Round Altered Box/ Inspiration

The materials needed for this project are: round boxes from your grocery supply, fabric and fabric trims, or papers and trims. Clip your own art from old raised-embossed images on greeting cards. If you use white papers or fabric, you may have to paint the boxes with white crafting paint, or cover them first with white construction paper and white glue.

This baking powder box was just right to hold pens, scissors and pencils
Any round box will do for the "band box" or "hat box." These containers come in three sizes, so you can made a whole set, if you wish. Beginning at the opening of the box, cut down to a little less than half the height. Follow a line of printing or any kind of lines available on the box, to cut it all the way around. You can measure it if you want to, just by folding a piece of paper evenly, to the height you want, holding it up to the box, and making a line to cut, with a marker. I don't do that, but you might.
Don't forget to use your large hole puncher and punch one hole on each side, for the ribbon or string.

Then swirl white glue all over the box and paint it on evenly with a brush. If you will dampen the brush a little, it will paint more smoothly, but do not get it too wet. Glue fabric or papers on it, and trim the upper and lower edges with strips cut with shaped scissors, or rick rack or laces.

After you cover the box, remember to re-punch your holes, through the paper or fabric, so you can easily thread your string of pearls or rick-rack or ribbon, for the handle. Tie knots on the ribbon on the inside of the box. If you do not have ribbon, you can use string, yarn, or even a strip of fabric, for the handle.

These have a clear glitter-glue glaze on them.

To give these containers a protective finish, glaze the finished project with more white glue and a brush, glitter glue, decoupage glue. If you don't want to buy anything, find a craft glaze recipe with cornstarch, and paint that over the boxes. Let dry and see if it gives it a sheen.

The question is, what would you put in it? Perhaps you can make a hat small enough, as shown in the previous post.

Painting by Barbara Mock, from Lovely Whatevers

When "They" Try to Discourage You

Anything good, that is worthwhile, will have a certain element of discouragement. While we cannot help the normal feelings of discouragement that come from trying to make something work,--such as getting everything done within a day, or learning a new skill, or baking bread to perfection, there is a great deal that we can do to overcome the discouraging remarks made by others.

Commentator Adam Clark wrote:

"People of the world, generally ridicule those truths which they neither comprehend, nor love, and deride those who publish them; but a faithful minister of God, copying the examples of Christ, keeps on his way and does the work of his Lord and Master."

In the New Testament, the disciples of Christ were imprisoned for preaching.In prison, they sang. When they were released they were told to leave the city and not speak about it anymore. Their response was, "We must obey God, rather than man." Carry a song in your heart and sing it out load when some of these unfounded accusations and deductions are thrown your way. Singing used to be a way of life to help people get through difficult tasks. It has the ability to lift the heart.

Homemaking is challenging enough, without taking negative words seriously. If you take criticism to heart, this kind of thing can take all the fun out of being home and making it beautiful. That is why it is so important to put it in perspective. I can offer a few things that I have read recently, that might be of some help.

All discouragement should be overcome by focusing on the bright side. The words of a poem were written for this very reason:

"By the cynic, the sad, the fallen,
Who had no strength for the strife,
The world’s highway is cumbered to-day—
They make up the sum of life;"

(Ella Wheeler Wilcox) This stanza of the poem "Worthwhile" accurately describes those who would try to discourage you.

Some people will never be happy, no matter what you do. They will be unhappy if you succeed, and critical if you don't. Their comments can temporarily stun you. You might, for example, hear someone say that you aren't worth much, being a full time homemaker. Although you certainly know better than that, it might make you feel less than your best, which is the desired effect that "they" want.

There is a way to overcome the debilitating effect that these kinds of words have: simply use it as motivation for doing something greater. Immediately set to work to do something creative, or perfect your house keeping. Make an extra effort to give compliments and appreciation to your family members and those that do support you. Bring a little light into someone's life by creating a "care" package for them, filled with a little luxury to give a bright spot in their day. It is almost always a way to get rid of the sting of criticism.

There are several things a homemaker can be aware of that will help her face the opposition with confidence. Firstly, she can realize that when you are not following the crowd, there will always be ridicule and condemnation from others. They will "think it strange that you run not with them..." (1st Peter 4:4).

"They wonder and are astonished at you, that ye can renounce these gratifications of the flesh for a spiritual something, the good of which they cannot see. " (Adam Clark)

Your life will appear "strange" to some people who do not understand that one of the reasons you are not pursuing a career outside the home, is a spiritual one. It does not make sense to the materialistic world, that you would turn down money and become a guide and guard of your home.

The homemaker can know that scorn from others, is part of the territory. Many homemakers just love their families and their homes and want to be the best they can be, and do not expect to be challenged by objectors. They just want to be left alone. They want to get the job done as smoothly as possible. They don't want to debate or have conflict over it. There are those, however, who don't want to let you alone. They want to discourage you. If you will ignore it and move on, making more and more progress in your life, you will leave them behind. Years later, they will still be mocking, but you will have a clean house, good children, and a successful marriage. They will still be behind, with nothing to show for their time, still looking for something to gripe about.

The most effective treatment for discouragement is to sing, be busy, do something creative, and serve others. This is the way to live "outside of yourself." It shows a good example to the detractors in your life. Don't let them get you down. There is nothing wrong with you. It is "they" who are have a mental disorder.

You can take heart from the words of the apostle Paul, written to the Corinthians:

We are troubled on every side,--- yet not distressed;

We are perplexed, ---but not in despair;

Persecuted,--- but not forsaken;

Cast down,--- but not destroyed;

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. (2nd Corinthians 4:8-10)

Remember that Christ was challenged on every side, and sometimes he didn't even answer the questions that were hurled at him.

If these critics are not doing a better job in their homes, there is no reason to listen to them. Have a look at their families. If they are people you wish to emulate in your life, or if you want to be like them, then, by all means, listen to them. If you want to be successful in business, you do not consult someone who cannot manage his own business. You go to someone who has been successful. If you want to have good success in the home, you do not listen to those who have not had success.

Some people want you to fail, because it makes them feel better in their own failure. Others may be jealous. Still, the homemaker can overcome it all if she will mind her business and be happy. If you are at a loss for words when asked a pointed question, which you do not want to discuss, you might take a cue from Anne, in "Persuasion." She answered Mr. Eliot's question by saying, "I haven't had much time to turn my mind to it yet." (I haven't had time to think about it). Some questions are calculated to create arguments. If you feel your answer to questions like, "Why are you giving up your degree to stay home" or "When are you going to get a real job?" will create strife, you can always indicated that: you have given up nothing and gained everything, and that you would get an outside job if you had time, when you are caught up with everything else, and if it wouldn't interfere with your home-life.