Category: Home & Crafts
It's true.
Even after all these months, there is still a sense of satisfaction that comes from carving time out of my busy month to spread shine in someone else's corner of the world.
No matter which household item we are challenged to use or the form it ends up taking at month's end, the very act of completing a Shineworks Project makes the whole month feel more worthwhile.
Sometimes the projects are big undertakings - like when I used old tuna cans to give away wishes at a public fountain. Or like the time I used clothes pins to spread the Shine message at a local Starbucks.
But then other times the message feels like it ought to be smaller and more personal.
That's what happened in March.
In March the challenge was to somehow use an old flower vase to perform a random act of kindness for someone else. I immediately decided the children of our dear family friends would be the object of my Shineworks Project.
And since Easter fell in March this year, it was the perfect source of my inspiration.
I used tissue paper, Mod Podge, foam, and pipe cleaners to turn them into cheerful bunnies and then stuffed them with treat-filled eggs. And a carrot stick that reads, "Some bunny thinks you shine"
And white pillar candles at the very bottom, because as cute as they are as Easter containers, they were actually designed to be Easter luminaries.
Next up is April. And while I already have an idea of who the recipient of this month's project is going to be, I have NO idea how I might use this month's item - a HANGER!
Posted on 4/2/2013 4:00 AM By Claudia In: [Holidays], [Home & Crafts]
How exactly do you do something as big and audacious as power the planet with Shine?
The same way you eat an elephant - one bite at a time.
Except in our case we didn't eat an elephant, we ate muffins and quiche and finger sandwiches and mimosas. And we did it while packaging up a healthy dose of shine in white boxes and then shipping them to small corners of our country - and even world.
But before we were ready to ship, we first gathered, created, and scoured Dollar Bins for small and cheery items that were either yellow or orange.
We even baked items; treats, like rubber ducks, lemons, and smiley faces.
Then we set out enough boxes, tape, ribbon, markers, shred, and notecards to assure time and energy (and food) ran out well before supplies.
Of course, essential to the audacious plan of powering the planet with shine was a long invitation list of people who shine; people who were willing to give up their Saturday mornings so they could build packages for long lost friends, neighbors, mentors, or relatives.
I find the invitation list is even more fun when the participants themselves don't know each other and come from all corners of the world (or at least, town).
Because birds of a feather flock together and when people shine they are bound to connect with and enjoy meeting other people who shine.
And even in that moment - before a single box is shipped out - their energy becomes palpable and you can almost visibly see that small corner of the world (in this case Westlake, Texas) being powered by shine.
And the rest of the story writes itself.
Because boxes are filled with treats.
Thoughtful notes are written and tucked safely inside.
Packages are beautifully decorated inside and out.
And, as was the case on Saturday, March 23, countless packages get sent to people all over country - and even world.
In our case, over 120 packages to 56 cities, across 16 states and 2 countries.
And that is how you get one step closer to powering our planet with Shine!
Wanna give it a try?
Posted on 4/1/2013 4:00 AM By Claudia In: [Home & Crafts], [Inspiration]