Collection Challenge #226- Party Crackers, Mottos and Fortunes

Adrienne challenged me to show my collection of "vintage crackers, party favors and surprise balls".  I have done a few challenges on different categories of party stuff...challenge #11 nut cups/party favor baskets, challenge #110 - party books and challenge #209 - hatchets. 

I love old party stuff. I have lots of the old party crackers.  Some of the old packaging calls them mottos.  I have never heard that term used and looked up the definition of motto...a verse or maxim contained in a paper cracker.  Now it makes sense as these crackers do contain little verses.

I love this set of nursery rhyme mottos in the original packaging.

I found this set of Halloween crackers/mottos at a auction in Kansas a few years ago. I am always eager to find Halloween so was happy with this score.

Rather worn paper stickers decorate each one.

I rarely find Thanksgiving items beyond candles and the Relpo turkey so this pair of Thanksgiving crackers/mottos were fun to add to my collection.
This set of crackers/mottos was also found at the Kansas auction. They were in a very tattered box that was dated 1930.
Again, darling paper stickers.
This is all I saved from the tattered box.  The box originally held 4 dozen of the mottoes/crackers.
At one point I got really curious what was inside of these crackers. I had to open one up. There were tiny little verses and metal charms.
A lone Little Miss Muffet.

Love, love that things like this got saved in the original packaging.

I found these recently at a local estate sale.  The fringe detail is awesome.

These were found at the same sale. I think these are blanks for embellishment with your own stickers. The colors are all my favorites and I love the pop of foil silver.
Some of them had broken open in the box and this is what it looked like they contained. A tiny plastic charm and a verse.

I believe these dolls were intended as party favors as well. They have celluloid heads and the cutest faces. Each one holds a tube with a fortune rolled up in it.

I have quite a few.

Adrienne also asked if I had any surprise balls. Those are balls you unwind that usually have tiny prizes in them.  I have this cutie.


She was a gift from Amy. I ended up taking her apart after a blog land vote. You can see that post here and here.  She did have a happy ending though.

Thanks for the challenge Adrienne.  I didn't include party favors in this post...I may collect what I have and you might find that in another challenge.  This one is long enough as is.

If you have an idea for a future collection challenge leave me a comment and finish the sentence "Show me your collection of ____".  Happy day!

Comments

[Melissa's Antiques]

The precursor to fortune cookies. I think I'd enjoy it more if the Chinese restaurants gave out these mottoes instead! :)

[Kathy]

I love the ones with the rose stickers and the tiny charms are my favorite part. Another neat collection!

[Musings from Kim K.]

It's the fringe and amazing vintage stickers that make these crackers so wonderful! I can't believe how many you still have in their original packaging.

[Sheryl Remy]

That's it. You are offically the eighth wonder of the world.
Sheryl

[Doreen]

What a fun post! I love that you give a little history lesson on you finds too. I would have opened up one to peek in them too just to see :-)
Amazing that there wasn't much in those party crackers or Mottos. I think the stickers, fringe and decorations on the outside are better than what's inside of them. I forgot about those little dolls you had. Those are wonderful too!
Finally a cool and overcast day down this way so it actually feels like Fall. We were still up to 80 yesterday afternoon! Looks like some rain is coming this week too. I'm totally ready! Doesn't seem like Halloween or the Fall when I have the a/c on in the afternoons and there's full sunshine in our family room full of pumpkins and things. Have coffee in hand :-)

[Annette]

I think this is one of my favorite collections. The ones from the 30's are precious. The nursery rhymes adorable, and the rest are just so great. Halloween AND Thanksgiving!! Sweet Surprise ball. I used to love getting those as a kid. A very Happy collection.

[JoyceG]

I'd love to sit and read all of the little verses in these. I wonder if they are excerpts from poems, or if they were written specifically for the crackers, like greeting card verses. Interesting! And I love the graphics, especially on the nursery rhyme ones.

[Shara]

I could never, ever, ever NOT look in those crackers to see the "sarprises". I don't think I have ever encountered a cracker in all my vintage hunts. *Also, when I saw the title, I had no idea what sort of cracker was a party cracker. Saltine? Club? Cheezit? Oyster? :)

[Liz D]

Nice collection. Loved the last pink one.

[Marci]

I love that collection displayed in the wooden box. So neat. I remember when you did "surgery" on that angel! Did you ever figure out what the sarprises where? Fun collection, and again, something I have never seen. Ill keep my eye out!

[Erica]

When Maddie was little, she would always buy the newer version of these during the holidays and put them our place settings. I see these from time to time but always in display cases. I guess they are trying to keep people like me from opening them up :-)

~Erica

[Diane]

Very fun! Shows strength of character not to open them!

[Maureen]

I have never seen these for occasions other than Christmas; we always had crackers when I was growing up - an English tradition I have continued each year. So seeing all these is wonderful! You have an amazing collection.

[Lisa W.]

Love, Love, Love the cracker collection ! Oh the Thanksgiving crackers ...... wow ! What a lucky find ...... clever you for finding them !