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Full disclosure, I’m a ‘90s kid, born and bred. The ‘90s run in my veins and I’m very much a kid of that era! You wouldn’t believe the level of nostalgia I have for the era. It’s utterly ridiculous how much I miss watching Sunday morning cartoons while eating a huge bowl of cereal and playing with my beloved toys. (All at once, of course—I’m a fantastic multitasker when it comes to doing the things that I love.)

I’ve still got a huge box of toys from my childhood that I love to go through from time to time. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t pop in some batteries to play Mario, Donkey Kong, and Pokémon on my GameBoy Color when I feel like I need a break from ‘The Real World.’ When it rains, when I get the blues—it’s nostalgia time. And a yearning for a more carefree era in my life. However, we here at Bored Panda know that there are lots of you Pandas who are nostalgic for the '70s, '80s, and ‘90s, so we’ve compiled this fun list of the toys you likely played with during that decade. Keep in mind that some of these toys are from even earlier still, but they were still very popular in the '70s, '80s, and '90s. Growing up with them was great!

Oh, and don’t forget to upvote the toys that you loved playing with the most. We’d also love to hear about what your fondest memories and favorite toys were from your childhood, so don’t be shy and drop on by the comment section. Ready to plunge straight into the Land of Nostalgia? Let’s go!

#1

Devs Need To Bring Back True Offline Gaming

Devs Need To Bring Back True Offline Gaming

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Mike Loux
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Man, this takes me WAYYYY back. I had a bunch of these in the 70's and the 80's and loved them.

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#2

This Is One Of My Most Detailed Renditions - St. Basil's Cathedral, Which Took ~30 Hours To Render (Etch A Sketch)

This Is One Of My Most Detailed Renditions - St. Basil's Cathedral, Which Took ~30 Hours To Render (Etch A Sketch)

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This isn’t the first time that Bored Panda has tackled the topic of nostalgia (here are two great posts by yours truly if you're feeling any nostalgia for my writing). London-based child and adolescent therapist Kemi Omijeh, who is a member of the BACP, went into detail about nostalgia with me on two previous occasions. She explained that our memories of the past can contribute to our sense of self and well-being.

"The period of time we tend to be nostalgic over are significant moments that stood out. Perhaps it was a time when we felt happiest or safest, or perhaps it’s a period where things changed for us,” she told Bored Panda.

#4

These Bouncy Balls You Got From Quarter Vending Machines And Arcades

These Bouncy Balls You Got From Quarter Vending Machines And Arcades

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#5

One Of My Favorite "Toys" As A Kid, Fashion Plates

One Of My Favorite "Toys" As A Kid, Fashion Plates

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Foxxy (The Original)
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had one of these, I also used to have paper dolls with paper outfits I could dress them in.

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Zophra
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oooh... I remember the textured flip of the plates to make it fancy!

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Shelli Aderman
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got one as a Hanukkah present when I was 8, and I felt like I’d won the lottery!

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K Witmer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would be so jealous! This toy was my absolute favorite thing I ever had. Paper dolls and the Barbie perfume maker too kept me busy in my room for hours on end.

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Leslie B
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I forgot about this till now. I never had one but one of my cousins did.

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Jim Ellington
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My little sister had these and I loved to play with them. Now the only thing I can draw is the female form.

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Anto Gamunev
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a boy, i wasnt allowed to play with these and I so desperately wanted to. I love art

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Leslie Harris
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used it as a template to create my own designs, just using it for head/arms/legs

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Joe Dunn
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

haha snagged it from my little sister...she never missed it. was probably the first clue that I'm gay

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Full Name
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They still make these. My wife bought one for our daughter and she loves it!

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Martin John
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mighty Men and Monster Maker was the name of it--got one for my birthday and LOVED it!!!

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Iffydust
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My older sister had these I used them sooo much with her ^^

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Jihana
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ohh, that one I had. Gave it to a friend with a baby girl a couple of months ago.

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LagoonaBlueColleen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got one from a yard sale back in 1989/90. I think I had more fun with it than I realized at the time.

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leo mont
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

omg i forgot about these!! i loved my so much, no clue where it went tho

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Anke Dieken
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My kids recently got the one my sister and me used to play with. :D

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Emm
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can still get these! My daughter just got one for her 5th birthday, she loves it

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Sonia Bailey
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg I had this!!! I loved it :) I'd try to create the silliest outfits!

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Bobert Robertson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My daughter just got one for her birthday this year! They still exist

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Marie Stanford
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had that toy. Put a piece is paper from the pad of paper it came with and use the pencil ‘rubbing technique’ to expose the indentation. Change the plates for different looks!

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Dan Beck
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had one that was monsters and superheroes! So much fun!

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Pilot Chick
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I recently got these for my niece because I loved them so much as a kid.

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howdylee
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"With Fashion Plates, you can be a designer! A Fashion Plates fashion designer!" Still make these too. Got one for my daughter.

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Calypso poet
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had one of these and loved it! For a language class homework assignment I used fashion plate in a sentence and the teacher marked it wrong. I wrote something like she was a fashion plate, I had looked it up in the dictionary but my elementary school teacher obviously didn't.

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According to therapist Omijeh, what a specific time period means to us is far more important than what age we were during the period of time. "Our memories of the past can change over time depending on how often we revisit and also depending on what is going on for us in the present,” she said.

Omijeh noted that who we were during each decade will change our impressions of the time period. So, while she jokes that “oh course, the ‘90s was better!”, she also notes that she might be biased in this particular case.

#7

My Wife Got Me This For Christmas. She Knew That My Parents Never Got Me One When I Was A Kid. I Love Her So Much (Gameboy)

My Wife Got Me This For Christmas. She Knew That My Parents Never Got Me One When I Was A Kid. I Love Her So Much (Gameboy)

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Michelle M
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once had a Gameboy where I could play Pokemon. I was addicted so my parents seized it. Never saw my dear boy again.

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#9

Polly Pocket. Ordered It Off Of Ebay And Cried When I Saw It Because The Nostalgia Hit So Hard

Polly Pocket. Ordered It Off Of Ebay And Cried When I Saw It Because The Nostalgia Hit So Hard

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was so jealous of one of my friends, she had like every polly pocket set. I was super excited when I got one for Chrissie one year. I remember it was a shopping centre type theme with a moving elevator.

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“Generally speaking, the better decade is associated with youth and freedom. Nostalgia also often gives us rose-tinted glasses from which to reflect from. How we reflect on the past decades can play a part in how we engage with the current decade."

Earlier still, Omijeh explained to Bored Panda that we tend to feel nostalgic for those time periods where we felt loved and nurtured. Meanwhile, if we had a difficult childhood, odds are, we won’t have much nostalgia for it.

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#11

I Know No One Cares But I Got A Mimitchi On My Second Try. I Am 33 Years Old And Regret Nothing

I Know No One Cares But I Got A Mimitchi On My Second Try. I Am 33 Years Old And Regret Nothing

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Vicky Zar
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wanted one when I was a kid but they were too expensive for us. Now I can have it as an app and somehow I can't see the appeal anymore

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#12

Crayola Stamper Markers

Crayola Stamper Markers

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was so excited when I got a pack of these, trouble is that after a lil while you get bored of them so you start using them like normal textas lol.

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"Nostalgia can also be a good coping strategy for times of low mood and challenges," she said, adding that nostalgia can also start to become a problem if it interferes with our everyday lives, as well as our ability to be present in the current moment.

"If we end up comparing it to our experiences today and feeling like nothing is as good as it was, then this will inevitably affect our mood and our ability to do what we need to do. We can become stuck in our nostalgia; in which case it might be best to seek help from a counseling professional to help you process your past in order to enjoy your present."

In short—nostalgia’s fine… in moderation. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Mario won’t be able to save Princess Peach without my help. Watch out, Bowser! [Beep boop.]

#13

Anybody Remember POGS? Just Found Mine From The 90s

Anybody Remember POGS? Just Found Mine From The 90s

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember when we used to get tazos in chip packets. My aunty had 3 albums full of them.

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#14

Slinky

Slinky

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Foxxy (The Original)
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I could never get them to go down stairs like they show on videos etc. The most I could do was get them tangled lol.

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#18

Stretch Armstrong With Three Of His Limbs Platted

Stretch Armstrong With Three Of His Limbs Platted

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A Head
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had one, until I decided to cut him to see what was inside. Weird goo. Band-Aid din't work on the repair.

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#22

Monster Finger Puppets

Monster Finger Puppets

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Robert T
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh god, I remember these monstrosities. What exactly were you supposed to do with them?

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#23

Thrift Store Pick Up. 1978 Simon Game. Package Isn't Great But The Toy Is Like New

Thrift Store Pick Up. 1978 Simon Game. Package Isn't Great But The Toy Is Like New

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Moodles
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to spend hours on this and my mum was always amazed at my memory skills. 40 years later and I can barely remember what I did yesterday

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#24

I Forgot I Used To Love These Until I Saw Them In The Store (Flying Gliders)

I Forgot I Used To Love These Until I Saw Them In The Store (Flying Gliders)

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Robert T
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These were a fairly regular Saturday treat for me. I must've spent so much pocket money on them!

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#25

My Mom Still Has My Toys That My 10 Month Old Son Plays With When He Comes Over

My Mom Still Has My Toys That My 10 Month Old Son Plays With When He Comes Over

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#27

Neon Klickers Clackers

Neon Klickers Clackers

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Monique Reed
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There was another kind before these--two larger, very hard acrylic (?) balls on strings. You started by bouncing them against one another and worked up to having them collide at both the top and bottom of the pattern. You could knock yourself out with those, and when they broke, shards flew everywhere. These were tame by comparison!

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#28

Plastic Tube With Water And Plastic Fish Inside It, If You Try To Squeeze It It Just Rolls Itself

Plastic Tube With Water And Plastic Fish Inside It, If You Try To Squeeze It It Just Rolls Itself

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#30

The Game Of Perfection

The Game Of Perfection

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Tamra Stiffler
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ahh...this game stressed me OUT. Didn't stop me from obsessively playing with it though.

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#32

Fisher Price Adjustable Skates - Most Fun Ever

Fisher Price Adjustable Skates - Most Fun Ever

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Mahayana
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hated those! They never really « rolled ». I just awkwardly walked in them.

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#35

Glittery Sand Lizards

Glittery Sand Lizards

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Helwin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still have one and I love it and am keeping it forever. I have a tiny butterfly too ♥.

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#38

Old School Kinder Surprise Toys

Old School Kinder Surprise Toys

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Jayne Kyra
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These little collectible figurines were awesome! I had so many. Even on this picture I remember the ones I had.

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#40

$1 Garage Sale Score: Original Super Soaker 50

$1 Garage Sale Score: Original Super Soaker 50

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ThoughtsAreNotFacts
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And when the super soakers that could hold more water and be worn as a backpack came out it was ON in my neighborhood during water fights

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#41

View-Master Mickey Look Gift Set

View-Master Mickey Look Gift Set

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Foxxy (The Original)
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Our very own slide show. These were great, especially when you could buy different viewer discs.

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#44

Slime

Slime

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Vicky Z
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is again in fashion! Who remembers also this terrible movie with Robin Williams "flabber"?

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#45

Glitter Magic Wands

Glitter Magic Wands

We’re mesmerized over these new glitter wands! from kiddos to adults, these are the hot new fidget toy! head over to our Instagram story for a video demo, each wand handmade in the USA.

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Lucky
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They were so beautiful! There were caleidoscopes you could insert them, it was mesmerising!

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#46

Cannot Believe I Forgot About My Marbleworks Towers

Cannot Believe I Forgot About My Marbleworks Towers

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Llewella
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My sons found a way to connect this to the waterfountain in the backyard. They had so much fun with it

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#49

Sky Dancers

Sky Dancers

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Naima Ivansdóttir
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

there's a hilarious flick on youtube i guess of a super-excited girl trying her sky dancer for the first time and the thing flies right into the burning fireplace lol

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#50

Blow Pens

Blow Pens

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Note: this post originally had 114 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.