PS In case you forgot, be sure to stop by and check out the creative video by Patrick Hurd! Its quite a tale!

Its time for "The Show"!

2009-04-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

Greeting Ghost Fans!
Today I want to share with you all the many talents of Patrick Hurd. I first was introduced to Patrick through his website Doombuggy Productions, which sadly, is no longer on the internet. When I first started out looking for ideas and inspiration for my own haunted abode, Patrick's site was THE place to go. He offered many DIY projects with step by step instructions on how to make all sorts of Haunted Mansion and Haunted Mansion Holiday recreations. My favorite was the Jack head from the garland for Haunted Mansion Holiday. Thanks to his wonderful website and easy to follow instructions, I was able to create my own HMH decor. While I was influenced by the wonderful decor of the Haunted Mansion Holiday, Patrick was really the one who inspired me and gave me the means to create the decor of my dreams, er...or rather, nightmares!

Here's the Jack Skellington head

please don't chastise about the green garland. I'd always meant to spray paint it.. and then Michaels started carrying it! My new garland is black. I just don't have an updated picture.

You might have noticed the Scary Teddy Tree Topper. Patrick made that for me, and it probably gets more compliments than any other single item in our HMH decor. The candle that the toothy teddy is holding plugs in and offers just the perfect glow to the top of the tree. We plug ours into a flicker box when we want that extra special effect.

And finally, here's the video, with the tree all-a-flicker, and the jack head in place.

Ok, ok..so enough about me and onto "The Show"!!
Patrick is the host of "The Show" which can be seen on Youtube or iTunes. Here's more info about an upcoming episode which you won't want to miss!

On Friday May 1st, Patrick Hurd presents:

The Story of the Haunted Mansion.

You’ll learn how the wish of one man to provide a loving home for his family, became the nightmare that destroyed one generation after the next.

The 32 minute story is visualized through the art work of over 40 talented artists.

Nearly 300 original pieces of artwork were created exclusively for the story!

The short films voice cast includes actor Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser MD, How I Met Your Mother), Corey Burton (The Haunted Mansion Holiday’s Ghost Host), Peter Renaday (The Ghost Host from the classic 1969 Haunted Mansion LP), and voice guy extraordinaire Brian Sommer!

Find out how your favorite characters came to live and die inside Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion…and the surprising way their stories intertwine.

Visit the Window to the Magic video feed on iTunes on May 1 to download the high quality video for free…

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id(7955543

Or visit Patrick’s YouTube channel on May 1…

http://www.youtube.com/user/Doombuggy

So you think you know all about the Haunted Mansion…

You don’t know half the story!

Please be sure to subscribe on iTunes or Youtube and leave him some feedback love! His videos are hilarious and extremely well done. Be sure to check out Episode 3, the Halloween special. It's to die for!

And Patrick, thanks again for sharing all of your wonderful creations with us!

Another Haunted Mansion Tattoo

2009-04-06T00:48:00.001-07:00

I received an email from one of our blog readers, Heather, showing off the picture of her new tattoo. I love it when fans show off their ink! I love it even more when they share what they love most about the mansion. Funny, it seems like so many of us fans have fond memories from childhood....

Heather had this to say:

"Wow, I've been a fan since I was a kid. I remember my brother and I standing in line waiting while my mother went to ride the train. Lol, this was back in the 70's when you could leave your kids alone.
I've been to both parks but I'm a WDW girl through and through though I'm desperately wanting to see Phantom Manor. It looks so different.
The HHG's are my favorite. I'd say all the wall coverings (ie. Wallpaper, changing portraits and ghosty picture frames) would totally be my fave if they counted as characters."

I love this tat! Can't wait to see it filled in. Keep us posted, Heather!

Also, on a side note, Disney artist Javier Soto will be featured this week on Extinct-Attractions-Club.com weekly podcast, talking about the Haunted Mansion 40th event. Be sure to tune in!

back from the dead

2009-03-16T07:05:00.000-07:00

Greetings Blog Readers...
First I owe you a HUGE apology for dropping of the face of the web for so long. I hate to admit this, but I was feeling bitter after the Haunted Mansion 40th fiasco and decided to have a month long tantrum. I didn't want to look at my stuff, which was easy since a lot of the collection was still in boxes. I didn't want to discuss the Haunted Mansion because the estrogen in my body would cause me to cry like a girly girl at the mention of Grim Grinning Ghosts or the like. I just wanted to sulk, which I did, but I don't feel any better for it, and now I have guilt for not posting so long. So, I am done with my tantrum, and will stop sulking and pouting and crying, well...sorry, I'm a sensitive girly girl and this girl just has to cry every now and then. Forgive me readers for my poor behavior.

I also owe you a HUGE thank you for emails popping up in my inbox as of late asking about my whereabouts and posts. You really know how to make this bratty, sensitive girly girl feel much better. Sincerely, I thank you for your concern.

Yesterday, I pulled out some collectibles and actually started to feel better, so much so, that I redecorated my master bath with our Lenticular collection. I felt like I was visiting old friends. Today I will be hanging up my Duelist portraits in the master bedroom, where most of our collection seems to be ending up. All the little pieces are still in boxes, but I'll be paying them a visit soon, and getting reacquainted. Once the bedroom and bath are completed, I'll share some pics.

Since blog posts are always more interesting with pictures, here are some pictures of the Duelists that I'll be hanging later today. I had these framed by a local framer here in So. Cal by the name of Link, who does amazing work. Check out his site here.

Haunted Mansion 40th Event Registration Fiasco

2009-01-22T14:42:00.000-08:00

The day of the Haunted Mansion 40th event registration, a friend of mine facebooked that she was spending the day at the "Happiest Place on Earth." I had just spent the last hour and half trying to register for this highly anticipated event, and out of complete and utter frustration and sadness I responded with "Oh yeah, well give the Mouse a kick for me."

I thought I had better explain myself. And I do not advocate kicking any of the Disney characters... some might hit back.

So I'm not really mad at the mouse, just the company he represents. Would you believe that Disney Event Services would only allow one person per registration for the Haunted Mansion 40th event? Basically what that means is, there are a lot of married folks, family and friends who were not able to purchase all their tickets at the same time, leaving some people out of the event. Registration was online; only so many people could get thru at one time and the servers couldn't handle the influx of requests. I have friends back east who have planned a family vacation around this event, but Dad didn't get a ticket, or daughter didn't get a ticket. What are they supposed to do now? My friend's husband didn't get a ticket. While Sam and I were lucky enough to get a ticket, it wasn't for the package we wanted, so we don't get to attend the dinner and seminar with many of our friends. (I am grateful to have something, but missing out on the entire event is terribly painful. I've waited for this event since I missed the 30th Anniversary all together.) So.. yeah... I was a little miffed at the mouse. But its not really Mickey's fault that the people running Event Services are so damn Goofy!

40th Event Merchandise Announced!

2009-01-18T22:36:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already heard, the Haunted Mansion Event 40th Event Merchandise is online. Check out DisneyGallery.com or click here.

I was beyond excited to see Javier Soto as one of the artists featured with his amazing ghost sculpture, which interestingly enough could be Ezra or the Hat Box Ghost. There's been a lot of speculation that the HBG might be materializing for this swinging wake and I know many fans, myself included, would just die if the rumors were true.

I was introduced to Javier thru GhostRelationsDept. I chatted with Javier on Facebook tonight and he said that he worked on this piece for a year! All that hard work paid off Javier! I'm sure the collector who is lucky enough to get this piece (in green or in blue) will be thrilled. How I wish it were me. :)

Fan made Staring Bust

2009-01-13T17:05:00.000-08:00

First I want to thank everyone for their condolences for my broken heart, er, I mean gargoyle candle holder. I have taken all your suggestions to heart and have sought out a professional to have it repaired. The guy I hired works with these 'cold cast porcelain' type resins on a daily basis and has given me great hope that my gargoyle will look as good as new. I'll keep you posted. In case your wondering why I just don't do it myself? Simple. I have about as much grace and patience for this type of delicate repair as a bull in a china shop. I also think that some of the pieces might need to be pinned to add reinforcement to the repair. Just not my cup of tea.

I'm in much better spirits today however! On the very day I posted that horrific story, I received a rather large package in the mail. On the outside were some very specific instructions telling me to 'cut here' and 'fold' there. I then saw the return label and discovered it was a gift from my dear friend and HMC blog reader, Gary! Remember Gary? He's the fabulous sculptor from Michigan who shared with Haunted Mansion Collectibles a video of the Hitchhiking Ghosts that he made for his Halloween yard display.

He has been working on a Haunted Mansion inspired staring bust and sent me the first prototype! Thank you so much Gary! This piece is amazing. And it wasn't enough for him to send me just the prototype - the package also doubles as the display piece, which explains all the cryptic instructions on the outside of the box. I basically had to make a few incisions in the protective tape layer (Gary was kind enough to have everything precut), plug in the power cord, and be amazed!

I'll admit it. I was intimidated by the box at first.

But curiousity got the best of me, and I had to open it.

There were all these other places to cut on the box. But Gary was so thoughtful and precut all these special areas.

Thank you, Gary!!

This has got to be the coolest package..

and not for just what's inside....

but also because of the built-in cord storage. What?! I loathe stray cords and prefer my cords to stay neat and orderly. Gary, you rock!

I really don't know why I was so concerned about opening the box. Gary sent very detailed instructions. Don't worry, Gary, I won't leave the box unattended! :)

But enough of the tease already.... hehehe

Take a look at what Gary made! I'm in awe and so grateful that you shared this piece with me.

email subscribers.. click on the blog to view the video of Gary's great fanmade Staring Bust!

One final note.. if this is just a prototype, I can't wait to see the actual finished product!!

But of course, you'll have to hurry baaack to see it for yourself.

Rest in Pieces

2008-12-20T22:16:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to you all! I hope your holidays were filled with love, friendship and lots of presents.. :) I apologize for the lack of posts over the past several weeks. I'm not even going to bother with excuses. Instead, I'm just going to declare blog bankruptcy, and start fresh this year with a clean slate. I do, however, feel really bad about the twitter cliffhanger regarding one of the collectibles, so lets get to that story... one I actually stared about 20 days ago... before yesterday's earthquake.. more on that later...

This post is hard for me to write because I'm saying a final farewell to beloved collectible, or make it 3 collectibles. I've posted about our Hitchhiking Ghost Masks in the past, but I don't think I've shared just how much we adored these masks. That's why its pains me to have to share with everyone that our masks are the unfortunate victims of Time's cruel affect on latex. Over our stressful summer we were unaware that Time had taken a deadly grip of our latex masks. We knew this process would happen, but we figured it would be a much slower undertaking. It seems that Time knew that we were distracted with our thoughts and concerns on other issues, so Time snuck in under a radar and sped up the deterioration process. Within a few short months, our masks were nothing but a fragile shell of what they used to be. We tried to make their move to our new house as painless as possible, but the more we tried to handle them, the more they fell apart. Ezra's faring better than the others, but that doesn't say much considering that Phineas has no face left and Gus is hanging by a thread of his beard, literally. The beard is all that remains. I didn't even have the strength to take his final picture.

Back in November 2007 I posted about our masks. You can see it here and check out for yourself just how devastating Time can be on latex.

I know using a vacuum handle to display Phineas is absolutely offensive. I'm in mourning, folks. I'm not thinking clearly.
Please forgive me.

As I said, no pics of Gus. It was just too difficult to get past the remnants of his face, scattered around and amongst his beard. Just too painful.

So now what? It seems so disrespectful to just throw these pieces away with the kitchen scraps. What do I do with them? Bury them with our pets in the backyard? (Not likely seeing that we just moved. Thankfully, we haven't had to bury anyone...yet.) Does latex burn? Should I scatter the ashes in the Mansion? (Also not likely. I'm really not supposed to condone that sort of thing.) Anyone have any good suggestions?

*****
This is what I had finished writing some 2 weeks or so ago and had intended to finish it last night when our house started shaking. Now, the USGS claims that it was only a 4.5 magnitude earthquake, but seeing how the epicenter was 2 miles from my house (ok, 2 miles south of my town) it sure felt much larger than that. As badly as the house shook, I only heard one picture fall over downstairs, and it was completely unharmed. My nerves, and my children's nerves didn't fare as nicely. It took awhile for everyone to calm down and come out from under the tables. So it wasn't until this morning, while looking for clothes in my upstairs closet, that I noticed something. Awful.

Remember this picture from when we first moved to our new house?

Well the stanchion and the gargoyle were still on that very shelf in my closet as of yesterday, until an earthquake at 7:49 pm sent one of them flying across the closet and landing on the floor in multiple pieces. Care to take a guess which piece it was?

It was of course, my absolute favorite piece in my entire collection! The one that I waited for years to get my hands on, and will probably wait years more if I am so lucky.

It was the gargoyle. I warn you now. These pictures are not for the weak collector.

Just rip my heart out while its still beating!

I more angry with myself than sad for not finding a better place to house this piece. But truth be told, there was no other place. We left the large entertainment center where our collection was previously stored at the other house, because it was just too cumbersome to move. It was a Big Lots special, not a family heirloom. My closet seemed out of the way, and therefor I thought it would be safe.

*Sigh*

So friends, readers of this blog, let us have a moment of silence for this masterful piece.

Screw the silence. I'm heartbroken and want to commiserate. Have any of you lost a favorite piece and were heartbroken over it? How did you ever recover? Please, share your story in the comments below. Your story will be very helpful to us all.

*Ugh* I hate starting the New Year on a sour note. Nothing like a little Merchandise Event to bring me out of my sorrow. Don't forget.. tickets go on sale in 11 days!

Haunted Mansion Event Announced

2008-12-06T22:47:00.000-08:00

Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Merchandise Event 09-09-09 (also happens to be my daughter's birthday) If you haven't been saving your pennies, you better now. Tickets go on sale Jan. 20 and 21st.

More info here.

Also, there is a Coctail Reception with Shag on August 8th in honor of the 40th Anniversary of the Mansion.

More info here.

I'm recovering from a wicked cold, but will be posting soon about the devistating loss of our beloved HHG masks. They're doomed...

Master Gracey

2008-11-22T15:28:00.000-08:00

We have a Master Gracey hanging in our collection, but it had been awhile since I really admired this piece. This piece is a fan-made lenticular that I came across sometime ago and was fortunate enough to acquire 2! We left one in its original form, and cut the other to fit an oval frame. The oval frame is still packed up, waiting for its new location, but we came across the original, uncut piece and it really is amazing!

email subscribers..check out the blog for a cool video clip of Master Gracey!

Moving news...

2008-11-12T18:35:00.000-08:00

So for the past 3 weeks, we've been moving. Doesn't that just sound ridiculous? It feels even more so!! We are lucky that we can take our time to move, but frankly, I think its better to just get it done and over with in one shot.

I'm pleased to report that none of the larger, more delicate collectibles were damaged in the move. Knock on wood. Seriously, someone knock because I'm sure I just jinxed myself. :) We've moved all of the framed art pieces, all the big figs, all the lenticulars, and of course, all of our favorite pieces. We still have all the little chotskie pieces to pack, and hopefully that will be finished this weekend. It feels so strange seeing the collection dispersed around the house in such ordinary places - a gargoyle and stanchion hanging out in our closet, stretching portraits resting along the wall next to the dog kennel, a bride and her ghostly beau sitting on the kitchen table. I can hardly wait to redecorate!

Now onto the really fantastic, super-duper, its-about-friggin-time-news! Sam was offered a job and the best part is that his commute to work is less than 10 minutes!! We are so thrilled! We're still waiting for the official compensation package, but Sam was informed that the company was extremely impressed and looking forward to having him on their team. That team, by the way, is Perot Systems. Thank you Ross Perot!! Life is looking brighter and I know everything is going to be ok. Thanks again for all your encouragement and prayers!!

I'm still getting to the many emails from all you wonderful readers. I promise I will be sharing your pics and answering your questions just as soon as I can. I also want to say that all the items I had up for sale, here and on ebay, have sold! The revenue from these sales helped to keep us afloat. Not only did the all the pieces go to great homes, but I got a chance to meet some great people! Please stay in touch and I look forward to seeing pics!!

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T13:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween to all you boys and ghouls! I hope you all get lots of treats, and maybe just a few tricks :)

I just love a Disney Halloween.

Boo!

Back Online!!

2008-10-25T14:34:00.001-07:00

Greetings Foolish Mortals!

Today we have internet and all is right with the world again! I can't believe how much I missed it. What a sign of the times, eh? Thanks for all the emails while I was away. I promise I will be responding to everyone shortly.

We are living in the new house now, but still have tons of stuff to move from the old house. What a pain! Who ever said moving just a few blocks away will be easy should be shot! Wait, that was me.... I was so misguided. We still have collectibles in the old place needing to be packed, collectibles in the new place dying to be showcased and a beautiful modern home waiting to be transformed into a habitat suited for 999 happy haunts. I can't stand all these white walls and I miss my demon eyes wallpaper! As I start anew, I look forward to sharing the process of decorating for the spirited collector. It should make for some fun posts!

Haunted Mansion Holiday Scary Teddy on Coffin Bobble

2008-10-06T16:10:00.000-07:00

Greetings Foolish Mortals!

Today's collectible shows how attention to detail can make a ho-hum collectible into something really cool. I'm not all that into bobbleheads. When I think of bobbles I think of my kids' Littlest Pet toys or Dwight's bobble from The Office. Ok, I admit Dwight's bobble is kinda cool, if not a bit scary. In 2004, the Haunted Mansion Holiday event released a Scary Teddy on Coffin Bobble. Beyond the fact that its a nice resin piece of the "Lemme outta here" coffin guy, at first, the piece doesn't appear to be all that special. However, upon closer inspection, you start to notice all the beautiful layers of details.

click on picture for larger viewing

I love the roses carefully placed at the head of the coffin, but I love even more the scattering of the delicate petals around the coffin. Also atop the coffin is a bat adorned christmas tag. What about the meticulously painted fingernails? And of course, Scary Teddy sitting on top of it all, like a proverbial cake topper, flashing his mischievous grin. For a relatively inexpensive piece, originally selling for $25.00, there's quite a bit of bang for the buck. I love examining all the textures and details of this piece. Did I mention that it is limited to 500 pieces?

** Update**

So we believe that all things happen for a reason. We might not understand what the reasons are, or even accept them at first. In our case, we were really hoping to move to New Hampshire with our friends, the Bell's. Well, as you may recall that move never happened, and now we like to say there was reason for us not moving out of state. In two weeks, we are, in fact, moving into the Bell's old house, here in Southern California. Go figure! The house will afford me to expand my home business, providing my family more financial security. The house also has room for extended family to live with us, allowing us to help another family member in need. We are so excited about this move and feel like we're heading in the right direction. Sam has had a few jobs with a temp agency and is doing very well with the interview process at a local hospital. Remember crossing those boney fingers?! Keep 'em crossed. He's moved onto the 3rd round of interviews with one more to go. :)

Also, thanks to the readers that have contacted me about purchasing some of pieces offered here on the website. I'm proud to say that the Maid Costume, the Gracey Lenticular pin, and the Jack Lenticular have SOLD! Thank you so much for your business and I'm confident my babies are going to good homes!

Still available for purchase are :***ALL ITEMS ARE SOLD. THANK YOU!**

The Butler Costume

Oogie Boogie Lenticular

If you are interested in purchasing either of these pieces, please email me at hauntedmansioncollectibles@gmail.com.

As we are packing away, I will be pulling aside more collectibles for sale, so hurry baaack!

And I haven't said it enough recently, but I really appreciate everyone who stops by this little ol' blog of mine. I can't believe how much the viewership has grown in just a few short months. I love to hear your comments, so do stop by and say hi!

~Carrie

Haunted Mansion Holiday Lenticulars

2008-09-30T17:43:00.000-07:00

In honor of Haunted Mansion Holiday, I thought I'd share some HMH collectibles for the month of October.

First, let me say that I love the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas. I loved it outside of the Haunted Mansion, but never collected any of the myriad of collectibles available. Of course, that all changed once the two were married into the spooktacular attraction that is Haunted Mansion Holiday. We decided to only collect those items that were directly related to the Mansion. The Haunted Mansion Holiday Events were the best sources for some cool stuff, but you can still find items at Disneyland today. In fact, most of the Haunted Mansion souvenirs available at Disneyland are, indeed, Haunted Mansion Holiday.

So here are a couple of pieces that were available at the Haunted Mansion Holiday Event in 2002 and 2003.

"Inspired by the changing portraits in the hallway of the Haunted Mansion, these lenticular portraits create the illusion of magic as they transform from season to season." -Event Merchandise Brochure

The first one here is the "Jack" measuring 21" x 18" (framed) and limited to 150 pieces. (Click on the images to view larger)

The following year they released "Oogie" measuring 19" x 16" and limited to 120 pieces.

I'm particularly fond of the Oogie print because the colorful bugs that make their way across the pumpkins.

I'm also fond of this print because I gave it to Sam for Christmas several years ago completing his Haunted Mansion lenticular collection.

There is one other Haunted Mansion Holiday lenticular, but I'll save that for another post, primarily because I ran out of light, and the pictures were crappy. But also because it is the one HMH lenticular we're holding on to. These other two lenticulars will be going up on ebay tomorrow. I wanted to share with you fine folks first. If you're interested in purchasing one or both of these pieces, please email me at hauntedmansioncollectibles@gmail.com.

Happy Birthday Sam!

2008-09-26T06:50:00.001-07:00

Today is Sam's birthday! You all know what kind of year its been for our family, but I have to say that through it all this man has continued to be my inspiration, best friend, and kindred spirit.

Have a most spooktacular birthday, Sam. See you at the Mansion!

P.S. Keep your boney fingers crossed for us. He had an interview yesterday and they called him back for a second interview on Tuesday. :)

MPC Model Kit - Grave Robber's Reward

2008-09-25T13:12:00.000-07:00

I've never constructed a model kit, but if I had the time, proper materials, and a bit more patience, I could probably get into them. I love recreating scenes from the Mansion for our halloween yard haunt, so I can see how these miniature models could appeal to someone like me.

MPC released four Haunted Mansion Model Kits in a series with the new concept of ZAP/ACTION! ( I had to capitalize the zap/action because that is how it is on the box.. MCP must have been excited about this new concept. har har) What I found interesting about these kits beyond the ZAP/ACTION motion, is that 2 of the scenes aren't actually in the Mansion at all, including this first one. When I first saw this kit listed on ebay, I mistook Grave Robber for Grave Digger, you know that scaredy-cat character with his emaciated dog located just outside the gates of the cemetery? Yeah, I guess we actually call him the Caretaker, but anyway, I thought that was the character in this kit. Even after I bought this kit several years ago, I thought the person holding the shovel was the same guy in ride...until I actually read the side of the box.

Did you know there is a little background story to each kit on the side of the box?

I wasn't expecting the picture to show up so tiny, so let me give you the transcript for the story.

1. A lonely light illuminates a dark deed.

2. "They said Ebeneezer's fortune is hid under his coffin" Spoken by the grave robber

3. "Said he was going to take it with him."

4. But a touch of ZAP/ACTION and suddenly...up leaps the ghostly grabber!

5. Grave robber continues to speak, unknowing that the ghostly grabber is almost upon him: "I'll soon be rich... and get to go to college."

Ok, lets stop right here for a moment. College?!?! Really? Is this Disney's way of validating this dark deed.. so this guy can go to college? Maybe this guy was a mortician, because he obviously has no problem hanging around a bunch of dead people, but decided he wanted to be doctor or a lawyer, a much more respectable and profitable career, but didn't get that scholarship to Harvard. Sorry, let's finish this little sordid tale...

6. "Your money's not safe anyplace nowadays," says Ebeneezer!

This just cracks me up! Perhaps the caretaker standing outside the cemetery actually IS the grave robber frozen in fear of Ebeneezer's ghost. After all, he is standing there with the shovel in one hand, and the lonely light in the other, with the same scarf and coat. Circumstantial evidence? And I can't help but wonder if the lure of higher education is what's kept him there for nearly 40 years.

Tightrope Girl Tattoo

2008-09-04T20:39:00.000-07:00

Susan sent me an email of a tattoo she found on the internet. Its not hers (and I invite the owner of said tattoo to email me PLEASE!), but she thought it was so amazing, she had to share! I had seen this tattoo on doombuggies, but I forgot to save the picture, so thank you, Susan, for reminding me of this inspiring piece of work!

This is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen!! And Susan, when you get your HM tattoo, be sure to send us a pic!

**Update**
On a personal note, I want to send a thank you for all the emails of encouragement and support. I'm truly touched by your words, and feel the embrace of your thoughts and prayers.

As difficult as it has been to let some of our favorite pieces go, I find joy in knowing that others will have their own history with these pieces. And the money I've made has gone to pay our mortgage, so its going to a really good cause!! :) We're not out of the woods yet, and we have other pieces in mind to sell, so be sure to check back in!

The Transformation of Master Gracey Lenticular Pin

2008-08-25T19:18:00.000-07:00

"I don't collect pins. I don't collect pins. I don't collect pins."

That was my mantra for the longest time...until I saw this pin. If you don't know by now, Sam loves his lenticulars. Its a sickness, really. He saves them off of cereal boxes, kids toys, junk mail mailers, and of course, anything related to the Haunted Mansion. When I saw this piece on ebay a few years ago, I watched it like a hawk and I couldn't believe it when I won the auction. The good news is, this pin is in excellent shape. The bad news is the box is no longer available. Last year, during spring cleaning, I threw it away! I was making space for other things and I remember saying to myself, "self, you will never get rid of this pin, so why are you holding onto the box?"

Never say never.

This pin is now for sale. **UPDATE** Listed on ebay. See the listing here

Limited Edition of 250 pins: The Transformation of Master Gracey Lenticular Pin by artist Ron Burrage for the WDW Happy Haunts Ball in October 2002.

The pin is a big boy at 3.75" x 2.25". It is encased in a hinged black shadow box, ready for hanging, that measures 11" x 8'. The lid opens up to reveal the lenticular pin, surrounded by cardboard 3-D curtain and fireplace, creating a dramatic and eerie backdrop for this fabulous pin.

Might I add that this little sucker is a tough guy to capture on video and in photographs. The reflective quality of the shadow box proved challenging in all my shots.

email me at hauntedmansioncollectibles@gmail.com

Scary Hitchhiking Ghosts

2008-08-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

One of the more unique pieces in our collection originated from the Haunted Mansion Comic Book franchise. One of the artists for the comic book, D.W. Frydendall, had a booth at the Black Market for Bat's Day promoting the comic. Something came over us when we saw this piece...we had never seen any Haunted Mansion art take on a darker, more sinister look and we were drawn to it. We made an offer for this one of a kind piece, he thought we were nuts, and he may be right, but we were thrilled when he agreed.

This piece is a huge at nearly 4 feet across and 3.5 feet tall and is mounted on foam board, making it very light for hanging.

We've loved displaying this piece in our home, using it during the Halloween season in our large picture window to scare the bejeezus out the kidlets. Now we are offering it up for other Haunted Mansion fans to enjoy. As far as I know, this is the only one of its kind. Shipping could prove tricky, but the great folks at my local UPS store are awesome and will figure it out. If you're interested, please shoot me an email.

Bankruptcy:Thy Name Is Disney

2008-08-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

I remember seeing that catchy title on doombuggies.com sometime ago during a discussion about the merchandise release for Disneyland's 50th birthday celebration. I partook in the discussion...partook.. ha ha that is a funny sounding word, and joked about how I would use my kids' college money to get the items Sam and I so desperately wanted. Chill out, Internet, I was just kidding, of course. My kids were going to have to pay for their own college anyway. I didn't take any money from them. :)

But the sad reality of my current situation, is that Sam has been unemployed since February, and while we had savings to hold us over for a few months, that has come and gone (and then some) and we are now bankrupt. For the first time in the 10 years of home ownership, we were not able to pay the mortgage on our house and I realize that the collection with which I have surrounded myself, no longer means anything if I don't have a roof over my family's head. Maybe this was the big lesson I was meant to learn in life. Whatever. I get it now. Lesson learned. Can we move on?

I will be selling certain items of the collection, starting with the Maid and Butler costumes that are pictured in this post. How much has changed in a few short months, back when we thought that we were meant to move to New Hampshire.

Anyway, I want to give my readers a chance at the collection first, because it is far easier to part with pieces when I know they are going to a loving home. (Sounds like I'm adopting out a pet, sheesh!) :)
If there are no serious offers, then I'll probably put them on eekbay, but seeing as how I'm pinching every penny, I'd rather not have to go there. For serious collectors, you might know me as Leotas Child on Doombuggies, so you know I'm an honest collector.

Please email me at hauntedmansioncollectibles@gmail.com with offers on the maid and butler uniforms. Serious offers only, please.