At the beginning of this year, I found myself frustrated. With loads of energy, goal setting, and a living situation that was rather tumultuous, I found myself feeling overwhelmed and irritated. A few weeks ago I found myself at church and someone said the following, “Praise is the highway to breakthrough.” This struck a different chord in me than similar statements in the past. I realized that I had reserved celebration and excitement for new things or the achieving next thing, goal, or accomplishment, rather than celebrating and being grateful for the moment I was currently in. With this in mind, I knew that I needed to create a system where I would cultivate gratitude as a habit, bringing a bit more peace, solidarity, and contentment in my life. Looking through Pinterest and Etsy, I couldn’t find a DIY or product that matched the aesthetic and simplicity I desired. I made my own and love it! Let the crafting commence!
Supplies:
- Unfinished recipe box (purchased at Michaels)
- Wood stain (I used minwax dark walnut)
- Rag
- Gloves
- Foam 1″ brush
- White craft paint
- Liquid leaf paint, copper color
- 3 packs of index cards
- Black ink pad
- Library/Date stamp
- Printed instagram photos (I used PostalPix)
Directions:
Step one: Shake stain well. Cover work surface with newsprint or recycled plastic bags. Put on plastic gloves to prevent stain from dying your hands. Stain recipe box going with the grain of the wood. Use a foam brush to get stain into the nooks and crannies. For a modern dual-tone look, I kept the inside of the box wood.
Step two: Rinse out foam brush well. Dry with a clean rag. Add two thin coats of white craft paint to the inside of the box. Rinse out foam brush again and set to the side to dry.
Step three: While paint and stain is drying, stamp the date onto the top right corner of your index card. The idea is to write one thing I’m grateful for and add one line each year. I decided to stamp six months out first, see how this system works for me, and then add the subsequent months later. If you’re a go-getter, feel free to stamp out the whole year. Place instagram photos as the tabs for each month. I chose images that were from past adventures, including vacations and places I loved.
Step four: Shake liquid gold leaf paint. Using a foam brush, I decided to add an abstract copper pattern making large cross-hatching strokes. I loved this effect. On the top of the lid I added a simple copper rectangle, taping it off with painter’s tape. I found it to be a subtle and sweet touch.
May you find you heart full of peace, contentment, and thankfulness, as you cultivate gratitude this month!