Vintage Pearlized Stickers: A True 1980s and 90s Treasure!

Pearlized stickers are a classic favorite for collectors of vintage stickers. Here are some highlights and lots of pictures.

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, starting with the biggest line-up: Animals! Although cats and dogs remained popular in pearl stickers, the Sandylion family expanded to include many new species and characters in mid-activities.

Pearly Animal Stickers

Pearly Jiraffes

Four colorful and dotted jiraffes. RARITY: Common.

Pearly Cats

Four solid-colored fluffy cats. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Giant Bear

A large yellow teddy bear with colored shapes. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Lions

Four lions with bright bodies and manes. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Dalmatian Dogs

Four colorful and dotted Dalmatian dogs. 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 Sheep

Four brightly colored sheep, two jumping. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Farm Animals

Many different farm animals. RARITY: Rare.

Pearly Zebras

Four zebras that pearlized in different colors. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Butterflies

Five butterflies with red and blue wings. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Giant Bear

A large blue teddy bear with yellow stars. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Unicorns

Four cute unicorns with rainbow horns. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Whales

Four beautiful whales in shades of blue. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Zebras

Four zebras with rainbow-colored stripes. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Orangutans

Four brightly colored orangutans or bonobos. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Birds

Four colorful birds in flight. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Otters

Four almost-neon-colored standing otters. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Sports Animals

Bears, rabbits, and dogs doing sports. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Dinosaurs

Four different herbivores dinosaurs relaxing. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Water Creatures

Many different colorful fish, shells, and animals. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Non-Animal Stickers

Sandylion’s stickers didn’t just celebrate the beauty of the animal kingdom, but also explored accessories, famous characters, and popular themes that kids enjoyed, like balloons and clowns. The range is very colorful! Here are some more examples of pearly stickers:

Pearly Balloons

Three colorful hot air balloons. RARITY: Common.

Pearly Clowns

Four brightly colored clowns possibly dancing. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Wedding Bears

A couple of bears on their wedding day. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Trainers

Two pairs of colorful 80s trainers. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Trolls

Four trolls, each with a different hair color. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Baby Set

Accessories related to babies and toddlers. RARITY: Uncommon.

Pearly Stars

Four shiny stars. RARITY: Common.

Pearly Clowns

Four brightly colored clowns possibly dancing. RARITY: Uncommon.

Find your own pearlized stickers:

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Other Types of Vintage Stickers

When it came to collecting Sandylion sticker sheets, the texture and finish were everything. Collectors specifically hunted for three top tiers, which I will try my best to explain. At the bottom of the pyramid (easier to produce but still holding a very respectable quality) you had Kromekote stickers with no effects; just glossy paint. But there were three other types of vintage stickers we all loved: Fuzzy (with flocking or a velvety surface), Pearly (a holographic or iridiscent finish), and Prismatic (which looked like little crystals). You can learn more about them below or in the main Sandylion Stickers page.

Kromekote Stickers (Plain)

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. See all >

Prismatic Stickers (Sparkly/Crystals)

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 were the first to do it right! See all >

Fuzzy Stickers (Flocked/Velour)

These felt like soft velvet or felt. They usually featured cute animals like teddy bears, koalas, or little cats. Petting the sticker in your sticker album (or your intact squares if that’s how you collected them) was half the fun! See all >

More Sandylion Stickers

Fuzzy stickers had a layer of fuzz or flocking that made them quite a new and attractive option for sticker collectors. Pearly stickers had a layer of iridescence that produced all sorts of effects when held to the light. And Kromekote stickers were matte or glossy paper stickers. Here are some examples in case you’re not sure which is which: