Product Description
Derived from the sword used by Celtic tribes of ancient Iberia (Spain) and adopted by the Roman Legions, the Gladius, with its long, narrow point and wasp waisted blade, was the scourge of the battlefield and often the last thing seen or felt by Rome’s enemies. Ever popular, the Gladius is still in demand almost 2000 years later and is one of Cold Steel’s most frequently requested swords to make, so they decided to offer a modern version of this ancient classic in a very affordable machete/sword format.

Price: $28.20

If youve ever wondered what Roman Emperors like Julius Caesar, Nero or Constantine looked like or wanted to own something that may have been held by one of these historic men or someone living during that period then consider this.

If you are someone who has an interest in the Ancient past or perhaps someone who just likes collecting historic antiques but your not willing to spend much money then you should consider taking up the hobby of Roman coin collecting.

There are a number of reasons why you should consider collecting Roman coins then other Ancient Coins.

Unlike other ancient coins there are a wide variety of Ancient Roman coins featuring many different Roman emperors. This is due to the vast time and area that the Empire covered. Countless coins were made between the 1st and 5th century over a large area of the world which the Roman Empire covered and these coins reflect the location and period that they were minted.

Also its great to know what the Roman Emperors looked like. It was common practice during the time of the Roman Empire to inscribe the portrait of the Emperor on the coins that were minted during their reign.

There were many Ancient coins created by the Greeks, Barbarians, Celts, Indians and Chinese but Ancient Roman coins are the most in-expensive of all of these.

Collecting Ancient roman coins is less expensive then collecting modern day coins because more people collect modern coins then Ancient coins so there is less demand for them. Secondly as I have already stated the Roman Empire was vast covering a large area and over a long period of time. Because so many Roman coins were minted they are not as rare as some may believe.

You are less likely to come across a fake Roman coin then other coins. Roman coins are less expensive and rarer so there is less of a motive to forge them.

Another reason Roman coins are great to collect is that they do not just have historical value but also artistic value. These coins were cleverly and beautifully crafted and tell a story from the time and area that they were minted.

Roman Coins had intrinsic value. Unlike coins today these coins were made from Gold, Silver, Bronze etc. Should you have a higher budget this gives you the chance to collect the more special and rarer Gold and Silver coins which were worth many more times their weight in those metals.

Factors that determine a coins worth

The price of a coin ranges significantly due to a number of factors. The two biggest factors being the condition the coin is in and the grade of the coin.

Condition of the coin is dependent on how eroded the coin has become while it was in the soil or how it was stored before being found.

The grade is determined by how the coin was minted during Roman times. These coins were hand made and so are not always very circular or detailed. A Roman coin can be less detailed and of less value if it was struck by dies that were worn down.

Determining the grade of a coin can be tricky and sometimes you simply have to go with how appealing and detailed the coin is to your own eyes.

Another factor that determines a coins worth is how rare that coin is. Rarity is less of a factor in determining a Roman coins value then modern day coins.

More people collect modern coins and therefore there is greater demand for them. Also because modern coins are less varied then Roman coins the value of a modern coin can be driven up if collectors are trying to complete their collections. This is less of an issue with Roman coins as the variety is much greater and collectors are less likely to complete their collection. Each collection will be different. Rare Roman coins do exist however. If an emperor was only in power for a short period of time less coins are likely to have been minted during his reign. These coins are harder to find and cost more.

You should not be tempted into purchasing a coin just because a coin seller describes the coin as being rare or very scarce. Coins that are described as rare are often not rare at all. If you are new to coin collecting then it is easy to be tricked by such claims. You should ask a number of questions if someone is selling what they describe as a rare coin. Does the dealer provide the range or RIC number for the coin. Dont buy a coin because it has been described as rare. You should look at other factors and ask questions first.

Once you become more experienced it will be much easier to determine yourself if a coin is uncommon, scarce, rare or very rare.

How much should you spend on a Roman coin

Do not purchase a Roman coin if it is described as rare and being sold for less then $ 100 as it is unlikely to be rare. Rare coins will not sell for less then $ 100. Some eBay sellers will claim that their coin is rare and you will not see another like it for years yet you find the same coin on eBay sold by someone else.

To give you an idea of the variation of price for Roman coins, for $ 5-$ 10 you can buy decent quality coins issued under a number of the late-3rd and 4th century AD emperors.

For approximately $ 10 – $ 20, you should be able to collect a coin from the more recognized 1st and 2nd century emperors, and many later ones in good condition. In fact you could collect about half of the emperors of which there is about fifty with clear portraits and readable legends for about $ 20 a coin.

There can be a large variety of coins for each emperor. Some will be in better condition, or more rare, but if your interested in purchasing decent quality coins and you dont want to pay too much you may not have to look much further.

You could occasionally splash out on a rarer coin which catches your interest or one in much better condition. Or even a Gold or Silver coin worth more then their weight in these precious metals. Some people are attracted to coins that are dirty or not fully legible as it can add to their mystery and even lead to a rare and expensive find.

To sum up, purchase coins that appear to you personally. Every coin will be different. Choose the one that you think is better value for your money. You may even be able to resell such a coin later and make a profit. Occasionally buy a more expensive coin of a higher grade and condition. Dont worry about rarity too much but if want a rare coin you should make sure the coin really is rare by asking the dealer the right questions. This can save yourself a lot of money.

Hod Hill hilt
The Hod Hill sword, in the British Museum.
By R0ssc0 on 2015-01-20 16:28:27

Product Description
Handmade, the blade is thick and comes extremely sharp. Like the more expensive models this blade can even be bent 45 degrees. To keep costs low the tsuba on this model is made with a machine process instead of using a handmade tsuba (as seen on the Elite series). The tsuba and other fittings look very good and are well suited for this model. This sword is well balanced and the tight handle wrap feels great. Comes complete with a black cotton storage bag. Materials and Way of Forge: Traditional hand forge Muku-kitae method. ?1060 High Carbon Steel. 55 HRC blade hardness. Hamon and hardness created with temper process. Real hamon, not wire brushed or printed. Real ray skin wrapped grip with black cotton cord wrap. Extremely sharp hand honed edge. Steel tsuba, fuchi, and kashira; Brass habaki. Can be disassembled for care or display. Dual bamboo mekugi (peg), hardwood handle. Hardwood scabbard with high quality piano paint finish. 39 3/4 in. overall, 27 1/2 in. blade, 10 3/4 in. handle. Includes black cotton sword storage/carry bag. Includes black cotton sword storage/carry bag and musashi certificate of authenticity. Check the musashi engraving on seppa (spacer) for authenticity. Don’t settle with a counterfeit one.

Price: $129.00

The decision to learn Japanese language is certain to be rewarded with certain reward. Whether it is to get ahead of your profession or scholastic pursuits, it presents a link that enables you to make possible and understand one of the culture of one of the key players in virtually all industries of the world. With self-learning courses presented by Complete Learning Suite Japanese language course, Pimsleur, Rocket Japanese and Rosetta Stone, you gain a quick and easy shift from a beginner to superior level in the Japanese language. So, are you looking to learn Japanese language; take a look at these top 4 Japanese language course software:

Rocket Japanese Course

From your home to your office, while you are driving or while you are jogging, there are four main software packs that redefined the ways of learning Japanese. Rocket Japanese learn Japanese language presents an organized, detailed and practical learning curriculum with visual explanations not only about Japanese symbols, like kanji and Hiragana, but also about its culture. Its step by step learning tools is so effective, it offers to make you understand and speak Japanese within 6 days. Thanks to its interactive audio course and interactive computer instruction lessons, you get to learn to speak and use phrases and words that are commonly used by native speakers.

Complete Learning Suite

Complete Learning Suite Japanese language course is a software pack that successfully integrates video instructions in its learning curriculum. In addition, it also provides transcript of the words spoken and used in the video instruction for your learning convenience. This video-oriented learning aims to create an immersion environment, which is believed to be effective in improving retention and learning.

Rosetta Stone Japanese

Rosetta Stone Japanese language course’s images and sound techniques to learn Japanese language are well known. Audio clips from a native speaker is believed to be effective in teaching Japanese vocabulary, sentences structure to facilitate more in-depth study. This way, students retain meanings better and learn how to speak and use the language quicker.

Pimsleur Japanese

The recently released Pimsleur express audio program that offers faster solutions to learning Japanese. With so many versions of Pimsleur out there, you may get confused in choosing which one to take. For beginners, the comprehensive, quick and simple, instant conversation and compact Pimsleur Japanese courses are most recommended.

Finally

Pimsleur, Rocket Japanese, Rosetta Stone Japanese language course and Complete Japanese Learning Suite allow you to take pleasure in a full range of CD teaching techniques to learn Japanese language. While Rocket offers convenience with its audio tracks that carry pronunciation and vocabulary instructions, some users are not so awed by its selection of illustrations. Nevertheless, it offers an effective language program that is cheapest in value. Rosetta Stone Japanese language course is great for beginners as it uses a brilliant progress tracking element, which enables you to observe your move from a learner to a native Japanese speaker. Pimsleur stands up to its fairly pricey value by offering up to date language learning courses and helpful on-the-go Japanese directions. Finally, Japanese learning Suite’s strength is the use of speech recognition feature. However, some users reveal the lack of instruction or orientation resources especially on Hiragana, kanji and katakana.

Presently, there are lots of different ways to learn Japanese language. On the other hand, the convenience of Japanese language course software presents a large amount of effective and most realistic solution to adopting the language in your daily life. It is true that to learn Japanese language is one of the most testing languages to learn. But with the simple, easy to follow programs of language learning software, the new tradition to learn Japanese language has never been this easy and helpful.

Iaito
Photo shoot of my Iaito (2007)
By Musespeak on 2006-12-27 20:33:20

Product Description
Up for auction is a brand new full tang hand crafted Orchid samurai katana. In Japanese tradition, the Orchid was a symbol of the Samurai bravery, training, and fortitude, many Samurai would go to incredible lengths and extreme peril to find wild orchids and bring them back to public acclaim.

This orchid katana sword comes with hand sharpened razor sharp blade and is well balanced. The blade of the sword is hand crafted and made with high carbon steel. This sword is full tang and can be disassembled. This sword can be used for practice use and features a visible kissake on the tip of the blade. This sword comes with a cotton made black sword bag

Price: $42.73

The prevailing image of the Japanese management system in very large companies is very similar, if not the same as the management system used in small Japanese companies, because business management systems are, after all, a product of their particular national culture.

How can we explain the Japanese economic miracle? Since the end of World War 2, until about the 1970’s, Japan had experienced a profound economic transformation. By the 1980’s, Japan had become the second largest economy in the world, to the envy and admiration of other nations. This remarkable period of economic prosperity during the latter half of the 20th century has become known as the Japanese ‘Economic Miracle’.

There are a range of arguments made by scholars who have attempted to explain the reason behind Japan’s economic success in the late 20th century, and these vary considerably. One of these reasons is that Japan’s economic success has been solely as a result of the culture and traditions of Japan. This argument is based on the assumption that culture is the main contributing factor of a nation’s economy. Morishima has emphasized that in the context of Japan’s economic success, the Confucian tradition of Japan has played a key role, arguing that “religious and ethical systems shape human economic behavior and consequently the nature and performance of their economies.” Other ideas have been used to understand Japan’s rise to success in the late 20th century such as market regulation, for example, Japan’s response to market signals, bureaucratic regulation by selecting and fostering strategic industries and political, economic and social conditions in Japan.

Japan’s successful economy started to decline in 1973 during the oil crisis, when the price of oil quadrupled, acting as a catalyst for economic failure in Japan. Effectively, the high price of oil had negative effects on the Japanese manufacturing industry. Japan responded by focusing its attention from energy dependent industry to a more knowledge-based industry, thus averting the crisis from worsening, and enhancing the health of its economy. Japan experienced a ‘bubble economy’ in the years 1987 – 90. This had come about as the result of asset prices rising far beyond their actual value, particularly those of land and shares. Land prices fell sharply in 1990 when the Bank of Japan increased the official interest rate, thus triggering a massive sell-off of shares. Since this time Japan has faced challenges such as an aging population and the currency crisis in Asia, but has recovered considerably and today still has a strong economy, rivaled by only the United States, China and the European Union.

Almost every business policy that the Japanese are well-known for is as a result of the post-World War 2 economic reconstruction in Japan. The first root factor of the modern Japanese management system is a sense of national identity. This is mainly due to the fact that Japan is an isolated, island nation. Actually, this sense of national identity has existed since feudal times in Japan. The second factor of the modern Japanese management system is the notion of Confucianism; while imported from China long ago, the Japanese have their own version of Confucianism, which is central to understanding the modern Japanese management system. Confucianism in Japan has three main aspects; loyalty, filial piety and respect for learning. Loyalty and filial piety in Japan are reflected in Japanese management with honne and tatemae, or one’s own feelings and one’s public stance, which may and often differ between each other according to the individual.

Loyalty is also seen in very large companies in Japan, where on graduating from high school or university and entering into employment with a Japanese company, one will usually gain ‘lifetime employment’ with his or her company, thus reflecting the Confucian aspect of loyalty. In this sense, Confucianism plays a major role with Japanese management practices.

Group orientation, or shudanshugi also plays an important role in modern Japanese business management practices. This is also a prominent attribute in Japanese society, for example to see a group of Japanese tourists in a foreign country, one will notice that the people in the group will always stay close together. This aspect of Japanese culture is of course also very apparent within Japanese companies, and has been deeply ingrained into Japanese society itself since the Tokugawa period. Shudanshugi can be seen with almost any social aspect of Japan, thus it is evident with both large and small Japanese companies.

Although this desire to be part of a group may be also apparent with other countries, Japan in particular sees this group mentality as natural, not an exterior phenomenon as it may be seen with other cultures. Individual responsibility is not important in Japan, as it is in the West. Instead, groups are given the responsibilites. This is another example of the group-orientated ethics of Japan and the Japanese workforce.

There are also two types of attitudes towards authority in Japan: kengen and ken’i, or simply, formal authority and personal influence. As such, Japanese companies both small and very large tend to be run on ken’i, personal influence, which is different from a general Western perspective, where emphasis is usually placed on delegated authority.

The fourth important aspect of Japanese business culture is based on regional competition, something that has existed in Japan since feudal times. This is not so much an artificial construction of modern Japan, but something that has been rooted in Japanese culture for a long time. For one example, the competition between firms in Japan in the kantou and kansai regions in modern times reflects the regional competition between these same areas as far back as the beginnings of the Tokugawa period. This cultural aspect of modern Japan is probably reflected more visibly in the business management systems more often with very large companies, than smaller companies in Japan.

There are two basic forms of obligation in Japanese society, which can be seen in the business culture of Japan. On refers to a debt that is not able to be repaid, for example one’s debt to their parents or the debt incurred from saving another’s life. While it cannot be repaid, one will try to repay it. This type of obligation is also apparent with entering into lifetime employment with a very large Japanese company, and is tied in with the Confucian notion of loyalty. The second form of obligation, giri, is incurred from receiving a favour, such as leasing an apartment to a tenant.

Along with the aforementioned aspects of Japanese culture, there are many more aspects present with Japanese culture, and along with it the Japanese management systems of both small and very large companies. In simple terms, Japanese business management styles are a by-product of the Japanese national culture, as such, each type of management system is not much far removed from the other. In fact, we see such cultural aspects in almost any facet of society in Japan.

It is immediately apparent that culture influences business practices and in effect business management systems. Entire theses have been written around this idea. One such example is Kahn’s ‘Confucian Economic System’, used to describe Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Korea’s cultural links to business practices. Kahn describes the features of these ‘neo-Confucian’ economies to be related to a number of factors, including sobriety, a high value for education, a desire to succeed, seriousness about life and a hard-working ethic. Along with a culturally ingrained, Confucian sense of loyalty, there is also a sense of harmony in the Japanese workplace, as there are with the group-oriented mindset of Japanese society. This is evidenced by strike-free workplaces in modern Japan, thus placing an emphasis on co-operation and mutual obligation, rather than equality.

The cultural values, relations and structure of modern Japan clearly affect how Japanese society operates, and this is also the case with modern Japanese business management systems in both very large and smaller Japanese companies, as has been proven in this essay. Japan is a very unique country, in that its culture does not completely resemble that of any other one nation, although Japan has borrowed much from other countries to construct its own national identity.

It is apparent that Confucianism plays an important role in Japanese culture and in effect its society, business practices and so on. What has been covered in this essay is only a brief glimpse of the complicated and detailed Japanese business management world, including such cultural aspects as group orientation, authority, regional competition, obligations, and overall, the Confucian-based business culture of Japan, which in itself has many important aspects which are used in Japanese social practices and business management systems alike.

The reason why the prevailing image of Japanese management systems in very large companies and small companies is very similar, if not the same, is because the Japanese economy, and with it the business structure of virtually any kind of business or large company in Japan is directly influenced by Japanese cultural values, relations and structure, in particular, those of Confucian origin.

Many scholars have argued about the reason why Japan has become so successful in the late 20th century, in an attempt to describe the Japanese ‘Economic Miracle’. The first argument that is usually presented is that Japan’s recent economic success is as a result of her culture and tradition. While it has not been proven beyond doubt that this is the only reason behind the ‘Economic Miracle’, it is certainly a compelling argument and clearly demonstrates the powerful influence that culture has over the structure of a national society such as Japan.

Japanese Sword Point
The point of the sword and scabbard.
This sword may or may not be high carbon steel, but it is sharp.
By jaydavisconsulting on 2010-06-11 11:02:12

Product Description
40 inches handmade sharp Japanese crane samurai Katana sword. 28 inches 1045 high carbon razor sharp blade. Dancing crane tsuba.

Price: $31.43

There are many different katana swords to choose from. First, katana swords are long and were mostly used by warriors in the early years of the Japanese wars and battles. However, they were more of a symbol than an actual weapon. Many warriors chose poles or other weapons that kept their attackers at a distance.

History and Culture of the Katana Sword –

Japanese warriors carried two sabers in their belt, both on the left side. One was long and the other was short. The long one is called the Daito – literally, long saber, which is known as the Katana. The short one is Shoto – literally, short saber, which is a wakizachi.

Today these sabers or swords are beautiful collector’s items and still used for practice combat. Most choices in the present day are in the decorations, like the beautiful crane and bamboo style engraved on the tsuba or guard (which looks like a belt buckle or a loop around the sword) that protects your hand. This is at the very bottom of the handle.

Dragon Symbols in Japanese Culture –

In every culture, there seems to be a story of a dragon and the Japanese are certainly no exception. The difference between a western dragon and one of the orient is that the orient dragon is usually wise and benevolent. It is the ruler of water and weather, and the dragon is the symbol of power and emperor to most samurai. That is why dragons are an important symbol on many of the katana swords.

The crane style Katana sword is said to be lighter and faster than the Samurai. These swords were forged out of Swedish powdered steel. The tsuba or guard is pierced crane style, which symbolizes longevity and wisdom. The Katana sword will serve you well if you want a blade for strength or serious cutting. It is also perfect for practicing Aikido.

Stories of the Crane Katana Sword –

The story goes that the Meunki are a younger and older scholar/sage. This means that a man of wisdom and integrity would be long in service of his lord, usually surviving one lord to service the next generation. This is why the crane is meant to resemble wisdom and longevity.

The Crane Katana sword is 10 inches long with two Mekugi securing the Tsuka or handle to the tang. Tsuka or handle lengths come in lengths of 11″, 13″, 14″ and 15″ for the Crane Katana swords. The lengths of the blades run 27.5, 28.5 and 29.5. This allows for a unique choice in blades and quality of handles as well.

The hada – grain in the steel – is apparent. This is the result of the extensive forging and folding. This is the process that is done by hand to ensure that each one is unique and strong.

The Bamboo Katana sword has softer steel which provides an excellent shock resistant and strength with superior edge holding and cutting abilities. Both the tsuka and the saya (scabbard or holder of the blade) are custom hand-made for each individual sword.

Creation of a Katana Sword –

Most of today’s katana swords are handcrafted with the purpose of being usable art. They are dangerous and not a toy so display them where children cannot get to them. The blades of the katana swords are made of carbon steel that is forged and pounded by hand in the traditional way by most of the manufacturers you will find out there. A good katana needs to be flexible or it is sure to break in battle.

Cleaning Your Katana Sword Collection –

Always clean your katana carefully, the blade is very sharp and can easily cut you. Use a fine oil and rice paper to remove the oil. And always move the soft cloth away from you, gently and slowly. The key is patience and slowness because of the sharp cutting blade.

Showing Off Your Katana –

When displaying your katana, always display it in the sheath with the cutting edge up that way the edge does not bear the scabbards (holder) weight.

The saya or scabbard is intentionally tight to avoid accidental unsheathing. To pull your sword out of the scabbard, use both hands. Hold the scabbard in your left hand and push away the guard (tsbua) and slowly pull the handle with your right hand. Make sure the cutting edge is pointing away from you. This will protect you from being cut and the katana from becoming dull scraping against the scabbard.

When putting the katana back in the scabbard, point the sword and scabbard down and away from you. Hold the opening close to the top and slowly tilt the katana back into the saya and slide it downward, letting gravity help you as much as you can. The key here is to go slow and be careful of the cutting edge.

katana
the katana were authentic, the price tags were outrageous (400,000yen – $40,000 usd).
By grrlie on 2005-09-04 23:20:26

The capital of Scotland lies on the Forth Estuary, in the South East of the country. The city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 with good reason – the medieval architecture, history and beauty of the Old Town and the Neo-Classical Georgian New Town are magnificent. It is a great city to visit as it has something for everyone and is very tourist-friendly. Here we look at the stalwart attractions and the less known hidden gems that Edinburgh has to offer.

Festivals

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It is always great to fit in a festival on your travels and the Edinburgh calendar is jam packed with events, including Hogmanay (New Year’s), Burn’s Night, The Edinburgh Fringe and the Royal Edinburgh Tattoo. Book well ahead and expect a lot of fun!

The Must-Sees

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There are some places that you must visit whilst in Edinburgh. Namely, Edinburgh Castle – a medieval fortress. As Scotland’s number one tourist attraction, its setting on a craggy hilltop is dramatic at any time of the year. Make sure to be there at 1pm to hear the gun fired, a way of telling the time in ye olden days! Next door, is the Scotch Whiskey Experience. Need we say more?

Arthur’s Seat is one of seven hills in Edinburgh (bit like Rome). It is an extinct volcano and is a possible location for King Arthur’s Camelot, hence the name. Actually the name more likely comes from ‘Archers Seat’ as it was once the site of a hill fort. The hill is within Holyrood Park and is a great destination for keen walkers.

For traditional fare head to Dubh Prais or Stac Polly. Both offer old-fashioned classics such as haggis, calves liver or venison with a modern twist. To take away a taste of Scotland, Macsween’s haggis is arguably the best – and you can pick one up in any of the major supermarkets!

Unusual Experiences

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The 3D Loch Ness Experience holds everything you need or can know about the Loch Ness Monster – sightings, facts, photos and theories all under one roof. Edinburgh Dungeon is not for the faint hearted and is a gruesome insight into the city’s past. Cabaret Voltaire is an underground (literally) music venue where you can hear Scotland’s next big musician.

The best kept secret is The Real Mary King’s Close. Deep underground the Royal Mile is a time capsule of a street with a gripping story to tell. The tour lasts an hour and is hosted by one of the Close’s real residents from the 17th Century.

There are all the major hotel chains here, naturally, but for a truly unique and special stay, try The Witchery at the top of the Royal Mile. Time Out says, “Dark, gothic and thoroughly theatrical – if you can get a room the Witchery is the place to indulge yourself.” With rates of £350/night it is indulgent but worth every penny!

Getting Around

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Lothian buses have a flat rate of £1.40 (70p kids) per journey or £3.50 (£2 kids aged 5-15) for an all day pass. Car parking is reasonable enough for a city centre, depending where you park – between £1 and £2.80 an hour. Check out Edinburgh Council’s website for parking details. You could have even more fun and consider a car hire where you can travel at ease in your own time and park up anywhere you like, taking in the views of Edinburgh.

Getting Away

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If the hustle and bustle of city life gets too much, you can always explore other parts of Scotland from Edinburgh Airport. The Shetland Isles are just 1.5 hours away and offer rugged landscapes, little ponies, sweaters and varied wildlife. The Outer Hebrides is accessed through Stornoway Airport, less than an hour away from Edinburgh. These islands have fine shell beaches and great surfing. Callanish stone circle is older than Stonehenge and Highland Games during the summer.

Thank you to Sixt for putting together this informative travel guide to Edinburgh! It is a must see visit so board your plane and get visiting these beautiful places as soon as possible!

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You might think cardboard boxes are just plain and boring; you might also that they are used for boring purposes, such as storage and transportation when you are moving items or belongings to a different location. But there are actually many fun and creative ways of using cardboard boxes. Using them for creative purposes is fun and inexpensive. Cardboard boxes can be purchased from places, such as Davpack.co.uk. Also, because there are so many different types of cardboard boxes, it is easy to create different effects and items, for example, shoe boxes can be used for smaller creations and corrugated cardboard can be used for a different textural effect. How many different ways can you think of using cardboard effectively? Have a look at the following creative uses for cardboard boxes.

Playhouses and dollhouses

Instead of buying playhouses or dollhouses for your children, why not attempt making one with your children? They will enjoy making it and playing with it afterwards. You could even make furniture for dolls out of cardboard. This is a cheaper alternative to a bought playhouse or dollhouse and your children will have the opportunity to be creative with cardboard.

Cardboard city

This is another creative use for cardboard. There are no rules for these creations, so your children can make their cardboard city however they want to. For example, they may want to include skyscrapers and other buildings or maybe little cardboard cars. This creation is another one that can be played with after it has been made.

Costumes

One idea for a cardboard costume is a robot. A robot is a fairly simple creation and it can possibly be used as a Halloween costume. You could choose something even simpler, like a mask. If you feel like being imaginative, then try coming up with some of your own ideas for cardboard costumes.

Gift Tags

This one is a very simple creation. But again, no rules apply, so make them however you want to. Choose various different shapes and decorate them with glitter, sequins, or whatever else you can think of. Make them look pretty!

Decorative Boxes

Choose any sized box and decorate it. You could create nesting boxes, so have a bigger box and keep putting smaller boxes inside; they can all be decorated the same or vary the decorations. These boxes can be used for whatever you like, for example, you can make them gift boxes or you can make them pretty storage boxes.

Musical Instruments

A popular instrument created with cardboard is a box guitar. So have a go at creating a box guitar; you can start by using a tissue box, so the hole in the guitar is already in place, or you can start from scratch by a make each part yourself. Maybe you can think of some other instruments that you can make out of cardboard.

Pet Houses

One example is a dog house. Create a house for your pet and decorate it to suit your pet. You may have to measure up for this one, depending on how small or large your pet is. The good thing about cardboard is that it is fairly strong and durable so you do not have to worry about it falling apart.

Christmas Decorations

This idea is great for family time around Christmas. Try making cardboard Christmas trees or cardboard decorations for your tree. You could also attempt to create little cardboard ornaments that can be scattered around your house.

Cars and Boats

Your children will have fun with this one. Have a go at putting together a little car or a boat with your children, but make sure it is big enough for your child to sit in.

Photo Frame

This is another very simple creation, but it is also fun and creative for you children. The photo frame does not take too much effort to create, but, like all of the other creations, it gives your child a chance to be creative and decorate however they would like.

All of these creations are fun and not too expensive to make. Your kids will enjoy making them and they get to show their creative and imaginative side. Try coming up with your own ideas as well or let your children think of something they would like to create.

Terry has worked for Davpack for over fifteen years and knows all there is to know about their line of foam lined boxes. Click here for more information.

One way to really make an impression is with photo tile coasters.  These coasters can be ordered affordably online and can contain any image you can think of.  Add your engagement photo along with the date of your wedding.  Use the images off your invitations to help carry on the theme.  Or, simply have the word “love” in beautiful script letters in the center of each one.  If you are having a small gathering (or are really ambitious) gather a photo of each guest that will be attending and use the personalized coasters as place cards.  Be extra romantic and get a photo of other couples on their wedding days.  This is sure to tug on their heartstrings, and really help make your wedding all the more memorable, not to mention make for a great keepsake for them to remember your big day with.  Don’t forget cute mini-wine bottles to place on top of the coasters too!

Having a Themed Wedding? 

Personalize some favors that still match with the overall day.  If you are having a Las Vegas wedding with only your closest pals, then get personalized poker chips with your wedding date on them, or a deck of cards with the happy couple’s picture.  If you are having an outdoors wedding then give adorable potted plants with the guests’ names on the marker.  For outdoors wedding in spring or summer you could also give out beautiful feathered butterflies on clips, which can be pinned on jacket lapels or in hair, or sunglasses with your wedding date printed on the side.  Any of these options are sure to make for some very fun photos.  If you are having your wedding on Halloween then give out miniature customized trick or treat bags filled with goodies or small ceramic pumpkins with each guest’s name attached.

Sweet, Sweet Presents

Another very popular option today is that of homemade jams, jellies, preserves and honeys.  These are often given in adorably small jars with quotes attached to them.  Sweet light ones are great for weddings in the warmer months, but you can also give spiced versions for the cooler months too.  To make them extra sweet, don’t forget the fun sayings!

For example, on the jars of honey you could attach “Meant To Bee”, “Sweet As Honey”, “Love Is Buzzing”, “Life Is Sweet” or other cute quotes along with the wedding date.  On jelly, jam, or preserve jars you could attach a ribbon and a cheesy but adorable quote like “Spread The Love”, “Berry Happy Day”.  Of course, you can also simply have a label with the couple’s names and wedding date as well.  This same idea can be used for other food items, such as a specially brewed pack of coffee with “The Perfect Blend” and a picture of the couple on the label, or a ring pop with the words “With This Ring” on it.  Of course it doesn’t have to be food, you can use cute quotes on a book of matches such as “The Perfect Match”, on a pack of seeds “Sow-In Love”, well, you get the idea!

There are so many ways to personalize your wedding with favors that it can be hard to choose.  From custom tile coasters, to little jars of sweet jelly, we hope some of the above ideas have inspired you.  Find the perfect favors by looking over the rest of your wedding and using the theme, color scheme or even the time of year to help you make the right choice.

Hugh Parker is the owner of ZaZaGallery.com, a place where you can create personalized coasters and other personalized gifts.

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