Gloom and Bloom Line - December 2014

 
Hi everyone!
 
Firstly an apology. I've had this doll since the beginning of December and I've been to busy/lazy/forgetful to put my review up, so I'm hoping you'll all still find value in what I have to say :)
 
As soon as I saw the upcoming trademark 'Gloom and Bloom' I KNEW it'd have to include our favourite eco punk, Venus! The line is pretty much made for her :)
 
The layout of this box is GOREgeous, I love how Mattel are experimenting with the box designs. The old ones were cool but they grew a little boring in my opinion. I love how they're mainly plastic now; I don't remove mine from their boxes, so a clear box means I can look at them in closer detail <3
 

 
I absolutely LOVE the big bold artwork on the front of the boxes now!!
 

 
The same artwork is on the back of the box, along with a little story to go along with the theme (sorry for the blurry writing!), I can't wait for the webisode!
 
Appearance:
 

 
I'm gonna start doing this little comparison of my doll to the promo picture of the doll because quite often they make the promo pictures look better than the doll itself.
 
Here you see that THANKFULLY the makeup comparison is pretty spot-on, the hair is less voluminous, but that could be due to how it is fastened to the box. The promo doll's face looks a lot fatter than the actual doll and it makes her look like a totally different person :/
 
Venus is back to having OTT makeup, after a nice break of looking a little more grown-up through her Coffin Bean doll :) She wears a hint of green eye shadow under her eyebrows, hot pink eye shadow all around her eyes and lined with sky blue. Her lipstick is hot pink. 
 

 
Venus has gone back to the pink/green/black hair colour combo that has appeared in her Zombie Shake and I Heart Fashion dolls. Her hair is collected into a high ponytail and looks quite greasy, unfortunately.
 

 
 
At first I thought that Venus had forgotten to shave her head!! But the shaven part is there... It's just strangely moved to the back of her head... Not sure how I feel about that.
 

 
I love this outfit.
 
Venus wears what I would describe as a 50s style dress in a silky, Venus Flytrap-print fabric. I would totally wear that!
 
On top of this she wears a bolero in a black mesh fabric. Would also wear :)
 
Such a simple outfit, but so fitting for a garden party :)

A nice shot of Venus's lady garden... Ahem. 

Accessories:
 

 
My least favourite part of this outfit is her simple boots. I know it's best to dull down your shoes when your outfit is so detailed, but I feel these are a little too boring.
 
However, I LOVE her vines. She has Venus Flytrap vines on her legs and in her hair (shown in above photos). She wears a simple black belt, black vine earrings and a black vine necklace (all shown in photos above).
 

 
 Venus comes with a healthy looking Venus Flytrap and a plant pot (a younger sibling, perhaps? Or Chewlian's babies?!), although I feel that these could be more detailed, and a lovely ornate looking watering can.
 
I like:
Her hair (overall)
Her outfit
The Venus Flytrap accessories!
Her watering can
The new box and the box art

I dislike:
The shaved patch on the back of her head... WTH?!
The lack of detail on the potted plant
The shoes

Apart from the new vinyl figures, I've not seen any mention of upcoming Venus dolls, so we may be taking a break for a while! But I'll keep my eyes peeled for any news and I'll get the post up straight away this time ;)




 
 
Promo picture from: http://imgkid.com/monster-high-gloom-and-bloom.shtml
Back of head picture from: http://monsterhighactually.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/venus-mcflytrap-gloom-and-bloom.html

Coffin Bean Line - August 2014

The budget lines are always my favourite Monster High dolls just because the themes are so random and I look at all the new ones that are coming out and WISH for a Venus! For example, wishing for a Dead Tired Venus and a Ghoul Sports Venus <3 A Fearleading Venus would be a bonus <3

I don't like coffee (or coffin, I guess) at all, but I love the idea of this :P

I've noticed over the past couple of releases that the front box art is getting bigger and bolder, I love it! Look how cute this box art is! And so detailed, even down to her tiny pink fingernails <3

Apperance:

I bloody love how grown-up she looks here, it's all down to the lack of garish makeup and crazy hair, which I guess is very un-Venus but very welcome in my collection :P She looks really elegant here.

Venus has gone for a lovely bold pink eyeliner and green eye shadow in true Venus style. Her green lips suggest she's not wearing lipstick or has perhaps gone for a gloss (I honestly believe her lips are naturally this colour!) and it's this that gives her that casual look.

Look how cute her hair is! In the promo picture we see that's it's been curled and thankfully, though it doesn't look exactly the same, in the box it has been curled into a lovely big ringlet.

Venus is wearing a pink mini dress with the usual black, green and white vines on it. This time she wears a black sleeveless top too, which is slit open to reveal the dress underneath. It's casual without being tooooooo casual :)

(Bad photo, sorry! Her feet are well and truly hidden in this box!!)

Oh no, shoe recycle alert! She is wearing a less detailed version of her signature shoes which is a tad disappointing but I guess because it's a budget line I can't really complain.

Accessories:

Only one accessory this time! It's a green glass cup filled with Venus's 'coffin' of choice, some crazy-ass vine drink. Erm, cannibal much?

Two things disappoint me about this, firstly, EVERY OTHER DOLL on this line has a better looking beverage! Secondly, why did they have to put that horrible plastic around it? Mine will stay in the box forever more and I'm sure they could have done that in a much better way :/


I like:
Her hair
Her makeup
Her clothes
The theme
The box art

I dislike:
Her recycled shoes
Her beverage choice
Packaging choices :(



I got the promo pic from:
https://www.facebook.com/EverAfterHighDolls?fref=ts
Thanks for sharing <3

Zombie Shake Line - May 2014

 
Say 'Hello' to Venus number seven! I have longed for the Zombie Shake line since it was first announced at the beginning of this year. I love anything zombie so I was so excited to get this doll <3
 

 
 
Zombie Shake Venus comes as a two-pack with Rochelle! For AGES I umm-ed and aah-ed about whether I was going to start a Venus collection or a Rochelle collection so you understand how happy I am that they are paired together (for the second time! They were also together in the Ghoul's Night Out four-pack!) :D
 
I got mine from One Stop Monster High Shop, they're also on Facebook and are amazing for UK and Europe fans as we don't usually get our dolls on the same release date as the American fans.
 
Appearance:
 

 
I love the OTT makeup on these dolls! There has been a few arguments online between those like me who LOVE how over the top it is as it adds to the effect, and those who think it's a little too much. Zombie Shake certainly shows a darker, scarier side of Monster High, but it's all in good fun!
 
Venus's makeup consists of hot pink eyeliner and eye-shadow in various shades of green that reaches right up to her eyebrows and down tot he tops of her cheeks. An asymmetrical vine pattern has been drawn around her eyes and cheeks on both sides, which is very special in my opinion :) I hope to see more stuff like this in future designs. This is also the first time Venus hasn't had red or pink lips - They are a lovely dark green which suits her very well.
 

 
Venus's hair is drawn into a high, fluffy ponytail. Her hair is her usual colours, green and pink, but like the I <3 Fashion line she has black streaks here and there, which I adore.
 

 
(Terrible photo, sorry!)
Her shaved side is back on the right side of her head (it switched to the left for the I <3 Fashion line) and there is an adorable brain pattern painted on there! I LOVE IT. She only wears one earring in this line, and that's the huge vine that you can see on the picture above :)
 

 
Venus's hair is tied up in these gorgeous vines. I love them because they curl here and there and add to the messy look of her ponytail.
 

 
Not sure if you can see this but this is the first time Venus doesn't have a green shine in her eyes. It's not white (which makes more sense in a design sense because she has enough extra green on her face with all the makeup).
 

 
More vines appear around Venus's neck, wrists and legs, it gives her an overgrown plant-monster look ;)
 
She wears a black dress which is striped with thick, shiny, green stripes and thin white stripes. The edge of a dress is tattered (again adding to the zombie effect). There is a pink tulle part of the dress that overlaps this and makes up the straps and flares out at the hips. This is speckles with pink glitter <3 This girl loves a good belt! We've got a new belt for this doll, it is green and has a fang-like design to it.
 

 
I LOVE these shoes! Bright pink shoes seem to be Venus's favourites, they have a Lady Gaga heel and fangs all over, they're gorgeous <3

Accessories:
 

 
Venus takes a simple, but cute, little green clutch with her to the dance. Little silver details are highlighted which include the zip (love it), a couple of buckles and a few studs. Venus wears a spikey black bracelet on her right wrist.
 
Can I also point out how CLAWSOME her hands are? Proper zombiefied. URRRGGHHHHH.
 
The also come with a stand each and a diary.
 

 
 The art work on the box is lovely, I really like it. I think Rochelle looks a bit scary (she's usually so cute!) but other than that I love it. You can also go on to the Monster High Website to learn the Zombie Shake dance moves (and yes, I WILL learn it!) which is also really cool :)

I like:
The makeup
The dress
Her dance partner!
Her hands
Her hair colour
The shoes

I dislike:
The bag is a bit too simple for me
Her hair is a bit too messy (I'd like it to look sleek and curly like the promo pics)
 


 
Most photos are mine (the crappy ones) but you are free to use them if you link back :)
I got the other pictures from these guys:
http://shadowbinders.com/new-monster-high-at-toyfair-2014/
http://mismonsterhighcoleccion.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/custom-de-venus-music-festival.html
Thanks for sharing! <3

Back soon!

I know I don't have many followers on here but I do want to apologise for not posting in a while. I'll be back soon! I have two new Venus dolls coming my way and of course you will get the reviews ;)

 



 

I ordered I <3 Fashion Venus last night and Hopefully she will be with me later in the week ;)

And oh em gee, didn't I already have a Swim Venus? Maybe there's something different about this one ;) Should also be with me (hopefully sooner, rather than) later this week :)



I got my pictures from these guys:https://www.facebook.com/onestopmonsterhighshop?fref=ts
(and the Swim Venus is from a listing on EBay that I bought)
Thanks for sharing! <3

Ghoul Spirit Line - December 2013

We got spirit,
LET'S HEAR IT!
We got spirit, yes we do,
We got spirit, how 'bout you?
GOOOOOOO TEAM!

I cannot even describe how excited I was for this line. Being a cheerleader, Venus with a megaphone was close enough for me, although I'm upset that in the 'Scream Spirit' web episode, the new Fearleading squad recruits weren't wearing proper uniforms. That would have been an absolute dream for me!

Appearance:

Instead, each character had their own  Monster High team t-shirt, but we'll get onto that later :P

As always, let's start with the hair! Venus's long hair is back! It reaches almost to her knees!

I loved Ghoul Spirit Venus's hair as soon as I laid eyes on it, that cute side fringe looks so adorable! I've noticed that as Venus's design progresses, the green in her hair gets considerably less. Promo images of the Ghoul Spirit Venus doll (as above) show these lovely, delicately placed green strands there in her fringe and at the front of her head...

The actual doll, however, has a big thick block of green fringe which was somewhat disappointing for me. Although it does look a lot like the web episode version of her.

Web episode Venus actually has a cool vine pattern in her shaved side too, which the doll doesn't have. Hmm...

Compared to the promo pictures, real Venus's makeup isn't nearly as nice. Promo Venus's makeup is lovely, shaped, glittery eye shadow (look back to the picture I used to talk about her hair, or the one below), but in actual fact you get a matte blob of mess, like on the picture above. Because she's face-on in the box (and because mine are NRFB) you don't really notice this all that much though. Her lips are her usual shade of hot pink :)

Venus wears little jewellery as usual, her signature green vine earring in her left ear, but on the right she wears a black vine earring. These would NOT be allowed in a real cheerleading squad ;) WAY too dangerous, but I will let that slide :P

Venus wears her own, personal Monster High team t-shirt, that she has customised with choppy sleeves and middle, a vine print on the chest and a sewn-on pocket on the front. The pocket is the same fabric as her mini skirt, her usual thorny rose print.

Venus wears loooovely pink (as usual) studded, open-toe boots, which I am quite a fan of with this outfit :)

Accessories:

Venus only has one accessory for the pep rally, and that's the blue megaphone :) I love the general pink-ness of her and the blue of the megaphone, it really brings out the school colours and shows real pride :D


I like:
How pretty this doll is
Her outfit
Her boots
Her megaphone

I dislike:
The thick lump of green in her fringe
The messy eye makeup






I got my pictures from these guys: http://blog.zoolert.com/2013/11/19/monster-high-ghoul-spirit-doll-collection/#.UxrwsyCPPIU http://www.flickr.com/photos/scarismonstergirl/10825357584/
http://www.smythstoys.com/monster-high-192sc/monster-high-ghoul-spirit-venus-mcflytrap-doll-133018002itm.aspx http://monsterhigh.wikia.com/wiki/File:Ghoul_Spirit_-_Venus_McFlytrap_2D_screenshot.JPG http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Ghoul-Spirit-Venus-Mc-Flytrap-Skirt-Lot-Monster-High-Doll-Clothes-Fashions-/191022229490
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pei78/11359890166/
http://www.monsterhigh.com/
http://www.monsterhighdolls.com/forum/topics/ghoul-spirit-venus-pics
Thanks for sharing <3

Future Venus - Freaky Fusions.

What do you get when you cross Clawdeen Wolf with Venus McFlytrap?

ClawVenus... Duh. Mattel are yet to announce the release date of the Freaky Fusions line but it seems like it's gonna be a really fun line to look out for! The Freaky Fusion line is made up of ten of our Monster High heroines paired together to make five Freaky Fusions (and three new characters)!
 
So in case you haven't guessed, Venus is being fused with Clawdeen making 'ClawVenus', and what we get is in the image above!

To me she looks more Clawdeen than Venus but I need this in my collection :D I think it's a great idea and the rest of the characters look fabulous too :) Definitely a must for any collector!




I got my pictures from these guys:
http://www.bonanza.com/items/like/146754999/NEW-Monster-High-Freaky-Fusion-Clawvenus-Doll-2014-Pre-Sale-Clawdeen-Venus
http://www.gearforkids.net/freaky-fusion-clawvenus-doll/