Collecting

I collect fortunes from fortune cookies

I collect fortunes from fortune cookies. My favorite is “Keep up the good work. You will soon be rewarded.”

-- Submitted by Ben H., Grayslake, Ill.
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I collect stamps

At a den meeting, my neighbor came over and showed us his stamp collection. If it wasn’t for Cub Scouts, I would never have started collecting stamps.

-- Submitted by Eric L., Glendale, Ariz.
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I collect pencil lead

I collect pencil lead. I have almost half a quart jar full. I find most of it on the fl oor at school.

-- Submitted by Jason R., Edison, Wash.
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I collect hat pins

When I go somewhere, I buy a hat pin. I have 30 from places like France, Mexico and Grand Cayman.

-- Submitted by Alexander L., Marietta, Ga.
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I collect coins

I collect coins. It runs in my family. My grandmother passed her collection to my dad. Now he helps me. I have about 600 coins from all over the world. Some are very old and rare.

-- Submitted by Rohan A., Braintree, Mass.
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I collect farm toys

I collect all sorts of farm toys, such as barns, tractors, combines, a cotton picker, cows, horses and buffaloes.

-- Submitted by Bryce K., Arlington, Minn.
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I collect mini football helmets

I have more than 60 mini football helmets on a shelf in my room. My favorites are from the Redskins and Panthers.

-- Submitted by Joey V., Austin, Tex.
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I collect keychains

I have about 100 different keychains. My favorite is a leather Trans-Am keychain.

-- Submitted by Jordan S., Sussex, N.J.
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I collect video games

I have a collection of video games, almost 250 in all.

-- Submitted by Christopher C., Gulf Shores, Ala.
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I collect medals from special events

I collect medals from special events. Once I went to Bangkok, Thailand, to compete in running, and I got 10 medals.

-- Submitted by Andrew Y., Taipei, Taiwan
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I collect Hardy Boys books

I collect Hardy Boys books. I have 40 from the old and new series combined. They are my favorite books.

-- Submitted by Jeremy M., Rohnert Park, Calif.
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I collect bolo ties

I collect bolo ties. One has a real scorpion inside. Some have belt buckles to match.

-- Submitted by Jackson W., Stockbridge, Ga.
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I collect plaster footprints from animal tracks

I make and collect plaster footprints from animal tracks I find in my yard or at the park.

-- Submitted by Kyler M., Magnolia, Tex.
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I collect banjo picks

Ever since I started playing the banjo three years ago, I have been collecting picks. When playing the banjo, you use three picks. I have 98.

-- Submitted by Trey R., Duluth, Ga.
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I collect stickers off fruit

I collect stickers off fruit. I have almost 50 fruit stickers off oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, apples and bananas from Egypt, Spain, Ecuador and other countries.

-- Submitted by Marcus S., Kiev, Ukraine
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I collect old holiday decorations and novelties

I collect old holiday decorations and novelties. I started when I found a lot in my grandparents’ basement.

-- Submitted by Zach Y., Muscle Shoals, Ala.
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I collect cookbooks

Since I was 10, I have been collecting cookbooks. I have 13 so far, and I have not cooked from all of them yet.

-- Submitted by Stephan R., San Diego, Calif.
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I collect bottlecaps

I collect bottlecaps. My favorite has the Chicago Cubs emblem on it.

-- Submitted by Nathan M., Chicago, Ill.
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I collect pencil sharpeners

I collect pencil sharpeners from garage sales, flea markets, museum shops and thrift stores.

-- Submitted by Galen D., Reynoldsburg, Ohio
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I collect paper boats that I make myself

I collect paper boats that I make myself. I have war boats and one giant yacht with a paper hot tub and table-tennis table.

-- Submitted by Eric N., Charlottesville, Va.
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I collect old glass soda bottles

I collect old glass soda bottles. I get them from old stores that have antiques.

-- Submitted by Boquisha W., Tallahassee, Fla.
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I collect airline safety cards

I collect airline safety cards. I even have one from Air Force One, the president’s aircraft.
My Uncle Mike, who sometimes travels with the president, obtained it for me.

-- Submitted by Anders E., Wilsonville, Ore.
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I collect used hot-sauce bottles

I collect used hot-sauce bottles because I can stand incredibly spicy food, even the hottest of all—the habanero!

-- Submitted by Ethan B., Westborough, Mass.
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I collect fish in my aquarium

I collect fish in my aquarium and study them. My favorite is the tetra, which you can see through to its insides.

-- Submitted by Nick L., Esperance, NY
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I collect Garfield stuff

I collect Garfield stuff. I have books, plush animals, calendars, toys, cups and more.

-- Submitted by Joseph L., Rock Island, IL
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I collect elephants

I collect elephants. I buy them at zoos and some are gifts. I give each one a name.

-- Submitted by Jacob S., Chillicothe, OH
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I collect soda pop bottles. My most outrageous ones are Whoopie Cherry Lime Rickey, Mexican Coca-Cola limited edition and Sea Dog Root Beer. I get to drink the sodas. I also like to buy the ones my parents drank when they were kids.

-- Submitted by Kenny C., Manteca, CA
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I collect airplane tickets

I collect airplane tickets. I have tickets to Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, the Bahamas, Florida, New York City and other places.

-- Submitted by Triston F., Phoenix, AZ
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I have a collection of succulent plants

I have a collection of succulent plants. They’re all different shapes, sizes and colors. It’s beautiful to watch them grow.

-- Submitted by Daniel E., Altadena, CA
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I collect refrigerator magnets

I collect refrigerator magnets when my family goes to neat places. When friends see all the places we’ve been, they are amazed.

-- Submitted by Brian M., Macomb, MI
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VIDEO PROJECT

Experiment of the Week

Last week, science instructor Robert Krampf used chocolate to show how a microwave oven works.

This week, he uses chocolate to measure the speed of light.

>> Click here to watch the video
>> See more Experiments of the Week

MAGIC IN A MINUTE

Fun magic tricks and jokes to amaze your friends

How did Mac King know that Dr. Zenario's cold remedy was a scam?

See if you can solve the mystery.

>> Click here to read the mystery
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HOBBY HOWS

Hobby ideas and tips contributed by readers

From photography to fishing to coin collecting, Boys' Life readers share their hobby secrets. Here are the most recent:

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>> Send us your tips

YOUR PHOTOS

Post your Pinewood Derby pictures

Did your car win the race? Or are you just really proud of how it turned out? Boyslife.org wants to share your photos with the world.

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COLLECTING

Readers tell us about their collections

If it exists, Boys' Life readers probably collect it. Here are some of the interesting, unusual and just plain cool collections that you've sent us.

>> Click here to read more Collecting ideas
>> Tell us about your collection