The Work of Her Hands

It is so important for women to have a worthwhile work to do with their hands. The work of the hands engage the mind and give a kind of relief from stress. Proverbs 31 speaks of "the work of her hands." It does not say "let the amount of parties she hosts praise her in the gates," or the amount of speeches she makes praise her," or "the stylish way she dresses." There is probably a good reason that the verse emphasizes "the work of her hands," instead of all the other great things that can be done.

In past posts I have told my own reasons for the belief that I have that women should learn to do useful things with their hands. One reason is that it prevents a kind of frustration and idleness that can result in other things that are destructive, rather than constructive. When people do not have a skill and do not know how to do anything, they find it easier to smoke, drink, throw dice,** (to gamble)or constantly text message friends, until they find that half of life is gone without having made one single thing of any beauty to be remembered by or to pass to the next generation to copy. Our hand work tells something of our values, our customs, and of our beliefs about life.

The older women can do a lot to help the younger ones learn to keep a pretty house and make things for others. Just one student makes a class, and once a week a lesson can inspire some younger woman. If you can't get anyone to come to your home, you can teach something online, whether it is cleaning, sewing, cooking, knitting, or gardening. I do hope to move on to some of those other important skills, but today I have an easy card that fits into a regular sized card envelope, that some child might like to try.

This is a picnic basket card that can be used for an invitation or a letter or a card. It is made with white card stock, a gel pen, a small rubber stamp, crayons, and a trim for the handle. You can make your own handle with paper or any kind of ribbon you have. Notice the clasp made with a strip of card stock glued on the right and left sides, through with another strip is placed. You can see it there in the middle.

This is the pattern for your template for the picnic basket card. Right click and highlight it and then paste it on another document or on your own email to send to yourself. Then print. You might be able to get someone to help you do this. I hope it comes out alright for you.

Notice where the strip of card stock is placed at the top, inside the card.

Just use your rubber stamps (sometimes available at the dollar store) and color the image with crayons. Write your invitation with a matching gel pen and outline your card with the same color.

For a variation on this card, copy the pattern below and make pockets, dishes and a picnic blanket to put inside.

This is what the inside looks like with the special pockets and picnic accessories. You have to use printer paper for these things, or any lightweight, thinner paper.

You can click on this to view the details.

The plates are rubber stamped with the same image as the outside of the card, and outlined in green crayon. Please click on for a larger view. This is a free hand drawing made by me, and so it might not be completely accurate. You may have to do some trimming after you fold your card, to make it fit evenly. I make my shapes by folding paper in half and drawing half of the object, then cutting and opening it up to full size.

After you get it all put together and folded and closed with the clasp, you can make a stand for it by cutting a rectangle of card stock and folding it in half. Then glue one half to the back of the card, putting the cut edges even with the bottom of the card, and stand it up.

Even though I do a lot of sewing and gardening, I put paper crafts on the blog because they are quick and easy and you can do them with people who have beginners skills. You can click on the photo at the top, and see more details of this card craft. The enlargement will show you what the clasp looks like.

To make it look like a woven wooden basket or a wicker basket, draw broken lines with a gel pen or any other pen, across, and then alter lines going vertically, as shown. Then, use your gel pen to color in, but not solidly.

**"The best way to throw dice, is to throw them out." - advice written by an author who lived between 1835 and 1910