Ye Olde Sweet Shop

This week has been a mixture of holiday and a bit of work, or revision in eldest teen’s case. The children are still on holiday. We’ve reached the stage where the house is in flux between silence and total mayhem. I still have a few activities left up my sleeve, to bring out at a moment’s notice. A good policy, I’ve always thought. I’m the person who still carries a pack of mini Snoopy pencils in my purse, just in case my now-tween/teens should get bored when we’re out. They never do, but the pencils are sharpened and ready to use on paper napkins in restaurants at a moment’s notice. I’m ready.

Anyway, today we were home and I pulled out one of  my ever-ready activities. Admittedly it’s been up my sleeve for a good number of years, so it needed adapting. Something that might appeal to a teen, as well as my younger two.

Years ago, my parents made me a toy sweet shop as a Christmas present. I loved it. It was one of those presents that really sticks in my memory. I’m sure I had other presents that Christmas, but it’s this present I remember as clear as anything. It was made from a box of sample jams and marmalades. They saved the packaging and revamped it. Box and all.

In each of the twelve mini jars, there was a different type of sweet. I remember rationing them out, until all I was left with was the violet flaky sweets which were an acquired taste. The others were the likes of smarties, jelly tots, dolly mixtures and more. Perfect.

I’ve wanted to make something similar for my children. Instead, I challenged one of the them to make a mini shelf unit, without telling her why. I gave her a cereal box and the specification and let her work out how. I think she did well. It was a simple project, but fun.

I don’t usually buy sweets, so the choice was novel. Prices on jars were an after thought. I knew they would like the sweets (of course!), but the whole sweet shop concept seems to have gone down well. A mini sweet shop. What’s not to like no matter your age?

The irony is that I can’t enjoy many of the sweets. Probably a good job. I only have to see a boiled sweet or jelly sweet, and I can feel ulcers popping up all over my tongue. Ah well. I can still enjoy the idea of a mini sweet shop and relive my own childhood.

So. Please tell. Do you have you a favourite memory of a homemade childhood gift? Also, are your Christmas decorations still up? I’d love to know.

Happy New Year to you all. I hope it is a good one!