For those of us who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, Sandylion stickers marked a before-and-after. The star of the show was, for many, the pearlized stickers, which alongside the velvety fuzzy and the beautiful prismatic stickers. The technique used to create these stickers, particularly as the 90s approached, was never correctly reproduced by other brands. At least, not to the degree Sandylion believed in it – and how much we loved it.
Pearlized stickers came in 2″ x 2″ squares (“modules” or “mods“), which could be pulled from a roll.
Favorite Vintage Pearlized Stickers
Sandylion’s selection of pearlized stickers was as ample as it was beautiful. Here are some distinguished entries.
Pearly Jiraffes
Four colorful and dotted jiraffes. RARITY: Common.
Pearly Cats
Four solid-colored fluffy cats. RARITY: Uncommon.
Pearly Dalmatian Dogs
Four colorful and dotted Dalmatian dogs. RARITY: Common.
Pearly Balloons
Three colorful hot air balloons. RARITY: Common.
Pearly Horses
Four horses in realistic and pastel colors. RARITY: Uncommon.
Pearly Koalas
Four colorful koalas in different body positions. RARITY: Uncommon.
Pearly Skiing Dinos
Four colorful dinosaurs skiing down a hill. RARITY: Uncommon.
Pearly Pigs
Five pigs (two of them babies) and a bucket of corn. RARITY: Uncommon.
Pearly Crocodiles
Four crocodiles in green and blue shades. RARITY: Common.
Pearly Farm Animals
Many different farm animals. RARITY: Rare.
Pearly Butterflies
Five butterflies with red and blue wings. RARITY: Uncommon.
Pearly Unicorns
Four cute unicorns with rainbow horns. RARITY: Uncommon.
Pearly Sheep
Four brightly colored sheep, two jumping. RARITY: Uncommon.
Find your own pearlized stickers:
Other Vintage Stickers
When it came to collecting Sandylion sticker sheets or squares, the texture and finish was everything. Collectors specifically hunted for these top tiers, which I will try my best to explain below. Basically, you had Kromekote stickers with no effects, and stickers with flocking, a pearlized layer, or a holographic finish.
Fuzzy Stickers (Flocked/Velour)
These felt like soft velvet or felt. They usually featured adorable animals like teddy bears, koalas, or little black cats. Petting the sticker in your sticker album (or your intact squares if that’s how you collected them) was half the fun!
Pearl Stickers (Mother-of-Pearl / Opal)
These had a gorgeous, milky, iridescent sheen that shifted in the light. They didn’t have the harsh glare of foil; instead, they looked like polished seashells. The pearly unicorns, ballet slippers, sailboats, and pastel hearts were highly coveted.
Prismatic Stickers
These were the shiny, holographic ones that cracked the light into rainbows, often used for laser-style designs, frogs, and shooting stars. The effect became popular later, but Sandylion stickers were the first to do it right! And they were a sort of small revolution, if you ask me.
Kromekote Stickers
These were Sandylion’s standard glossy paper stickers. They were still cute, but definitely the “base layer” of a trading session compared to a rare fuzzy mod. Even though these stickers had no flashy effects, they are still highly collectible and beloved for their detail.
Fuzzy Sandylion Stickers
Fuzzy Sandylion stickers had a layer of fuzz or flocking that made them quite a new and attractive option for sticker collectors. I remember spending ages touching these stickers, feeling the soft velvety surface…
Fuzzy Flamingos
Five adult flamingos chilling with a leg curved up in the hair. RARITY: Uncommon.
Fuzzy Chickens
Four healthy chickens and two perfect eggs. RARITY: Uncommon.
Fuzzy Dinosaurs
Three marine dinosaurs and one jellyfish. RARITY: Uncommon.
Fuzzy Gorillas
Five dark grey gorillas with black outlines. RARITY: Common.
Fuzzy Leopard and Tigers
A black panther and two yellow tigers, one of them jumping. RARITY: Uncommon.
Prismatic or Sparkling Sandylion Stickers
Prismatic Sandylion stickers were shiny and holographic. They sparkled in the light. This effect was replicated in future sticker lines, so they are not considered too rare by collectors today.
Prism Suns and Moons
Many suns, shooting stars, and moons. RARITY: Common.
Prism Hummingbirds
Five colorful hummingbirds in flight RARITY: Uncommon.
Prism Rainbows
Six differently sized rainbows, one with clouds. RARITY: Common.
Prism Frogs
Five spotted and very colorful frogs. RARITY: Uncommon.
