Precious Parcels - The Blog!

If Precious Parcels Did Fabulous January Sales... Oh, We Do!

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 20:42:00 +0000

Last week it was 20% off...

This week we are pleased to announce the Big Clock Sale. These personalised handmade clocks are now just £11 each and as an added benefit there is also free delivery on any clock order made via our Facebook page.

This offer ends at 5pm sharp on Friday 24th January.

All you have to do to order at this special price is:
1. Go to the Precious Parcels Facebook page
2. Comment under the sale post to let us know what you want
3. Send your PayPal payment to payment@preciousparcels.co.uk and
4. Drop us an inbox message to let us know you've paid.

All of the clocks on our personalised clocks page on the main website are included in the offer but orders MUST be made via Facebook.

These are just a few of the clocks on offer.....

Hurry now, the clock is ticking!

20% OFF EVERYTHING!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 11:57:00 +0000

How's that for an attention grabbing title?

Our BIG sale starts now and ends at 10pm Friday 17th January. As the title suggests you will get 20% off any items on the site using the code BIGSALE at the checkout over at Precious Parcels.

Precious Parcels has something for you should you be looking at sprucing up the nursery after winter and looking to inject some more summery colours....

Perhaps you know someone with a new baby arriving soon?

Are the birthday party invitations starting to roll in again? These personalised plaques make great gifts!

We are on hand if your little one is getting ready to start learning to tell the time.

Precious Parcels is full of fabulous handmade gifts and treats for your own home, your children and our gifts never fail to raise a grin!

Don't forget to use the BIGSALE code when checking out on the site!

Christmas News!

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 09:52:00 +0000

No, Christmas has not been pushed back this year to give people longer to get their presents however we do have other exciting Xmas news!

We have now re-added these delightful Christmas Personalised Christmas Trees to the website. Available in either blue or pink with personalisation of your choice these fabulous keepsakes cost just £5.95 each.

Our trees were our best-selling item in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and we hope they will be just as popular this year! Measuring approximately 10.5cm tall and finished with twine and gingham ribbon you can see why these much cherished Christmas decorations have been so popular in the past!

SHORT STOCK!

Due to an unprecedented run on our Christmas Hessian Santa Sacks we are now running low on stock and it doesn't seem likely that we will be able to get these back again in time for Christmas. The sacks measure 110cm x 60cm and feature a personalised wooden Christmas star too.

At just £14.95 these are very popular so please don't delay if they are on your list.
This picture was one sent in by one of our customers and gives you a good idea of how they look once Santa has been.

Christmas is indeed well on its merry way so do have a browse of our Christmas range and order early to ensure that you have everything you want in good time.

Fabulous New Christening Plate Designs

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 11:51:00 +0000

Our plates have always been popular and at this time of year we seem to get a run not only on our Christmas plates but also our Christening plates.

Our most recently additions to the collection are these adorable christening plates which are completely personalised and which make great gifts, items for nursery or playroom display and also make fantastic keepsakes.

Each of these fabulous plates are just £19.95 and despite only hitting the shelves yesterday have already proven to be popular!

If you have a special christening coming up these plates make the perfect thoughtful and personal gift.

We often add new products to our range and of course look forward to sharing these fabulous handmade goodies with you all as soon as we can. Quite often they are featured on our Facebook page before our website even so make sure you like the page to keep abreast of new products, sales and discount codes.

Colour!

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 10:32:00 +0000

Summer has most definitely arrived judging by the number of fans dotted around my house and work area, not to mention the discarded sun hats, creams, lolly sticks and extra water bottles that G seems to leave in his wake wherever he goes. Summer is here and with it there are some gorgeous colours about. I'm not just talking about the bright sun and blue skies but everything from hot air balloons, people dressed in bright summer clothing, kites and more.

We are big fans of colour over on the website too.... (Click on the pics to be taken to the item pages).

If you love bright colours then get yourself over to the website and have a good old fashioned browse (preferably while enjoying a long icy drink!).

NEW Children's Backpacks

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:01:00 +0000

We are very excited about our newest product, these fabulous children's backpacks.

Perfect for holidays, days out on the beach, adventuring, collecting, picnics, sports days and more these personalised drawstring bags are both practical and fun.
Measuring 43cm x 35cm each backpack has a handy 22.5cm pocket at the front. With a beach hut and boat design to choose from this there is a bag to suit everyone.

We haven't yet added these bags to the website so are giving Facebook fans a chance to get in there first. Each bag costs just £6.95 each and postage is £2.95 regardless of the size of your order (a perfect excuse to stock up on gifts and treats!).

To order pop along to the Facebook page and inbox me with which bag you prefer and the personalisation along with your details and I'll send you a PayPal invoice which makes paying easy whether you have a PayPal account or prefer to use your debit or credit card through their secure payment system.

To browse our other personalised items why not pop along to the main website?

Mr and Mrs

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:07:00 +0000

Don't get too excited by the title. I might have reported recently on Facebook recently that George has his first girlfriend (aww!) but we don't expect any big announcements anytime, what with him being five years old.

Mrs and Mrs is of course the name of our most popular wedding bunting. Ignoring the weather for the moment it is indeed wedding season with customers already starting to tie the knot (well it is nearly June!).

This bunting has been a favourite amongst many for its somewhat vintage and cottage-like look which also works well in a modern space. We've had reports of it being hung behind the top table at the wedding reception, in the new couple's home, at hen parties, being given as a gift and more.

At just £16.95 this beautiful green rosebud material with contrasting white spots boasts letters which stand approximately 13cm high. Have a good look at this and the many other items available on our dedicated weddings page. We love helping customers with the little touches that make their day extra special.

Fun and Fruity Non-Alcoholic Cocktails

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:54:00 +0000

I am an optimist and as such am convinced that although spring was very late and has been a very mild one to say the least that summer is just around the corner and will be a zinger this year. There will be blue clouds, grass dry enough for you to sit on without the risk of sinking into mud and sun warm enough to allow us to take off our four layers of clothing and wear summer garb.
It will happen, I am determined!

When it does we plan on christening our new-ish garden with a barbecue. Every barbecue needs a good beverage however as I will be in charge of the tongs, numerous animals and George I've been researching some fruity non-alcoholic cocktails that George and I can make together. Here are our two favourites which we've doctored to suit our own needs.

IMPORTANT: No cocktail is complete without an umbrella and a twisty straw.

The Banana Margarita

For this recipe you will need:
3 peeled bananas,
Ice cubes
A freshly squeezed lime
Sugar to taste (we add it to taste until we are happy depending on how much of a sugar high is required)
450ml fresh milk

This recipe couldn't be easier as it is a chop and whizz-up job. Our smoothie whizzer doesn't really like ice cubes so we add these at the end however if you have a fancy machine I would blend it all together. The lime and banana works really well together surprisingly.
This is a drink for enjoying straight away as it needs to be enjoyed icy cold and is not as yummy if left.

Tropical Cooler

Ingredients:
Fresh pineapple (cut into chunks)
1 tablespoon of honey
Coconut milk
flaked coconut or almond essence.
Ice cubes

This is another chop and blend cocktail which is absolutely delicious. I've deliberately not given you amount for the pineapple and coconut milk as this is very much a trial and error recipe according to your own tastes. I would suggest whizzing the pineapple and other ingredients first and then adding the coconut milk gradually until you have the volume and taste that you want.

These are tried, tested and delicious.
Do you have any fresh fruity non-alcoholic cocktail recipes to share?

Photo Credit

Kissing Boys and Girls Makes Your Teeth Fall Out

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:37:00 +0000

Did you ever get told that when you were younger? I always thought these saying were daft until I had George and now this one is right up there with "If you don't eat your crusts your hair will go curly" and "If the wind changes you'll stay like that!". Oh how things change.....

I love the age that G is at right now and I have no doubt that he will soon be robbing me (*cough* the tooth fairy) blind very soon. As hilarious as a child with his or two top teeth missing is, or as cute as that little lisp is while we wait for new teeth to emerge no-one should forget the importance of the tooth fairy ceremony and of course the rules.

1) The tooth fairy doesn't work weekends (this covers you if you don't have any change and really want to have a PJ weekend).
2) The tooth fairy's current rates are £1 per tooth, no negotiations are permitted.
3) The tooth fairy will not swap teeth for coins if the child losing the tooth has been naughty.
4) The tooth fairy will not swap teeth for coins if the bedroom is such a mess that she can't get to it.
5) Teeth swallowed will not be collected by the tooth fairy so there is no need for parents to go looking for them when they reappear. A letter of explanation in cases like these will suffice.
6) The tooth fairy is a classy broad and does not accept scrubby envelopes with teeth in. Parents who don't want her to "have words" about them to the Easter Bunny and Santa will leave the teeth in a suitable place as per the importance of the ceremony dictates.

Fortunately we do have some fabulous tooth cushions that Nanny Plum, err I mean Mrs Rabbit from Peppa Pig, err I mean the Tooth Fairy will no doubt approve of.

These brilliant 10cm x 10cm cushions which are personalised are bound to do the trick.

I have to ask (I'm taking notes for future reference), what rules, regs and traditions do you have regarding lost teeth?

It is Spring (no really it is!)

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 06:31:00 +0000

We've had some false starts, actually we've had quite a few false starts but I have it on good authority that Spring has arrived (George said so and anyone with a five year old will know that they are never wrong).
There are other signs such as the birds tweeting beautifully from 4.30am outside my window which is clearly where they've chosen to make a nest, the daffodils that have cautiously bloomed now it seems the snow and frost has disappeared and of course the blossom is out.

Not only does this mean that we could be on our way to Summer (stop laughing!), it also means that garden maintenance needs to start and start fast. We love gardening together and G still uses the gardening kit I gave him when we first started to sell them. Working side by side to pull the weeds and plant new bits and pieces is great fun and despite us ending up covered in mud we always enjoy our gardening sessions.

We are clearly not the only ones keen to get back in the garden as sales of the gardening kits have jumped.

For just £7.95 each kit contains a trowel, fork, rake (solid tools - none of this plastic rubbish which breaks in five minutes), a personalised star and a brilliantly designed bag to keep everything in.

Have a look at the different colour options and more images here.

Hopefully the weather will stay warm enough for us to keep digging as we still have a small mountain of weeds to tackle and they won't sort themselves out!

A Sale With a Difference!

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:40:00 +0000

I could write reams about our exciting new sale on the 5th April (this Friday!) however this pretty much says it all... (for now!)

Ok, maybe not all but we hope this has got your attention because come Friday you'll be able to grab some fantastic bargains! The sale will run from 10am to 10pm so get it in your diary.
In preparation keep an eye on the website and make sure that you are a Facebook fan because we don't want you to miss out!

Clocks Clocks and More Clock

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 07:32:00 +0000

At the end of the month the clocks change (I haven't yet worked out whether they go forward an hour or back however am sure checking Facebook nearer the time will put me right). Considering we have had snow every month since October, yes six months of snow in varying degrees, it is hard to believe that we are approaching lighter nights and in theory warmer spring-like weather.

While on the subject of time, have you new readers seen our clock range? The clocks are so popular and one of my favourite items on the website. Being personalised they work brilliantly in any bedroom, nursery or playroom.

These are just a few of the clock designs and personalisations that we can offer so make sure that you visit our clock page to find out more. At just £14.95 each for a lovingly handmade clock which your child would be delighted with, these are just perfect.

Now, which way do the clocks turn this time.....?

Thanks

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 10:14:00 +0000

When rifling through the post this week, ignoring the ones marked Bill (we don't have anyone called Bill here?!) and recycling the junk mail we came across a pretty blue envelope which clearly contained a card. It took a minute to mentally check that I hadn't forgotten my own birthday or similar and yet this was an even more lovely surprise.

One of our customers had sent us a thank you card! I can't tell you how much that touched us all. We are supremely thankful that people choose Precious Parcels over other gift website choices so to receive an order AND a thank you was great. How our customers rate our service is important and we love it when people take time to leave us a note on our guest book page.

Mrs D wanted to thank us for producing two "beautiful" personalised plaques at the last minute for her twin nieces and was clearly pleased with her order.

Feeling all happy and shiny this week having received this lovely mail we just want to say a quick but heartfelt thank you to all of our customers and supporters. Every thank you, share, like and of course order means so much to us.

Nat x

THANK YOU!

Mother's Day Reminder

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:04:00 +0000

Mother's Day is literally just around the corner! If you haven't already have a nosy at this post which showcases some of our favourite personalised gift ideas then please do.

Don't delay though because the very last date for ordering is March 1st (tomorrow!) at 5pm. After that time delivery is not guaranteed to arrive in time for Mother's Day, and we would hate to find you without the gift that you have chosen so carefully for the special lady in your life.

Don't forget that our delivery for the UK is a flat rate of £2.95 regardless of the size of the order therefore it might be worth getting any gifts for upcoming birthdays at the same time or browsing our stationery range to so that you may get everything you need without paying extra to Royal Mail!

I have to run, I have Mother's Day products to finish, however will point you in the direction of the website first so that you may have a browse and see if there is anything your Mum (or Grandma!) would cherish.

Our Mother's Day Collection is Live!

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 07:05:00 +0000

At last everything has been uploaded and is ready for ordering (as clearly some of you have already realised!). If you are looking for something different to flowers and chocolates this year for your Mum or even your Gran then why not have a nosy for yourself. The full range can be found here.

Already a firm favourite our plaques with wooden hearts are available in blush and duck egg blue and your message can be personalised. Each lovingly made plaque costs just £8.95.

What about these fantastic personalised plates?

(Who doesn't like cake, or cookies?!).

Again, another personalised item for your Mum (or wife from the children) and at just £19.95 it is a long-lasting keepsake which costs less that a bunch of roses from a florist.

These are just two of the gifts available so have a browse and get your orders in so that you may enjoy giving your special Mum or Grandma something a bit different this year.

Mother's Day Approaches

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 10:58:00 +0000

2013 is flying past (or is it just me?) and believe it or not Mothering Sunday is just around the corner. It falls on Sunday 10th March this year so it is time to start thinking of Mother's Day presents.

Next week we will be launching our Mother's Day range (so keep your eyes on the Facebook page and website!) and we are sure that you will love the personalised items we have in store for you. Flowers and chocolates are fabulous however this year it might be nice to look for something unique.

Our plaques, clocks, precious parcels and other handmade gifts and treats have proved popular with many for birthday's, anniversaries, weddings, children and new babies and other special events and milestones.

Mother's Day in this house is all about being lazy, going to see my fabulous Mum, then being lazy again. What better way to spend the day than having laid-back fun with my no-so-little man? What do you love doing with your kids on Mother's Day? Are you a breakfast in bed lady, do you all get up at the crack of dawn and go out for the day? Comment below and let us know!

I will of course be enjoying time with the other two kids in my life, Maggi and Haribo . I hope someone remembers to remind them that I'd like another bottle of Baileys as a gift :)

The Giraffes Have Landed!

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 08:20:00 +0000

The long awaited addition to the baby and children's plaque range, the Giraffe plaque is now on the website and available to order. We love these cheeky yet sweet animals and judging by the number of orders we've had already (they were only uploaded last night!) so do you.

Available to order now and just £7.95 each these gorgeous personalised plaques, which are available in pink or blue as shown measure 15cm by 10cm and are finished with matching gingham ribbons and twine.

Perfect for bedrooms, nurseries, playrooms and for giving as gifts, these gorgeous giraffes are ready to be personalised and sent on to their new homes.

The Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 08:24:00 +0000

This week we finally had our phone line installed and internet sorted /activated (we moved at the end of December!). Needless to say this week has been completely nuts as not only have we had the usual quota of work we have been catching up the 101 things that you need the pc for. MANIC!

Thankfully though it is very nearly the weekend. We have dog walks with Maggi and Haribo to look forward to (our two adopted Spanish dogs), visiting, bowling, shopping, and large amounts of food ready and waiting to be consumed (while wearing PJs mostly). All good clean fun which will *hopefully* recharge the batteries ready for Monday and another week.

A question for you all... what do you do on a weekend to unwind? Some people I know play sports or go running, some enjoy the couch potato weekend, the cinema is high on the list for many too. What is your ideal weekend (no catching up on washing or housework allowed!)?

Supporting Small Business

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:35:00 +0000

In recent weeks another wave of news about companies being dangerously close to or actually going bust has dominated social media and the papers. HMV is in a precarious position, and Jessops has gone into administration, to name just a few. There are various reasons for companies failing to stay afloat and they vary from business to business. What remains constant throughout though is how sad these high street losses are. Putting aside for a moment the loss to customers and owners, we have to think of all of those who have lost their jobs and other businesses who have lost out when debts are unable to be paid.

This might seem like a rather negative post for what is usually quite a perky blog however today I wanted to remind you all that small businesses such as Precious Parcels and the wealth of other small businesses out there don't have PR companies and large budgets for advertising and aren't able to buy stock or materials in huge quantities to lower the overall cost. What we do have however is a fabulous close connection to our customers and this is one of the best things about being a small business.

Today's post is not just to thank you for our continued success but to ask all of you lovely supportive customers to spread the word about ALL of the small businesses that you love, to keep buying from us and to let us know if there is anything you would like to see. Here at PP we value your opinions and our focus is to work with you all to make the shopping experience the best it can be and continue supplying you with our quality handmade gifts and treats.

On a lighter note..... It is nearly the weekend folks so it is ok to treat yourself to cake to celebrate the fact :)

Cosy Cushions

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 08:19:00 +0000

It doesn't look as if anywhere has completely escaped the snow and for many, now that the novelty has worn off, the cold and inconvenience is starting to grate on people (have a nosy on Facebook or Twitter!).

When I'm cold I love a roaring fire, Baileys and cuddling up. As the former two aren't really child friendly I thought today's post should be dedicated to some truly lovely and personalised cuddly cushions.

These personalised gingham cushions are exclusive to Precious Parcels. Each cushion is handmade, comes ready filled using top quality polyester wadding and measures 35cm x 35cm.

Available in a variety of designs and costing £18.95, these lovely cosy cushions are fantastic for children (and parents) of all ages,

*As these are painstakingly made by hand to ensure a quality finished item they may take 14-21 days to arrive.

Snow Day Activities

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 08:10:00 +0000

The white stuff is showing no signs of disappearing here and it is still very cold! While the snow is great fun for walking in, building snowmen, forts, throwing yourself on the ground to make snow angels (obviously being a grown up I didn't do this when out with George walking the dogs the other day - ahem!) and of course enjoying snowball fights!

As much fun as snow is it can be nice to get back inside and enjoy some cosy fun instead. This is our snow day master fun list, can you add anything?

Have a competition to see who can decorate their hot chocolate best with whipped (squirty) cream, marshmallows, chocolate buttons and Maltesers.
Use left over marshmallows to build sticky snowmen.
Use paper plates and bits and pieces from the craft box to make a snowman (or snowgirl!) that won't melt.
Bake yummy biscuits, cakes and eat them in front of a DVD under a blanket while surrounded by cushions.
Play snow games (like catch the snowflakes) on the computer.
Dance like a wild thing (it keeps you warm and is great fun).
Make a collages from printed off photos.
Have another hot chocolate, because it is still cold outside!

What are your favourite cold / snow day activities for indoor fun?

Playing in the snow can be great fun but sometimes we enjoy something just a little warmer!

Winter Baking Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 10:00:00 +0000

If you are on Facebook the chances are you will have been bombarded with "It's snowing!!" messages left, right and centre for the past twenty-four hours. Here in Nottingham we have had quite a bit of the fluffy stuff and while it is great fun for playing in, it doesn't do much to warm the bones!

At this time of year, when the temperatures have dropped and it is bitter outside one of our favourite indoors activities is baking. George loves playing chef and I love testing his baking so it is a perfect way for both of us to spend an afternoon. We've found a great range of kids' baking recipes here on the BBC Food website (you must try the mint choc chip brownies!) and George has been happy to grab his baking kit and get stuck in.

Our baking kits have everything you need to get cracking with the cheese scones or fairy cakes and is a great gift for the mini baker. Available in four fab colours each kit contains a rolling pin, wooden spoon, pastry brush, spatula chopping board and 25 cake cases all in a gorgeous cotton bag with a cupcake design and adorned with a personalised wooden star.

At just £7.95 these are a bargain and look great so are perfect for your own baker and maker or to give as a gift.

We love baking (and testing) here at PP headquarters, do you? We would love to hear your favourite recipes.

My Get Up and Go Had Got Up and Gone!

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 09:48:00 +0000

It is now 2013, the New Year has begun and... now what?

Most of us have plans, I certainly do as having moved house and business premises between Xmas and New Year I have lots to get sorted. I have a shiny new work bench...

The office is well on the way to being completely organised...

And I'm shattered!

By 4pm I'm already craving a long hot soak and a cheeky class of Baileys (maybe it's the dark mornings and dark afternoons that are starting to drag?) but I need to find some motivation somewhere, but where?

Work-wise I'm fine, I love putting paint to plaque, putting together clocks and writing the special personalised messages that people choose however if I'm going to work AND get everything done with the house I need something to give me a kick!

What do you find motivating when your body screams "crawl into bed"? What is it that gets you moving and motivated when you have a huge to do list? I have George's new room to get properly sorted, a gorgeous new dog called Haribo arriving tomorrow, the odd box here and there lurking and still needing unpacking and could use your advice!

What gets your blood pumping?

2013 - Ready, Steady... GO!

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:13:00 +0000

Happy New Year!

We hope you've had a really restful Christmas and New Year. Never one to follow the norm, instead of putting down the paintbrush after the last Christmas orders went out I.... (in no particular order)

Took George to Spain to visit dear friends and the home of the Spanish Stray Dogs (I am heavily involved in the SSD UK registered charity which you'll hear more about!)
Got raging flu (so much snot, so little time).
Adopted another dog to keep Maggi, our first adopted dog company
Oh, and moved house and business premises.

So you know, just the usual quiet Xmas and New Year.

Now January has hit and the website is back open and we are raring to go. We have lots planned for 2013 so make sure that you follow this blog, keep an eye on Facebook and you'll be sure to hear all our new without delay.

To all of you loyal customers and new visitors, have a great 2013 - we intend to!

Christmas Music

noreply@blogger.com (Precious Parcels) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:36:00 +0000

The one thing that keeps us going on the run up to Christmas which is a naturally manic period for handmade gifts and treats is music. All year we have the radio on but of course once December hits the Christmas music will be on.

We have to have a bit of Shakin' Stevens....

Slade!

And during the busiest period when I always get a stonking cold....

Merry Christmas my A** !

What Christmas music do you love and helps you get into the Xmas spirit?