making a toy sweet shop

jopsey

been looking to buy my little boy (3) a toy sweet shop for Christmas but all the ones I have seen look rubbish and cheap plastic

I have got some plastic compartment boxes left from last years sweet hamper things thought fill them with sweets like pick and mix ,
buy a cheap set of scales .
I am sure I have some scoops that I got with bath salts once ,paper bags , plastic /paper money till I seen in pound shop ...but am stuck for ideas on the actual shop surround

any other ideas would be so welcome
Thanks

moonpenny

Hi Jopsey

When I was little I spent hours *with my friends" going round the local shops asking for their used sweet boxes. You know, the ones they had on the counters. I don't know if they use them now but we spent hours filling them with stones, leaves bits of paper etc, anything for pretend sweets!

The different shaped boxes would be more interesting than plastic.
Could you get a big piece of cardboard, maybe 3 or 4 sections and paint it with a background of old jars of sweets etc sat on shelves. Then you could secure it somehow around the back of "the counter" :j

jopsey

thanks for reply ,not very arty but crafty (IYKWIM) thought maybe if I get some sticky back plastic in sweet design could cover some boxes as well
any more ideas would be fantastic x

OohSoHolly

Found these in my travels which are quite amazing:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Old-Sweet-shop-price-cards-Arthur-Rowe-Jamboree-bag_W0QQitemZ360079272577QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item360079272577&_trkparms=72%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ebayphotohosting
You could probably easily replicate them without having to buy them. But they are quite cool
Sorry cant really help on the surroundings! :]

jopsey

any more ideas would be very appreciated

Cinny91

I don't know if you can knit or not, but there are patterns for knitted your own doughtnuts ect. Too early in the morning and that's the best I can think of so far! :rotfl:

sweetnskint

maybe make a surround that could be used like a serving hatch! could be done with card or something more sturdy like cork! could be free standing or joined to a base.... maybe stripey!-you could even make sale signs bit like a real shop! kids love this sort of thing!

medsdemon

You should put all the sweets in little jars, maybe recycle coffee/jam jars or plastic jars, print labels and then it's more fun tipping into the scales like a real old fashioned sweetie shop( also it will keep the sweets nicer longer and is more hygenic), stacked in a row where-ever he's set up shop.Make some price labels for practice with numbers, and add a little shopkeepers apron to wear when he's working ( embroidered with the name of his sweet shop?).

You could also include slightlier healtier options like refilling the jars with popcorn, nuts & dried fruit after the sweets are all used up or when they have friends to play.

ih8stress

Depends on what sort of size you are thinking of and whether you want it to be portable or you have a room in mind where it can be set up for long periods.

I'll get my thinking cap on, just let me know.

rosekitten

I would have a look in IKEA they have
lots of things in their kitchen & Kids
departments,a lot of it quite cheap
a small camping table with a gingham
cloth thrown over it would work as
a counter and then you could get a
storage box to keep everything in
when not in use.

Also there are sellers on ebay who sell
small sweet bags 50 or a 100 at a time
starting at 99p,search under paper bags

I am certain I have seen little scales in
the pound shop or 99p shop.

Gangstabird

If I was going to make something durable I would use a box and overlay it with papier mache and paint. It's really strong and when it's finished with you will not mind chucking it. You could paint it white with any old emulsion/gloss you have and buy a coloured match pot to paint 'lucys sweet shop' or whatever on it. You could even put in a shelf under the counter by using blocks of cardboard stuck on and a shelf in card on top of that. The possibilites are endless with paper mache and it's really really cheap. For sweetie bags you can make your own from brown paper or nag your local green grocer/ freezer bags.

For sweet trays or jars, use old peanut butter/jam jars etc and fill with whatever. Also poundland wicker baskets are good.

For money just ask everyone for their coppers. You don't need much and perhaps splash out on a till from ebay.

Actually that is such a good idea I might make mine a play kitchen instead of buying MORE bloomin plastic.