What to Buy
The Best Gifts of 2022
Holiday Decorations
Our favorite gifts from Wayfair, Amazon, eBay, and more
By
Madeleine Burry
Madeleine Burry
Madeleine Burry is a health and wellness writer for The Spruce. Her work has been featured in media outlets such as Women's Health, Livestrong.com, Good Housekeeping, and more. She has been writing for over 5 years.
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Updated on 04/13/22
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A blow mold Christmas decoration has a vintage charm that harkens back to a different era, and luckily, there are retailers who still make and sell these, as well as websites that make it easy to purchase ones from generations ago. We researched the best online sites to buy your nostalgic decor from, considering the size, collectibility, and modernness of the available options. Some of our favorite retailers include Amazon for fast shipping, Etsy for vintage finds, and Walmart for a wide selection. Here are the best places to buy blow mold decorations. No surprise: This shopping giant offers plenty of options when it comes to these sweet decorations. You’ll find toy soldiers, candles, reindeer, and many other seasonal items. Some options even light up. To find them, search “Christmas blow mold decorations,” and get ready for many listings. Be warned: the results after you hit the search button will include other holidays, such as Halloween, and other Christmas decorations (such as inflatable lawn items). Prepare to wade through the list. You’ll see many blow mold decorations available, at a wide range of prices based on size and complexity. Most items top $100, and you’ll be shopping through third-party providers, so be sure to at least skim the reviews for more info on vendors. And, since Amazon sells just about everything under the sun, you can kit up your Christmas decorations in one spot—you can find everything from ornaments to tree skirts to stockings (not to mention gifts!). The 7 Best Artificial Christmas Trees of 2022 | Tested by The Spruce If you’re looking for vintage charm, Etsy—an online store that’s home to individual sellers who share vintage and handmade items—is the perfect destination. Here, you’ll find a delightful collection of options after searching for “blow mold Christmas.” There are pages of results, and helpful filters on the left side of the page—such as shipping time, item color, and price range—can help you sort through, and trim down, the options. Etsy appears to have more options, at cheaper prices, and with more variety and search options than Amazon. There are many options available for $50 or less, as well as pricier items. Since these are vintage items, you won’t necessarily be able to get matching items, or more than one of a blow mold decoration that you like. A mismatched display can be quite charming, however. Along with everything else you need to spruce up your home, big box retailer Home Depot has a limited number of new blow mold Christmas decorations available for sale, with prices generally below $50. There aren’t a ton of options—but the options you have are all new products, and you won't have to deal with third-party vendors. And note that although there are advanced search filters available, you may still find yourself wading through non-blow mold decorations in the search results page. The 15 Best Christmas Inflatables of 2022 You’ll find plenty of blow mold Christmas decorations at Wayfair, along with ample helpful sorting filters, such as color, category, rating, and more, to help you pinpoint the precise decoration you’d like to purchase. Returning items at Wayfair is relatively easy. You have a 30-day window from when the item was delivered to get a refund or store credit. (Note that items must be in their original packaging and undamaged.) You’ll have to pay for return shipping. Count on a hardware store to have just about anything you’d want on hand—including blow mold decorations. At Ace Hardware, you’ll find several Union brand blow mold decorations available—this is a good place to pick up small treats, with some options available that are under $20. You can easily sort the options by indoor or outdoor, as well as by filtering by price. The 10 Best Places to Buy a Christmas Tree of 2022 Are you a diligent and patient online searcher? Then turn to Walmart, where you can find plenty of Christmas blow mold decorations. The catch is that you’ll need to wade through search results which mix together inflatable decorations with blow mold ones. Like Amazon, most of the decorations are sold through third-party vendors. You can find items at a wide range of prices, including ornaments that are under $10, as well as pricier items. And, of course, as a big box store, Walmart offers plenty of other holiday decorations as well. You can return or exchange items purchased at Walmart within 90 days of purchase, which makes it handy if you’re considering gifting something. Just think of the Jolly Christmas Shop as holiday central. This store offers just about any items you’d want for Christmas—trees, collectables, ornaments, lights. And yes, they have offerings for other holidays and seasons too. But most importantly, they offer blow mold Christmas decorations, with most items available priced at over $100. The site is well designed and easy to navigate, and as the tagline notes, they have some options for decorations that are a bit out of the ordinary. This is a great shopping destination if you want to ensure that you won’t wind up with a display that’s suspiciously similar to your neighbors’. Like Etsy, ebay is a go-to online destination for anything vintage or one of a kind. Sellers and shops on this retailer offer a wide range of Christmas blow mold decorations at many different price points. Many sellers include a buy now price (so you can snap it up) while others set the decorations to auction. That means there’s potential for getting into a fierce battle for the rights to own a cute decoration like a camel, Santa, or more. From one day to another, the options on eBay change. Basically, you never know when someone will be clearing out their attic or basement and post items, which could include blow mold decorations. Shopping on eBay has the feel of going to a thrift store or garage sale in this way—except instead of combing through dusty items, you can sort the results by price and way to purchase (auction, buy now). The 16 Best Places to Buy Holiday Cards Online of 2022 | by The Spruce Pay attention to measurements before you buy. Decorations should be large enough to make an impact on your yard or front porch from the street or curb without overwhelming the space that you have. Check measurements to make sure that mold yard decorations of different sizes are properly scaled to work well together on a lawn or front porch display. Mold yard decorations have been around since the 1930s, and were holiday lawn fixtures for decades before falling out of fashion in the 1990s. These iconic pieces of Americana have made a recent comeback, which has made the market for vintage mold yard decorations made by companies that are no longer in business more collectible and costly. When selecting vintage models, be sure to do your research to make sure that you are paying extra for rarer collectibles and not just paying more for a mass-produced vintage decoration that is still readily available. The modern appetite for nostalgic mold yard decorations has created a market for new vintage-style reproductions. While reproductions don’t have the same charm, character, and authenticity as vintage models, they are much less expensive. And you won’t have to worry about restoring or repairing a new blow mold if you take good care of it. FAQ How do you store a blow mold? Blow molds should be covered in clear plastic (such as dry cleaning bags) and tied with a zip tie or a knot. This will protect them from dust, dirt, or paint scratches. It’s best to store them indoors to protect them from the elements or the fading effects of UV rays, or on racks or shelving in a garage. Be sure to store your blow molds upright and do not stack them on top of one another. How do you restore a blow mold? If your blow mold no longer lights up, replace the lightbulb, and if that doesn’t work, replace the socket. Consider switching to LED lighting that won’t overheat and will last longer. Repair cracks in a blow mold from the inside using clear epoxy glue and a clear plastic patch cut out from a milk jug or similar piece of plastic. Faded paint on a blow mold can be spruced up with spray paint. How do you clean blow-up decorations? Blow mold decorations should be wiped down after the season is over with a soft cloth. To remove any stubborn stains, be sure to use only gentle, non-abrasive soap, and avoid rubbing or scrubbing painted areas of the mold, which may damage paint. Be particularly careful when cleaning vintage blow mold decorations, which are more fragile and prone to damage. Madeleine Burry is a health and wellness writer for The Spruce. Her work has been featured in media outlets such as Women's Health,Livestrong.com, Good Housekeeping, and more. After getting her start in online media atAbout.com, where she was the education editor, Burry went on to work as managing editor for Scholastic's parents' site, and then as associate managing editor forParents.com. Since 2014, she's been writing for many online publications, on health, wellness, beauty, food, and nutrition. You'll find her writing online atPrevention.com, Health.com, ApartmentTherapy.com, WhatToExpect.com, WomensHealthMag.com, WomensDay.com, Via.com,TheKitchn.com, NYMetroParents.com, GoodHousekeeping.com, and more. Amazon
Etsy
Home Depot
Wayfair
Ace Hardware
Walmart
The Jolly Christmas Shop
eBay
What to Look for When Buying Mold Yard Decorations
Size
Vintage Collectibles
Modern Reproductions
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FAQs
What companies still make blow molds? ›
- Western Industries Plastic Products LLC. Winfield, KS | 620-221-9464. ...
- Blow Molded Products. Riverside, CA | 951-360-6055. ...
- Iceberg Molding. Sturgis, MI | 269-651-9488. ...
- Hi-Rel Plastics & Molding. Riverside, CA | 951-354-0258. ...
- Blow Molded Solutions. Mayodan, NC | 336-949-4107. ...
- SPI Blow Molding LLC.
The price, Barrows said, often depends on the decoration's size, condition and age. Smaller blow molds, the kind you can hold in the palm of your hand, might go for $30. Larger ones, nearly life sized, sell for almost $500.
Does anyone still make blow molds? ›But the good news is that blow mold manufacturers still exist, and there are quite a few easily accessible retailers who sell them online.
When did they stop making blow molds? ›From mid-century through the 1990s, numerous plastic blow mold manufacturers closed. Beco, Poloron, Santa's Best and others are just a few well-known blow mold houses from the now bygone era.
Is Empire blow molds still in business? ›Due to dramatically decreasing sales in the 90s, Empire downsized in 2001 and no longer began producing blow molds.
How can you tell how old a blow mold is? ›Be sure to turn your blow mold over and see if you can spot any markings. These markings will many times be embossed and if they are there, they can be seen easily. In addition, sometimes there will be a date listed there as well and that is an instant way to determine if your blow mold os old.
How do you keep blow molds from falling down? ›Use twine and a stake set to secure your blow mold into the ground. You can tie the twine around the blow mold as above and make small loops at each end of the twine to allow for a stake. Once you place the stake through the loop, use a hammer or your foot to press deeply into the ground.
Can you use LED bulbs in blow molds? ›"If the blow mold uses a larger base size light, remove the screws that hold the light kit (socket) in place, remove it and screw in a new bulb, but never use more than a 40W bulb." She also recommends using LED light bulbs instead of traditional incandescent ones.
Why is it called blow mold? ›They are called blow molds. A machine blasts compressed air to blow molten plastic into hollow cavities, or molds, to create three-dimensional items.
When should outdoor Christmas decorations be taken down? ›You can take them down anytime after New Year's Day, but before January 6th—that's Three Kings Day and the last of the 12 days of Christmas. Even if your lights celebrate a different faith this holiday season, the Black-Friday-to-Three-Kings-Day window is still a great guideline.
When did Christmas blow molds come out? ›
Early in the 1960s, enterprising manufacturers started producing blow molded Christmas decorations*. Bernard Edward Co., of Chicago, IL, later renamed Beco, Poloron Products of New Rochelle, NY, Union Products of Leominster, MA and NOMA/Tico were some of the first to produce blow molded Christmas decorations.
How do you fix a broken blow mold? ›BLOW MOLD HOSPITAL (repair) - Fixing Cracks with Gorilla Clear ...
Who invented blow molds? ›Enoch Ferngren and William Kopitke produced a blow molding machine and sold it to Hartford Empire Company in 1938. This was the beginning of the commercial blow molding process. During the 1940s the variety and number of products was still very limited and therefore blow molding did not take off until later.
Is General Foam Plastics still in business? ›Note: since GFP is now out of business, their website is defunct.
What are blow molds made of? ›Blow molding is a type of plastic forming process for creating hollow plastic products made from thermoplastic materials. The process involves heating and inflating a plastic tube known as a parison or preform. Plastic blow molding originated from the ancient process of glass blowing.
How do you ship a blow mold? ›How to Ship a Blow Mold - Including Cost | Shipping Bulky Items
How are Christmas blow molds made? ›How It's Made - Blow Molding - YouTube
How do you make a plastic molding blow? ›The blow moulding process - YouTube
What is a blow mold operator? ›A blow moulding operator sets up one or more machines, observes their operation, ensures the manufactured products meet specifications, makes adjustments as necessary and tears down the equipment. He removes finished products from the molds and may trim excess plastic from parts.
How do you clean outdoor Christmas decorations? ›How-to Clean Holiday Decorations! | Day 4 of The 12 Days Of ... - YouTube
How do you keep inflatable decorations standing? ›
Ground stakes are an effective way to keep inflatable lawn decorations secure. Many inflatable decorations come with tether lines and stakes, but you can purchase additional tie-down stakes for added security. Pound the stakes into the ground as far as possible and use the tether lines to secure the inflatable.
How do you keep plastic Christmas decorations from blowing over? ›A plastic or cardboard decoration can be secured with a stake attached by duct tape to its back. If a piece is rather large and flimsy, drill or poke a few holes in it to allow wind to flow through; the holes will give the piece a better chance of remaining in place during strong wind gusts.
How do you keep Halloween decorations from blowing away? ›To keep flat plastic or cardboard cutouts from blowing over or floating away, use duct tape to secure a metal or wooden stake to the back of it and push the stake in the ground. This will not only keep your blood-curdling cutout upright but also hold it in place in windy conditions.
What kind of bulb goes in a blow mold? ›Blow molds also can use regular incandescent bulbs, which can be changed out just like a regular light bulb.
How do you clean Christmas blow ups? ›How to Clean Holiday Inflatables. To clean the inflatable, wipe it with a damp cloth, such as an all-purpose cleaning cloth. Use a small amount of mild dishwashing soap if necessary and wipe again with clean water to remove the soap. Make sure the inflatable is clean and let it air dry thoroughly before storing it.
What are the three types of blow moulding? ›- Injection Blow Molding. In injection blow molding, a blow or core rod is used throughout the process. ...
- Extrusion Blow Molding. Extrusion blow molding can be continuous or intermittent. ...
- Injection Stretch Blow Molding.
Examples of parts and products that are created using blow molding include water bottles, shampoo and other small bottles, automotive parts, stadium seating and chairs, watering cans, coolers, or any other type of hollow parts.
Is it OK to leave Christmas lights on all night? ›If Christmas lights are left on for too long, they can get hot and become a fire hazard. For this reason, Sharon Cooksey, fire safety educator at Kidde, says to turn your lights off when you go to sleep or leave your home.
Is it OK to leave Christmas lights up all year? ›The quick answer is: you can leave your outdoor lights on your trees year-round if you want to, although we suggest removing outdoor tree lights around the beginning of Spring. Whether you decide to keep them up for four months or 12, it is important to know how to safely keep your lights on your outdoor trees.
When should Christmas decorations come down 2022? ›That means you can enjoy the twinkling lights for a little while longer, because Twelfth Night falls on either 5th or 6th January 2022 – and the dates depend on tradition. Be warned though: leaving your Christmas decorations up after this date is thought to bring bad luck.
What are vintage blow molds made of? ›
These vintage hollow plastic lawn ornaments are called blow molds because of the method used to make them. Melted plastic is blown into a mold. Some collectors prefer to call them light-up lawn art.
How do you get dents out of blow molds? ›BLOW MOLD HOSPITAL (repair) - one option to fix a dent - YouTube
How do you remove mold from Christmas ornaments? ›Hot water and some dish soap can do the trick. Be sure that you are wearing gloves and a medical mask while handling mold and mildew. Remember to thoroughly clean out your sink after you are done. As previously mentioned, a dehumidifier can be used to prevent excess moisture from getting to your decorations.
What is stretch blow molding? ›Stretch blow molding is the blow molding process used to produce bottles of the strength required for carbonated drinks.
What is Bottleblowing? ›Apr 6, 2021 Bottles. Blow molding is a process that uses heated liquid plastic to create hollow objects, like bottles or other packaging. Pressure forces the material into a mold cavity, which gives the object its hollow shape.
How do I identify a vintage blow mold? ›Be sure to turn your blow mold over and see if you can spot any markings. These markings will many times be embossed and if they are there, they can be seen easily. In addition, sometimes there will be a date listed there as well and that is an instant way to determine if your blow mold os old.
What is the blow Moulding process? ›Blow molding is the forming of a hollow object by inflating or blowing a thermoplastic molten tube called a “parison” in the shape of a mold cavity. The process consists of extruding or “dropping” a parison on which female mold halves are closed. The female mold halves contain the shape of the product to be produced.
How do you keep blow molds from falling down? ›Use twine and a stake set to secure your blow mold into the ground. You can tie the twine around the blow mold as above and make small loops at each end of the twine to allow for a stake. Once you place the stake through the loop, use a hammer or your foot to press deeply into the ground.
What was the first blow mold? ›The first blow mold to really capture the imagination of Americans was the Pink Flamingo, created in 1957 by Don Featherstone, who went to work for Union Products right out of art school.
Why do they call them blow molds? ›They are called blow molds. A machine blasts compressed air to blow molten plastic into hollow cavities, or molds, to create three-dimensional items.
What are the disadvantages of blow moulding? ›
- Limited to hollow parts.
- Low strength.
- To increase barrier properties, multilayer parisons of different materials are used (thus not recyclable)
- Trimming is necessary to make wide neck jars spin.
- Limited to thermoplastics (rotational moulding can be used with thermosets)
- Injection Blow Molding. In injection blow molding, a blow or core rod is used throughout the process. ...
- Extrusion Blow Molding. Extrusion blow molding can be continuous or intermittent. ...
- Injection Stretch Blow Molding.