FUN for kids & Grown ups!

We found these great ideas for weekends, for rainy days or just for when your kids are bored (and you parents as well).

What better way to start than a quick easy way to make homemade playdough. It's a lot quicker than getting the kids ready and going out to the shops to buy some over priced store bought playdough. You can also make whatever colour you (or your kids) like, and as much of the stuff as you can store. Enough to make whatever their imagination wants to create.


Everyone has a big box lying around, storing something that could probably be thrown away or given away to charity (no pressure!) Especially just after Christmas! This is a superb idea by a fellow blogger at picklebums entitled what to do with a big box. This will keep them entertained for hours, days, weeks. The box is always the best part of a gift!!!!

Do you have lots a broken crayons at the bottom of a drawer, toy box, (or handbag mums?) or better still loads of half full boxes of crayons that have been acquired from restaurants just sat in the back of the car? Well this will clear up the mess, be great fun for you and the kids and makes something great to play with. By making your own crayons. you can make multicoloured large single colour, lots of shapes, depending on your range of baking trays. Get baking crayons today and see what you can create.

This last one is great, I wish we'd done this when I was little, it would have probably stopped me getting into trouble doing a similar thing with wet toilet roll!! but this is great fun and and a lot less messy. Written by another blogger to give your kids hours of fun and get rid of that excess energy. Its called sticky spider web, you create a large spider web using broad sticky tape, across a door way or room opening. Then screw up old newspaper, magazines (just raid the paper recycling) and let your kids throw indoors without worrying about the windows getting broken. Great fun have a look and do it for the kids :-)

We hope you have as much fun doing all these things as we have finding them. keep us updated on what you've created on our comments section.

New baby - plan ahead

So it's finally happened.! We've become parents...

It is as the clichés say 'the best feeling' 'an amazing experience, that will stay with you forever' however I will say one thing, preparation really does help.

Many new parents, leave getting the nursery ready until after their baby is born, they don't put furniture together until they are here, and other sundry items like nappies and milk bought but only a limited amount.

We decided we would finish the nursery before our due date. It has given us more time together with our daughter, which helped us get into a routine.
We put the furniture together in advance, which has given us a regular place to change her in her new room. This in turn has given her familiarity with getting used to her room.
We bought nappies in our weekly shop starting 6months before our due date. Whenever they were on offer we would buy them, helping to spread a very expensive purchase over many weeks, this has left us with more spare cash, that we would have had to spend on these things.

Now I'm not revealing some great mystery that no one tells you about, because if you do a bit of research on things to do before your baby arrives, these are top of the advise list. However many people never get round to doing it, they say they'll do it next week (which never comes) or they buy the furniture and it stays in the boxes, in an un-painted, half stripped nursery to-be. They never walk down the nappy aisle in the supermarket. Put it this way - why not put the money mums-to-be normally spend on a cheeky bottle of wine (but now can't) onto buying a couple of packs of nappies a week.

I encourage you all to plan ahead, because honestly, it really has helped us enjoy our new little bundle that little bit more.

(Please comment on any other pre baby advise so we can share in your individual stories)

Nappies - Huggiesclub , pampers , teamlollipop

Travel for Inspiration

I took time out from creating our new product range Nelly and Giraffe to indulge in the other passion of mine travelling. What better way - when you don't have the time to actually go travelling - than to read National Geographic Traveller.

While I was away in the far reaches of the world with the great writers at National Geo, it gave me some great inspirational ideas for GBC (Gingerboxcompany) hopefully you will see these ideas coming to fruition very soon on the website. 

My favorite European City Paris, features and shows its true self. They write about the city in the way myself and my lovely lady view the City. "As an on-off relationship, rather than rushing into an impassioned and disappointing fling" This way we saw the things behind the scenes in our own time rather than being unable to cram everything. We have done it this way because we know we will be back again and again to sample her beauty. 

We not only love the City and all she has to offer, but the culture appeals, the Parisians have a charm, and the restaurants being many and amazing give great pleasure. The main and inspirational point is the architecture, The Eiffel, The Opera, the fantastic Parisian apartment buildings with small romantic shops, eateries and bars supporting them. It can't help but inspire creativity.

Its a great read for the above and much more. I love to escape around the world for worldly inspirations even when i'm unable to do it physically.

Gingerboxcompany says THANK YOU

We've been up and running here at Gingerboxcompany for a few months now and I gladly say Thank you to a great many people, because the support through sharing in our little world has been sublime. We want to THANK YOU. Two wonderful words when used together give you great feeling. We say them constantly many times a day, and it's a great thing we do.

On Twitter @gingerboxco and on Facebook gingerboxcompany, through our Etsy account and Folksy. We have had very kind people spreading what we do to a wider audience, THANK YOU.

This week has been a great step in our progress as we have been invited to have a stand for the 2 days at UK baby & toddler show in #Liverpool which is their flagship event 2-3rd February 2013. We want to give a HUGE thank you to them for this wonderful opportunity to showcase our brand.

So many new people and small businesses like ours share a new relationship mainly through Twitter. I just want to say a huge THANK YOU and I can't name everyone but here are a few. See our #FF on Fridays on twitter, for more gratitude.

THANK YOU

@ukbabyshow - Whether you are enjoying the pitter patter of tiny feet or are expecting your little one very soon, the UK Baby and Toddler Show is a must for you and your baby

· http://ukbabyandtoddlershow.co.uk

@accidentalvix - interior designer just wanting to be creative, and sell some handmade cards, illustrations and paintings along the way :)

London · http://www.accidentalvix.co.uk 

@andybrownphotos - Photographer in North Manchester. www.andybrownphotography.nethttp://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001822373981

Manchester · http://www.andybrownphotography.net 

@PerkUpCoffee1 - Fairtrade Mobile Coffee Shop serving the Greater Manchester public the finest quality coffee and hot beverages. To book for your event call 07814254941

Manchester · http://www.perkupyourday.co.uk 

@beadsoul - Wife, mom jewelry instructor #Etsyaholic who ♥'s promoting#handmade http://about.me/beadsoul/#http://www.facebook.com/thebeadsoul Love the bacon!

Littleton, CO Denver area · http://www.beadsoul.etsy.com

@patchworkchairs - Kelly Swallow’s chairs are individually sourced vintage pieces lovingly reinvented with stunning patchwork. facebookhttp://on.fb.me/PatchWorkChairs

Hertford UK · http://www.kellyswallow.co.uk

@georgieannef - Newly launched website with the brand name GF. website is stated above, check it out girlies!

London · http://gfdesigns.webs.com/

I regrettably can't THANK everyone who has helped us on our way so far, and if I have missed you out don't worry there will be time for you in the future, I promise. PLEASE take a look at these wonderful peoples sites, tweets or facebook pages, they are all wonderful and I once again say THANK YOU.  

Fuel those creative ideas

If like myself - and you've probably read my tweets - a good cup of coffee is needed to fuel those creative ideas, otherwise you could be doodling rubbish for hours...

Or have you ever been to a craft market, work event, festival or children's fun day and all you need is a great cup of coffee to get you to the end, but all you can get is something that just doesn't cut it, resembling dish water rather than coffee!! Well I have tasted the future and it's here to save you all from those horrible, traumatic, cups of dish water, perk up coffee tastes amazing, freshly made REAL coffee, that helps puts the Creativity back into your day.

They truly are a great small business that caters for most events, as there website explains, and I truly mean every word when I say it make a refreshing change to get a real cup of coffee from a mobile coffee unit. Hiring them for any event will truly make a massive difference for yourself and everyone that tries their products.

What has this got to do with Children's products I hear you ask, and a valid question it is... Its simple, creativity and inspiration comes in many forms. These forms may from time to time need to be stimulated by the help of caffeine, I like great tasting coffee and perk up coffee give me both. SIMPLE.

So Next time you're involved in an event, or you are organising one, Do yourself a favour and get in touch with perk up coffee, they can also be found on twitter @PerkUpCoffee1. The owners are lovely genuine people who really enjoy what they do, which adds to the taste :)

Who makes me tick artistically

When you're on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social network sites, you meet and converse with an abundance of talent. Everyone from making clothing and creating paintings, to sharing parental tips or ideas. No matter what the time or day you can view, talk or share in these talents.

I get very excited when I find an individual or company that makes, sells or gives something that inspires me. It gets my creative juices flowing. There are a few people at the moment that do just that.

The first is a lady who goes by the name of accidentalvix found here http://www.accidentalvix.co.uk/ or on twitter as @accidentalvix with a fantastic collection of handmade products, from  bibs and booties , to cards and artwork.

Her cards are uniquely made for many happy occasions for everyone's needs.  Her bibs and booties are lovingly made using many colour schemes, that are beautiful and functional, a must have in every little ones wardrobe. Her illustrations are a great addition to everyone's home, they are for adults and children alike. Ideal for wedding gifts, or children's nurseries, they are a must have.

I have purchased a great pair of booties and also her fantastic Molly Superstar illustration. They are both designed and made to a very high standard, that show her talent and love for creating beautiful handmade items. Everyone should follow her twitter @accidentalvix and also check out her products for sale at her Etsy shop.

Gingerboxcompany website launched

gingerboxcompany has finally launched. The website gives you a quick overview of what we produce. More importantly you can purchase our products on it :)

If you are a regular follower to us on facebook or twitter you will have seen our products coming out. if not then you can expect to see our Personalised name signs as well as our fantastic Personalised Toy Boxes.
You will also see a our Clothing category which we are in the production stages, however we have a great in house designer 'Miswonderboop' who bring her vast design background and amazing talents to help produce children's clothing to make little ones smile all day. these will include everyday baby grow designs, but also unique one off clothes, for special occasions like christenings, birthdays, etc.

Of course none of this would have been possible without our great support from our facebook and twitter followers. Special thanks go to Andybrownphotography for current and ongoing support to help build our persona, please take a look at his page on facebook.
Another special thanks to kelly swallow at patchwork chairs who has helped us promote us on twitter increasing our followers to over 500 in just a few short weeks #followeachother. She also creates these amazing chairs, take a look at my previous blog 'modern twist on tradition chairs'.
Another source of great help to increase our followers in Vicky @accidentalvix. The list goes on and on. Please keep an eye on our blogs for further dedications to our friends on twitter and facebook, over the coming weeks. I will show what amazing products these wonderful people produce.

This summarizes a very exciting period as our products at Gingerboxcompany grow. Please keep our new website in your favourites and visit us regularly www.gingerboxcompany.co.uk.