About Chantel Simmons
Some girls dream of walk-in shoe closets. Chantel dreams of walk-in craft closets. A former crafter for HGTV, Chantel's now sharing her project plans with you. Check back every Friday as she offers up an easy-to-make or easy-to-bake craft you can give to a friend or keep for yourself.
My husband and I mark our wedding anniversary each year by exchanging traditional gifts (ie. paper for the first year, cotton for the second, etc.). On our fifth anniversary (wood), my husband surprised me with this inspiration box, since he knew I’d be spending the summer working on my third novel. He thought the items in the box might help motivate me to write by providing rewards when I did. He was right; there’s nothing like the incentive of a manicure!
You can personalize the messages based on the recipient and your reason for giving them a sweet treasure chest.
What you’ll need:
Pretty box or chest
Coloured paper (I like Japanese paper because it’s printed on one side but plain on the other)
Scissors
Pen or marker
Directions:
- Decide on a theme for your chest, such as “Romance,” “Thinking of You” or “Happy Birthday.” My husband used “Writing” as his theme, since I was working on a new book.
- Cut the paper into 30 strips. On two or three of these slips, write a category. My treasure chest has three categories: “Inspiration,”“Story Ideas” and “Rewards.”
- Once you have your categories, divide the remaining slips of paper between the categories so that you have about 10 slips of paper in each one. Then, write an idea on each slip of paper. Here are some examples from mine:
Inspiration: These are reasons to keep writing even when I don’t feel like it, such as “Quit your day job!” and “Have a whole table of your books at the bookstore.”
Story Ideas: These are silly ideas, for when I’m stuck on a plot point – a black-and-white cow or a mysterious intruder.
Rewards: When I finish a major hurdle (like a difficult chapter), I get to choose a reward, such as a manicure or a new handbag.
Tip: Need more ideas?
For a “Thinking of You” theme, try these categories:
One-Liners (silly jokes)
Indulge (treats such as a massage or new lipstick)
Girls’ Night Out (pedicures or cocktails)
For a “Romance” theme, try these categories:
Date Night Ideas (picnic in the park or a night at a hotel)
Love Notes (little things you love about the other person)
Surprise! (a bouquet of flowers or breakfast in bed)
Thought that was sweet? You'll enjoy: