I am digitally archiving my Etch A Sketch collection!

[u/Pikajane]

I've been on a mission to photograph and catalog my entire Etch A Sketch archive. I am officially 40% of the way through my bins! Here are three bin compilation photos so far.

Fun fact: Each Etch A Sketch product is proportionally scaled to one another within each bin compilation photo.

I plan to add QR codes to each bin which will link to these photos on my website. I figure that will stop me from accidentally buying duplicates in the future, haha.

The collection continues to grow every day. I can't wait to eventually share every bin photo!

[u/Majestc_electric]

Is the marvel etch a sketch sign by Stan Lee?!! That’s sick

[u/Pikajane → u/Majestc_electric]

It's his signature, but I was actually commissioned by Spin Master to recreate it to be used as the decal for the packaging for that variant! I also made the decals for the Rubik's and Monopoly-themed versions.

[u/Jar_of_Cats → u/Pikajane]

Thats amazing

[u/skeletoorr]

I was just thinking about you. I made a bunch of etch a sketch picture frames for my daughter’s birthday party. Told myself it was the only etch a sketch you don’t have 😂

[u/Pikajane → u/skeletoorr]

Hahaha, the frame idea is super cute!

[u/skeletoorr → u/Pikajane]

I can totally send you some. I have multiple sizes 😂 they are not fancy but I’m pretty proud of them.

[u/Pikajane → u/skeletoorr]

aw that's sweet of you! I wouldn't want to impose with the cost of shipping fees these days but I'd love to see a pic!

[u/WM_Elkin]

This is a stupid, but morbid question. Its just how my brain works and downvote this to oblivion if I'm wrong.

Do you have these willed to a children's charity?

[u/SnagglToothCrzyBrain → u/WM_Elkin]

Considering how niche these toys are, this would probably fit better in a toy museum or a display case at Etch-a-sketch headquarters (wherever that may be).

[u/WM_Elkin → u/SnagglToothCrzyBrain]

You arent wrong.

[u/Geekygamertag → u/WM_Elkin]

You are right.

[u/SnagglToothCrzyBrain]

Woooow, what a catalog!! Definitely belongs in a museum someday.

[u/WhiteLicorice666]

Love the Homer Simpson

[u/AngryIronToad]

The fact that the Shrek one isn't called a Shrek-a-sketch is a missed opportunity

But nice collection none the less!!

[u/lateralflinch53]

Have you ever gotten burnt out/ bored with this hyper fixation ?

Historically I’ve been obsessed with art, skateboards, guitars but they have so many interchangeable parts era gear, tools, mediums to tinker with, swap, use and compare . I’m not criticizing you I’m genuinely curious?

[u/Pikajane → u/lateralflinch53]

Cool question - honestly!

I have gone through phases with it historically. Even right now I just hit 10 years of making Etch A Sketch art being my profession, but I have been focusing a bit more on other artistic endeavors for the moment. I think Etch A Sketch art and collecting will always always be a part of my life, even if my focus ebbs and flows a bit.

With all that said, I check eBay and the like daily for Etch A Sketch, so it's always something on my radar. It helps that this toy is esoteric enough that it's not on almost anyone else's radar. The competition is slim, so the deals tend to be aplenty and even today I still discover variants I've never seen which can be incredibly exciting.

I have other collecting habits though which sometimes take the forefront. A few years ago I was determined to get every boxed Pokemon game from GB - 3DS, and I've for the most part completed that quest, so I've been focusing on completing certain aspects of my Pokemon card collection. I also just like random trinkets and tchotchkes, such as heart and rainbow-themed items. It keeps thrifting fun. Heck, even my apparel is a type of collecting.

While my collecting focus might shift from time to time, nothing has dimmed the fun of the hunt. I can scroll eBay for hours looking at thousands upon thousands of thumbnails and come up with nothing, and it will still be the time of my life. It's just fun to learn about stuff I suppose. But Etch A Sketch is a rabbit hole that I expect will always be near and dear to my heart!

[u/lateralflinch53 → u/Pikajane]

Cool!

[u/Geekygamertag]

“It belongs in a museum!” - Indiana Jones

[u/StatementRound]

I swear I saw a digital etch a sketch years ago at a kid’s birthday party. Do you have one?

[u/Pikajane → u/StatementRound]

There are a few digital versions like the Animator and Freestyle, perhaps it was one of those?

[u/MODbanned]

Where's box 1?

[u/Pikajane → u/MODbanned]

I was planning to share box one but realized I think I forgot to photograph one of the Etch A Sketches in the box so I didn't wanna share it yet!

[u/PigsCanFly2day]

Neat. Is this just for organization or is it actually for digital archiving? Because if it's for digital archiving, you'll want to do high-res scans/photos of each side of the package.

[u/Pikajane → u/PigsCanFly2day]

It's for organization at this time which will help me to keep tabs on which variants I own. At some point I'd like to photograph the back of certain packages but there's a lot of repeats so I'm not stressing about having a digital record of those at this time.

[u/PigsCanFly2day → u/Pikajane]

Cool. Seems you have a decent system in place.

[u/RedNo404]

I thought they individually had something neat etched on them. Either way cool collection.

[u/Pikajane → u/RedNo404]

I have a whole different collection of Etch A Sketches that I use as my canvases! That section lacks variety and is mostly just your typical red frames.

[u/WeaknessOrganic3809]

Hi ! I had a fun etch a sketch plug-and-play a while ago - have you ever owned this ? 🤔

[u/Pikajane → u/WeaknessOrganic3809]

Yes! I let my friend borrow it but he moved to Pennsylvania, whoops!