Another Craft to Share

Okay, all you retirees out there who may or may not be grandparents! I've got another craft idea for you. Hey! It's a good way to pass the time because you're either snowed in or you simply don't want to get out in the bone-chilling cold. 

What is it? Making prayer boxes! And then you have an item you can pass on to a friend or family member who might be going through a difficult time.

Procedure:

All you need are some empty Altoid boxes, some washi tape or paints, ribbons, buttons, lace, and other embellishments. Oh, and don't forget your hot glue gun. I've posted some websites below if you like more detailed instructions.

And that really is all there is to it. I actually just found some prayer boxes on Pinterest that I liked and copied them, more or less. I will tell you that I bought some pretty scrapbook paper at the craft store, and proceeded to simply decoupage the paper after I traced a pattern from the tin. But that didn't work; it came right off after it dried. I'm guessing the smooth tin top needed to be sanded a bit so it would take the glue. So I ended up just using a combination of double-sided tape and hot glue. That's what I used for the top. I used washi tape for the sides. Washi tape comes in so many cool patterns and colors. 

The verse that goes inside the box. Also include a stack of paper cut to fit and a small pen that you can find at a party supply store.

You might try to match their personal style. I made a box for myself with a Native American motif.

Views of the outside and inside the box.

Finally, you glue the sweet sentiment inside the lid, include some paper you've cut for the recipient to write their prayer, and a small pen. I found those pens, small enough for an Altoid box, at a party supply store in the party favors section. Viola! You have a sweet gift to give someone to let them know you're praying WITH them.

You could even tuck in a small verse about prayer if you wanted. There's this one from the Bible:

"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy
Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
Matthew 6:6
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These thoughts from Kahil Gibran:

"You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance. For what is prayer but the expansion of yourself into the living ether?"

And since I made a box with a Native American theme, I share some of their prayers:

"As I walk, as I walk, the universe is walking with me. In beauty it walks before me. In beauty it walks behind me; in beauty it walks below me. In beauty it walks above me. Beauty is on every side. As I walk, I walk with Beauty." Traditional Navajo prayer

And this one from the Cherokee:

"May the warm winds of Heaven blow softly upon your house. May the Great Spirit bless all who enter there. May your moccasins make happy tracks in many snows. And may the Rainbow always touch your shoulder."

I share this craft with you. I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for craft ideas, and ones that might lift someone. After all, we're just walking each other home. 

I close my blog this week with 1 Thessalonians 4:11~

"Aspire to live a quiet life, to mind your own affairs and to work with your hands."



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Prayer boxes ideas:

​www.pinterest.com/pin/485192559840678343/

​www.pinterest.com/pin/282037995400054074/​