Full of ingredients nurturing to the heart, mind, and soul! Come hungry and thirsty, because here you can pick from appetizers, main course, desserts, and drinks. This devotional box makes a great gift and is easy to personalize.

What to buy:

  • 1 small wooden recipe box (craft supply store)
  • 2 sponge brushes
  • 1 bottle of Modge Podge (matte)
  • 1 color of paint
  • 1 small can of wood stain finish (home improvement store)
  • 1 piece of sandpaper
  • 1 piece of white computer paper
  • Various scrapbooking papers for your theme
  • 1 printed tissue wrap (I like to use the toile print)
  • 2 buttons that compliment your papers
  • 1 thin ribbon (solid color or pattern)
  • 2 packs of index cards (I like to buy the colored ones)
  • 1 pair of disposable gloves
  • Hot glue gun (small)

How to make:

  1. Paint your recipe box with your desired color. When it has dried, paint the box with wood stain. Be sure to wear gloves because your hands can get sticky. Let dry for a day.
  2. While  you are waiting for your box to dry, start laying out your scrapbook papers, buttons, and ribbon.
  3. Cut out images. For example, butterflies, birds, or shapes and patterns that will fit together on your box.  Cut out two pieces of paper that are the exact size of the sides of the box. Cut your ribbon the length of your lid from front to back.
  4. Print from your computer a personalized title for your box. For example, “Carley’s Recipes for the Soul.” Use a small font (12) so it will fit on the top of the box. Cut out your title in an oval shape.
  5. Next day, when your box is dry, take your sandpaper and start roughing it up.
  6. To give it a dated look sand away edges and corners. Wipe down the box.
  7. Gather your Modge Podge, glue gun, accessories; cut papers,  box title, ribbon, buttons. Visually arrange everything onto your box. You may have to cut some things to fit. I like to overlap an image down the front of the box or around the back.
  8. Now take your sponge brush and Modge Podge. Start with your side papers and put Modge Podge on both the back and front of these papers. Work your way around the box from top to bottom covering your box. Modge Podge your box’s title on the lid. Put one last thin coat of Modge Podge all over your box.
  9. Use your hot glue gun to glue your ribbon down the lid, following the seam line in the wood.
  10. Glue your buttons where desired.
  11. On the inside of the box place a piece of tissue paper down the middle of the box. Cut the piece to fit the inside and lightly Modge Podge into the inside. Be careful! Too much Modge Podge will tear the paper.

Title cards for inside:

  1. Using an index card as your template, cut 5 index card shapes from your remaining scrapbook papers. When cutting, include a top tab in the upper left hand corners for a place to add your titles: Drinks, Appetizers, etc.
  2. From your computer, print each word written in a small font (8 works well): Appetizers, Drinks, Main Course, Dessert, Add Your Own. Print and cut out words. Glue words on your index cards. Place in the upper left hand corner/top tab area that you cut.
  3. I like to have my title cards laminated at a local office supply store.
  4. On your blank index cards write verses for each section of your box.
  5. Be imaginative: for Drinks use verses about being thirsty. For Dessert find verses about sweetness. You get the idea! In the "Add Your Own" section leave the rest of your blank index cards for your friend to use.
  6. Wrap lovingly and deliver.

You just made a homemade gift that will return words of blessing to your friend! Other decorating options might include thin rickrack, sequins, lace—be creative! You might also have ideas for other food categories (Fruit or Bread, for example) and verses to go with them.