How to decide what to collect?

Hi all!

I was wondering how yall decide which collections to start? My current pin collection is itty bitty and I want to grow it! I want to start forming actual "collections" rather than just random (yet lovely) movie/character pins here and there! I'm new to trading and collecting so I was just curious how some of yall picked what to collect

Collect what calls to your heart.

I collected everything Alice in Wonderland long before I ever started collecting Wonderland pins.

Some people collect by movie or park or event or attraction or profession or character or even color. It's whatever you like that makes your collection yours!

My collections are all my favorite movies (Lion King, Robin Hood, Inside Out), characters (Judy Hopps, Fix-It Felix, Rita), or things (waffles, runDisney races I've done), or something that's personal to me (Capricorn and Aquarius since those are my zodiac signs). I feel more attached to my pin collections when they're based on my favorite things outside of the pin world.

My problem is I don't know when to stop! I have about twenty different collections. I'm making a concerted effort this year to not add any new collections (and pare down or try to get rid of one or two of the more fringe collections).

Collect everything!

But seriously, collect what speaks to you. It's very easy to get carried away with what the current "trend" is or what all the cool kids are looking for. Don't be afraid to do your own thing. Not a lot of people do park stuff, but if the parks are what calls you then go that way.

What are your favorite Disney memories?

timeerkat said:

My collections are all my favorite movies (Lion King, Robin Hood, Inside Out), characters (Judy Hopps, Fix-It Felix, Rita), or things (waffles, runDisney races I've done), or something that's personal to me (Capricorn and Aquarius since those are my zodiac signs). I feel more attached to my pin collections when they're based on my favorite things outside of the pin world.

My problem is I don't know when to stop! I have about twenty different collections. I'm making a concerted effort this year to not add any new collections (and pare down or try to get rid of one or two of the more fringe collections).

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At least your collections are small and contained. Not like you are collecting multiple themes with thousands of pins in each of them...

I go with favorite characters (I have several), favorite ride (Haunted Mansion) and runDisney (since I’m a masochist and I’ll never run again... and look another race!).

It all sounds small but when you have several princesses, several villains, and lots of small “hows this become a collection?” Side collections it can be a lot.

Get what calls to you. What makes you happy? Collect that!

I can only echo what others have said; it helps to think about the characters/films/attractions you enjoy most and base your collection off of those (though I know plenty of people who just like to collect pretty pins, nothing wrong with that!).

If you're stumped, choose a character you really like and look for their pins on PinPics. Sometimes, seeing what's available can help you figure out what kind of collection you want to curate. When I started collecting a couple years ago, I knew I really liked Snow White, and initially thought I could go after all Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs pins. Then, I remembered I didn't really care for the dwarfs or the Evil Queen/Hag, so I narrowed it down to pins of just Snow White. And from there, I was able to pick and choose the ones that stood out to me -- because no matter which character you pick, you're guaranteed to find some really ugly pins of them.

Other side collections I've started: Rey/Kylo Ren (only from The Last Jedi), otters from Finding Dory, Cruz Ramirez from Cars 3, Leia/Han Solo, Star Tours, Newsies, etc. If you're planning on displaying your pins on a board or lanyard, you can also think of fun themes and then try to collect pins to fit the theme. For example, I have a couple of boards that I display during Christmastime that are only filled with Snow White holiday pins. I also have other boards on display that fit a very narrow theme: Snow White with books, Snow White at Disneyland, Snow White using an apple bowling ball to knock down Evil Queen bowling pins, you get the idea.

Good luck -- and let us know what you decide!

Everyone else has it pretty much covered. Collect what you love. That being said, I have a lot of collections, 3 main (Up, Brother Bear and Kronk/ENG) and a bunch of side collections because I love a lot of things. Not only that, I have 4 kids and a hubby who also have collections. It gets out of control fast...
Good luck and yes, let us know what you decide!

My thinking on this is that it's called pin trading for a reason!! Echoing the previous statements, go for what catches your eye. And if that changes in the future, don't worry about it! You'll find your rhythm.

Agreed with all of the above... my collections: Mickey, Cheshire, Maleficent and Star Wars, DLR 60th and cutie villains... I love the tough villain changed into something adorable.

General collection boundaries (probably also known as my 'rules'):
1) I am not a completist... I don't like every MM, Cheshire, etc. pin that comes out... and really... it would be full time job to search for any of my characters.
2) The pins with words... not my favorite.
3) A late to the game rule: characters 'usually' needs to be alone on the pin. (Now have a whole bunch of Mickey with Minnie pins for trade.)
4) Love pins of characters dressed as other character. I TRY to limit this to Mickey or Cheshire.
5) A recent decision (to get Star Wars collection under control)... I believe in strong women and love cute droids... so focus on Leia, Rey, R2D2, BB8, and C3PO.

Perhaps... review the pins you have. Determine the ones you like best and why. You might find a clue for a direction to go with your collection.

There was a thread going at one point about peoples 'rules' for collecting. I will see if I can unearth it and give it a bump, so look for it in the recent posts.

Fair warning, you'll start off with a collection....and then one day find a pin or theme in pins you never knew existed and next thing you know...you have a new collection.

I had no idea characters dressed like other characters was a thing until I started collecting...and then I saw Tink as Alice and Minnie as the Queen of Hearts and Minnie as the different princesses, and well, I had another collection.

curiousdinah said:

Fair warning, you'll start off with a collection....and then one day find a pin or theme in pins you never knew existed and next thing you know...you have a new collection.

I had no idea characters dressed like other characters was a thing until I started collecting...and then I saw Tink as Alice and Minnie as the Queen of Hearts and Minnie as the different princesses, and well, I had another collection.

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Parallel lives here... Yes! this was exactly how I came to collect characters dressed as other characters. Just bumped into it. Those pins are adorable.

I used to just collect anything that caught my eye, now I've narrowed it down to Bolt, Dodger, food, and the little green men from Toy Story

You basically just have to decide what your boundaries are like TheMickeyMouseRules said, like I collect anything / everything Bolt (seeking to be a completist), Dodger has to be alone, whatever food I really like (usually has to be Mickey-shaped foods) - same goes for LGM as there's a lot of pins featuring them. This way my little "goals" are really attainable, maybe it's just cause my collections are more obscure, but that makes it all the more fun

Wow it has been so fun and informative reading all of yalls replies!! To start off I think I hear a Tangled collection calling my name...my favorite pin in my collection is a Flynn Rider pin and I just love every aspect of the movie! Creating boundaries is a really helpful concept. It makes collecting seem less daunting! I'm excited to start my search

curiousdinah said:

I had no idea characters dressed like other characters was a thing until I started collecting...and then I saw Tink as Alice and Minnie as the Queen of Hearts and Minnie as the different princesses, and well, I had another collection.

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Also why I have a small side branch of my Maleficent collection: other characters as Maleficent! Waiting on my ShellieMay as Mali pin from HK now.

Just to reinforce what everyone said above; follow your heart, enjoy the process and - most of all - have fun

As everyone said, it’s all about what you like. For me , I love the parks so lots of attractions, several of my favorite movies (NBC, AIW, Moana, others), and villains mostly. I’m not a completist and just get the pins I like, but I do like to complete subsets. What I find useful to me is to mostly limit myself to US pins. There are so many pins from WDW and DL (and DS, DSF, etc) I want, I would be crushed adding in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Paris, Shanghai, etc.

Like everyone said, it's completely up to you. Also, you don't have to stick with a collection forever!

I started off with Belle and Maleficent, then added Dumbo as well as some side collections. After about a year, I decided that I have enough Belle pins and am almost exclusively focusing on Dumbo and DLR PODH.

a big ditto to what everyone else said.


ill also say....

I loved reading everyone's thoughts! I actually started collecting pins the first time around when the Designer Fairytale couples II came out. I wanted to focus on my favorites, but got so caught up in every pretty pin I saw that my collection was just a jumble. I ended up selling off everything except my Sofia the First collection (which no one wanted to buy, LOL). Now I wish I had kept some of my old pins, though I am SO GLAD I kept my Sofia pins now (2 pins and 1 button away from being a completist!).

Then, just in the last year or so I saw a few Disney Fairies (from the books) pins I just had to have. I took the plunge and started collecting again. For the first few months I got NOTHING BUT FAIRIES (from the books, movies, and Tink solo). I wanted to have a sizable collection of my favorite thing before I branched out. Now I am starting to mix other themes in, I do have a lot of Disney films that I adore after all. So far, I haven't bought too many pins that I regretted.

For me, it really helped to start with one collection first, and then expand out slowly. I'm sure you will find that balance that suits you best!

^ I presume you have this, correct?

• 
  Pin# 125431
  Button - Disney Junior Channel Live show - set of 3

Otherwise, I think I still have the set around somewhere!

I started off collecting any pin that caught my eye. I eventually started to narrow my collections down. I have started new collections, abandon others....it seems to be a changing process. You'll figure it out. Some pins/characters/themes will just speak to you.

ladyroselie said:

Then, just in the last year or so I saw a few Disney Fairies (from the books) pins I just had to have. I took the plunge and started collecting again. For the first few months I got NOTHING BUT FAIRIES (from the books, movies, and Tink solo).

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Ohhh, you’re also a Disney fairies book fan?? I’m trying to collect Rani!! Those books mean so much to me. <33
I’d love to see your collection!

Yes as all have said! Collect whatever you love

I try to keep it to just Bambi and disney dogs, but even then, I tend to favour Lady and the Tramp over other dogs, and when I see a nice pin even if it's nothing to do with my passions it's just something lovely to have. It can also be frustrating if the one thing you collect is rarely seen too, but that can all be part of the challenge

Moonie said:

Ohhh, you’re also a Disney fairies book fan?? I’m trying to collect Rani!! Those books mean so much to me. <33
I’d love to see your collection!

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Yay! More pixie love. I am moving in a few weeks, but I plan to get them displayed as soon as I can and I will definitely share. There are still so many I need too, but I am so close to having every Beck and Bess pin at least.

I adore the books too. I like to listen to some of the ebooks when I feel down, and I'm almost done with the Never Girls series. I was so happy to see the fairies make a comeback in those. But seriously, Disney NEEDS to make a pixie TV show on Disney Jr. or something, it would be perfect!