Purpose

As noted in a previous post, before Christmas, I guided Sarah through the process of covering boxes – recipe boxes/gifts for her three sisters. At that time, I started to work on one, too, but got so caught up in helping her, my box got set aside. I finished it today.

Instead of wrapping the entire box, I do it the lazy way, cutting paper to fit the front, back, sides, top, and flap. The parts of the box that are exposed and the chipboard letters were painted with Antique White Delta Ceramcoat acrylic paint.

If the paper I am using to cover a box is lightweight, I use Yes! paste. Because the Graphic 45 paper I used to cover this box is heavier, I ran the larger pieces through my Xyron and used 1/4-inch Terrifically Tacky Tape for the trim pieces. Easy!

You cannot see it in the photograph, but I used the stubble tool from CTMH’s Texture Tools to pounce Tim Holtz/Ranger Tea Dye Distressing Ink on the painted letters to give them the same look as the light colored dots on the patterned paper. The chipboard letters (from Heidi Swapp, I think) were self-adhesive at one time. After sitting around for a while, however, they seemed to have lost their stickiness. Not a problem. I adhered them to my box with Liquid Glass. They will never come off. As for the metal buckle, it is from a vast collection of seldom-used Making Memories embellishments.

The dividers I am going to make for the inside of the box will be labeled birthday, thank you, baby, sympathy, thinking of you/get well, friendship, etc.

Materials & Tools: Close To My Heart Recipe/Photo Box; Antique White Delta Ceramcoat acrylic paint; Graphic 45 Shutter Speed from the Communiqué Collection; Black cardstock; Tim Holtz/Ranger Tea Dye Distressing Ink stamp pad; Heidi Swapp chipboard letters; Making Memories buckle; Black grosgrain ribbon; Stubble distressing tool; Xyron; Liquid Glass. 

A Slice of Life: I saw my baby today! I even let Grandpa hold her … long enough to snap a few (a lot) of photos. She was awake most of the afternoon but drifted off after I gave her a bottle. Mommy and Daddy are doing great, albeit Dusty was pouting, because he has to leave Miranda and Mari to go to work tomorrow. He doesn’t want to miss a thing. Sweet.

Now, I quick word about the title of my post. I do not make New Year’s resolutions. I used to, only to feel like a loser by the 10th or so. LOL. I do, however, like the idea of choosing a word to focus on throughout the year, a concept Ali Edwards came up with in 2007. My “One Little Word” for 2011 is “purpose.” I often feel as if I just kind of stumble through life.

The words in the following quote pretty much tell my story: “For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last, it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.” –  Alfred D’Souza

Some of my obstacles have been the normal, every day things that are not unique to me. Others have turned my life upside down and inside out. Nevertheless, I have frequently found myself thinking, “Once I get through this, life will be …”

About purpose, I would like to start living life more intentionally, purposefully. If I get knocked of track, I would like to get back on a bit more quickly than I have in the past.

Purpose should extend to my hobbies. Making the box today was fulfilling. For one thing, it was an unfinished project that I completed. There are more. Secondly, the cards I make to put in it will have purpose. I am actually going to use them. LOL. And what I cannot use, I am going to give away as gifts, donations, etc. If I keep the word “purpose” in mind, I will spend my money more intentionally, too. Often, I find myself asking, “Why did I buy this?” Usually, the answer is, because it looked so darned good … on someone else’s blog! LOL.

Do you have “One Little Word” that you are going to focus on in 2011? If so, I would love to hear what it is.

I am off to do a few things to prepare for the workweek – my last regular 40-hour gig – one of the obstacles, as in “time still to be served.” LOL. Seriously, I can imagine my new hours are going to require some adjustment and will be an obstacle, too, until I have had time to work it all into a routine. It will happen.

With the hope that your New Year has gotten off to a great start, I will close with the wish that your week is a good one. Thanks for stopping by!