My older sister and I didn’t have much in common growing up, aside from having been pushed through the same vag and the few mortifying occasions our mom forced us to wear matching outfits. My sister, the prissy straight “A” student who was into clothes and make-up, versus me, the tomboy who was into pretty much all the same (read: much cooler) crap I’m still into now.
One of the few ways our interests overlapped was our mutual love for stickers. Then again, every kid in the 80s collected stickers, so saying we had this in common is like saying we’re both fans of breathing.
We were never “hardcore” in our sticker-acquiring aspirations, but we did enjoy filling up this sticker book with our shared treasures, giving careful thought and attention as to how they should be arranged. Well, sometimes.
I’m sure at the time it seemed like a good idea to “protect” our stickers inside this old album meant for photos, with its sticky pages and clear plastic page covers that would yellow and wither over time. I may not have learned much in the 20 years since I last touched this sticker book, but I think I can safely say that was a fucking horrible idea. Of course it wasn’t mine.
Also not my idea was the inclusion of lame-ass stickers like Paddington Bear, but one of the reasons I love this sticker book so much is that it’s a time capsule that reveals the differences (and sometimes similarities) between its two curators.
Those Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles plastered on the inside back cover? All me.
It’s fun to flip through these worn pages and try to remember who contributed what in cases where it’s less cut and dry. That Poochie sticker could have been either of us.
Also worth noting are the loosely adhered-to “themes” we attempted to create on some of the pages, which I’ve provided my best guesses for below (when it isn’t something obvious, like unicorns). As was often the case, my sister, ever the more cautious and detail-oriented daughter, would get a good theme going until I came along and fucked it all up with my random sticker bombs and less than artful placement. STICKER ANARCHY!
And now, to simulate the full experience of trading stickers back in the 80s…
“GUYS! GUYS! GUYS! LOOK AT MY STICKERS!”
Page 1 – Candy & Sweets
Page 2 – Moodies
Who remembers these little guys?
Page 3 – Metallic Messages & Music
Page 4 – Hearts
Page 5 – Bears
Page 6 – Fuzzy Things
Page 7 – Kittens
Page 8 – Hot Air Balloons & Garfield
Page 9 – Ice Cream
Page 10 – More Ice Cream
Page 11 – Peaches ‘n Cream
Page 12 – Junk Food
Page 13 – 80s-Tastic!
Page 14 – Easter
Page 15 – Skating & Ballerinas
Page 16 – Sparkles & Shiny Objects
Page 17 – School
Page 18 – Cabbage Patch Kids
Page 19 – Muppet Babies
Page 20 – Puffy Stickers & Googly Eyes
Page 21 – Lemons
Page 22 – Valentines
Page 23 – Chore Rewards
Page 24 – Strawberry Shortcake
Page 25 – Dogs
Page 26 – Teddy Bears
Page 27 – (Not Really) Balloons
Page 28 – Unicorns
Who wants to trade stickers?
Having gotten reacquainted with my checkered sticker collecting past, I think I’m inspired now to start an adult sticker book (NOT the kind you’re thinking of) to give a proper home to all of the rad stickers I’ve accumulated from my blogging friends lately, between Branded in the 80s, Top Hat Sasquatch, Strange Kids Club, etc. which reminds me–have you seen the totally kickass Cult Film Club stickers we’re selling?
Do also check out Rediscover the 80s totally rad sticker album from 1984! It puts this collection to shame.
