Ever have a gift touch your heart and take your breath away?
I recently did.
My best friend from college, Kelly (who was also my co-author on my first two books) is the most creative and clever gift-giver.
Over the years she has stitched, sewed, woven and spun me many homemade treasures. But this year for my recent birthday, she out-did herself. And I just HAVE to share the idea with you because…..well it is easy enough that even I, Miss Craft-Challenged, could do it.
She gave me the gift of God’s word.
It came in a simple, brown paper, twine-wrapped gift. with a homemade tag and a hand-written note.
When I opened the package, out fell wonderful pieces of God’s heart written on cream-colored file folder scraps, framed in scrapbooking paper pieces and dangling from simple cotton strings.
She had spent HOURS choosing just the right verses for me and then copying them down in her very best handwriting on the hand-crafted tags.
I keep these gems in a jar by my kitchen sink. Each week I randomly choose a new verse to hang on my window over my sink to ponder as I wash yet another glass or scrub a pan or pot.
If you have someone you want to encourage, try this simple idea. It really has been a lasting gift as I think of her each Monday when I pull out yet another whisper from God.
(NOTE: If you want help on how to make these, I can ask Kelly to hop on and comment. I am clueless. However, if you need help searching for just the right verses for a friend, use biblegateway.com. It makes it a snap to search for verses by putting in key words.)
Fabulous idea!!! I do hope she comments because I’m thinking this would be great for Mother’s Day..
Thanks for sharing Karen!! I just returned from an amazing weekend with the ACTS retreat That would be such a cherished gift to give and receive!! Blessings, Barb
I would love it if your friend could give us specific directions. These are beautiful!
Love it!!
What a wonderful idea. I was looking for something to give to a group of ladies who are really special to me and this could be the very thing. Thanks for sharing the idea. Have a blessed day!
This is precious. The time spent alone melts my heart.
It would be wonderful to share this with a single mom or widow? They would adore this kind of blessing over their trial!
Please, please give us specifics! What a great gift idea – but I am craft-challenged and need specific instructions and supply list please!
I love the idea it is so personal and would love specific instructions on how to Thank you
so much i am so enjoying your site.
What a sweet blessing., thank you for sharing……love your blog
What a beautiful gift from a treasured friend! This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
Hey gals–
I talkled with Kelly and she will hop on later to give instructions. She was going to this morning but her power went out. (We are having high winds & storms in MI) Thanks for your patience.
That is a TREASURE! I hope you hugged her REAL TIGHT!!
I can’t wait to try it too.
I’d love to give these to my besties & young adult kids.
Thanks, Kelly!
I’d love to hug her but we only see each other every 1-2 years!
What a WONDERFUL idea. And beautiful gift. I do crafts with my DGD, we’ve been giving folks scripture on craft sticks, index cards & decorating with scrapping supplies and/or stamps. So this fits right in TFS
Please ask Kelly to share the specific instructions.
Tricia–
As stated above, I was able to ask her to share & her comments are below. Hope they help!
Karen, what a beautiful treasured gift – God’s Word to meditate on and memorize. It’s a gift that can be used year after year too. You’ve got a special treasure of a friend that would made such a precious gift!
Okay, Ladies here are the supplies and instructions. There really is no one way to do this but this is what I had on hand.
Supplies:
manila file folders
scrapbooking paper( about 3-4 coordinated designs with print on front and back)
white cotton yarn (mine was purchased on a cone and I use it for several things around the home)
White reinforcement hole lables
glue stick (one for crafts not kid’s glue)
hole puncher
Instructions:
The size of my tag is 3 3/4″ by 1 3/4″. Cut out a rectangle this size from the manila folders. At about the 3″ mark cut away up to the middle of the top of the rectangle on both sides to make the point. (See photos above.)Now use this as a pattern to cut as many rectangles as verse cards you will need. I made about thirty for a set. Next, cut out 3 1/4″ by 2 1/4″ rectangles from the scrapbooking papers. Glue these papers onto the tags. This should leave a small border around the tag. (See photo) Use a hole puncher to punch a hole in the arrow portion of the tag. Reinforce with a hole lable. Then, cut a piece of yarn 12″. Fold in half. Tie a knot at the bottom, then loop in through the hole. The knot should be the part that is hanging. Now the fun part. Choose scripture verses to write on the tags. I choose verses from Psalms, but you could choose verses with a theme (love, blessings, comfort, contentment, joy). Choose verses that will encourage the person you are giving them to for whatever circumstances they are in . You could give them in a jar or basket, or just wrap them up and let them choose from a container they have that works for them. You could also make a tag with the verse from Ps. 119:105 and attach it to the gift. They could then attach it to their jar or basket.
I hope these directions are clear enough. You can make whatever size of tag you would like to use. And remember, they don’t have to be perfect. But they will know it was given from the heart.
What a AWESOME idea to give to a special friend for constant scripture in their lives! From someone not very crafty this is GREAT! Thanks for sharing and for the detailed instructions!
What a great idea, super cute, and a great way to encourage/love on someone else. Kelly, do you have a blog, too, where you share other great ideas like this? Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather
Karen,
I LOVE this idea! Kelly’s a good one! What a treasure!
You would love it Dort. You are another one of my “crafty friends”
awesome idea. I would love the verses she picked out for you.
Sweet Ann, it would take a great deal of time I don’t have right now to list them all out. Just pray that God leads you to the verses you are to choose for your special someone. He is faithful and will lead you to the perfect ones. Biblegateway.com is a real help! Good luck!
I just LOVE this idea! I am going to make sets of these for teacher gifts.
Amazing!! Thanks for sharing <3<3
Reading this made me want to cry. What more precious gift could there be than giving someone you love God’s Word in such a creative way! Thanks so much for this idea!
Thank you for sharing! I love new ideas to do with the kids at church. This will make a great Mother’s Day project!
I love this, what a great idea!
Thank you so much for sharing!!
What a beautiful and meaningful gift!! Thank you so much for sharing!! Love your inspiration.
Lori McMahan
A very beautiful gift that comes from the heart! Just knowing she wrote out each verse, with you in mind, is a beautiful thought <3
~happy tears~ oh my goodness, these are just *so* beautiful and thoughtful! please give instructions for other craft-challenged ladies in the audience : ) thanks in advance ; )
The instructions were given in the comment above from Kelly
What a wonderful idea!! Thank you for sharing.
I just HAVE to comment on this! When you asked if we have ever received a gift that took our breath away, I got chills! After my Mom died, my brother and sis-in-law made me a framed window that had a poem that my Mom had written about my daughter who was then 1, along with 2 pictures; one of my Mom, and one of my daughter. It was such a pleasant surprise and I had tears just streaming down my face. I do right now writing this! It hangs in my kitchen and it will forever stay there! Those type of gifts are SO filled with love, emotion, and meaning. Thank you for this post and your ministry! Julie
Love this, Julie!
Any special kind of pens/ink to use to write on the tags?
Kelly, I used a plain ball-point black pen. Use whatever you feel most comfortable in writing. Your writing will have to be small, so keep this in mind when choosing a pen. Also do some practicing before hand.
Thanks, Kelly! I am definitely going to make some of these!
I’d use an acid free pen/marker or even a super fine point Sharpie (permanent) marker they are in a variety of colors.
I love this idea and will use it for the ladies group I lead. What an awesome way to share the Word of God!!
Thank you so much. You are my answer to prayer. I have been praying for a special gift for my special friend. Her birthday is next month. Maybe with God help I can get it done by her birthday. It will be great for Mother Day too.
I love it. I can’t wait to get started on one for my friend & I am going to make one for myself.
Send us lots of help
Love & prayers,
Shirley
I love this idea. I found gift tags online that are similar in size and in lots of different designs. It would still be special, but cut down on some of the prep work, for those of us less crafty.
You are a gal after my own craft-challenged heart <3
Please ask Jeannine where she found the tags on line.
Thank you.
http://www.paper-source.com (search for hang tags) hobby lobby (search for gift tags). There were several other places, including places you could have them print the tags for you. I only searched (“gift tags” and “hang tags”) for about ten minutes and found many different styles and places they were sold. I am guessing you could might be able to find them in your local craft store too.
Yes, please share with us how these were made! What a wonderful idea for my friends in my bible study group!
Ooops! I guess if I had read all of the comments, I would have seen Kelly’s instructions! They are now cut & pasted for future use! Thanks again! Will make wonderful, thoughtful gifts for those I love!
This really touched my heart; thank you, Karen, for sharing! I don’t remember how I found your blog, but it was for the hospitality study (fabulous!). I’m so thankful I’ve found you, though! You’re blog has really been a blessing to me!
And Kelly, thank you for sharing your instructions! I think I can actually do this one! And I can already think of a couple of ladies that would be very blessed by receiving them!
Blessings to you both!
Smiles
Like Tracy I don’t remember how I found your blog, just in time for the hospitality study. This idea from kelly will be incorporated into my Hospitality gift loving. Will make up sets for on the road, general, and specific for overnight guests. Thanks for sharing and loving us so much.
Love this idea….and I will so be passing this gift onto several of my close friends. Perfect for your bible groups, mom’s, girlfriends…..
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful gift.
I love this idea! You could say God has gifted me in the the same way as your friend. I am currently working on a gift for a friend who has been receinty diagnosed with breast cancer.
I have made her a journal to help her through her “healing joueney”. I took a simple composition notebook and covered & embelished it with some of my beautiful scrapbooking supplies. I and a few of outr friends have writtwn scripture and encouraging words in random pages of the journal. As she writes on random days she will find what we have written. My prayer is that this will lift her up during this difficult time.
Wonderful idea, Melissa! I am sure this will lift her up.
That is a wonderful idea, I love it! I think I will write my verses before attaching the paper in case I mess up. lol
I would soooo need to do the same thing!
What a special treat! Thank you for sharing and for the instructions!
For a baby shower gift, I was given a small notebook with the months and days written on the top. (ex May 3) The giver told me to set it in a room where my twins were active and write down the fun things or things that I wanted to remember with the year on the correct page. I never did find the time to use it but often wish I had. I thought it was a great idea. If a person were to add this idea to the journal idea above…it would make the gift that much more meaningful.
This is a great gift idea for a new mom!
yes please! Would love to know how she did this!
Nora–
Instructions above in the comment from Kelly.
I did something similar for a friend once who was struggling with fear – I typed up a list of appropriate verses (my handwriting is wretched LOL) and cut them into slips, which I folded up into small pill shapes. Then, I put them in a large clean medicine bottle, with a handmade label that said, “Jill’s Chill Pills” and had directions to take as needed upon onset of fear or anxiety.
Betty, loved your idea using the medicine bottle.
I did something simular for my husband while we were engaged. On valentines day I had a little bottle that I wrote sayings of why I loved him and put them in the little bottle that had hearts all over it and the bottle had a cork for the top. It was my version of message in a bottle.
I really like the idea of when the friend is in need, all she has to do is open the medicine bottle and pull out a chill pill with Gods word on it, read it for her medicine to feel better.
love it.
i absolutely LOVE IT!
thank you so much for sharing,
tanya
Wow, the love infused in this gift is amazing! Not only because it’s God’s words – pure love – but because your friend hand wrote each one, leaving a piece of her on each tag. I recently read an article proposing that handwriting – cursive – is obselete and should not be taught in our schools. How sad, I thought, because so much of ourselves can be seen and passed on in our personal script. While I am the first to admit I struggle physically to write long letter or for a very long time, it is still my preferred method of communication. And hand written notes to and from friends and family are precious to me. What a beautiful gift to give and receive. Thank you for sharing!
I love this idea. I am thinking about having my class of 5th graders do something similar for a Mother’s Day gift and then making some myself to give to some of my favorite moms.
Thanks for sharing, what a very special gift.
Thank you Karen and Kelly! I have a good friend whose husband recently passed away. I can’t wait to get started on some verses for her!
I love having verses close at hand like this, I’m going to make this as a teachers gift!
This is the best idea ever!!! thank you for sharing..I will definitely make these tonight,
What a wonderful gift! That was a real labor of love. Friends are God’s gift to his children.
Thank you for sharing! I just love this idea!
thanks for sharing – you have a great friend who loves GOD and loves you from her heart heart
What a special gift….Thank you for sharing with me. I think no matter how you make it as long as you make it…it will be a treasure worth keeping. Thank you Kelly for sharing directions…I look forward to making this for my daddy for father’s day!
Smiles and Blessings,
Robin
What a thoughtful gift!! Love the idea.
I love this idea! I want to make this for my younger brother who is struggling spiritual and having many family problems. Maybe this creative way of sharing God’s Word will be uplifting to him and help him grow closer to the Lord daily. Thanks for sharing!
Oh, this is right up my alley…..and so super cute
Now I may be a little “selfish” and make a set for myself AND a set to giveaway…and cancel out the so-called “selfish” part 
What a great idea 
I wonder how you would come up with just the right verses for the friend you’d gift it to? Okay….I’m loving this. Thanks for sharing this, Karen 
Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 
Karen. I love love love this idea!!!!! Thanks for sharing. U know I had an idea similar to this with scripture for our mops group. We are doing it during our last meeting. We used a lot of your hospitality ideas at our April meeting. I was so proud to share your book and all of your wisdom! It made many of us think. Thanks for your teachings!!
Betty, your idea of the chill pills is such a cute idea. Very clever of you. I also loved the verses on tags. Both are a great gift idea.
What a fabulous idea!! I love to give little gifts and have given scripture and/or little papers with handwritten prayers on them but this is just lovely!!
Thanks so much for sharing!!!
I am going to share thi idea with the women’s group at my church!!!
Love, love, love this idea! Thanks so much for sharing and for the instructions from Kelly!
Love this idea, too! What a wonderful and meaningful gift. Several people came to mind to make these for and I thank you for the directions.
Love it! Can definitely tell it was a Holy Spirit-inspired gift idea to have this kind of lasting impact on the receiver and others. Thanks so much, Karen, for acknowledging and sharing about your friend’s loving gesture. Thanks so much, Kelly, for being willing to help others bless their friends as you did yours. A lot of times I’m tempted to keep good, creative ideas like that to myself, but that’s not God’s way, and I’m glad it’s not yours either! Can either one of you tell us a little about what the accompanying card said to give us an idea of how to explain the gift to the receiver?
What a beautiful idea for a gift. Thanks for sharing, and thanks for adding pictures too so we could get the full idea. I’ll have to remember this one.
Just wanted to say, I did use this idea for a Mother’s Day gift for my Mom. She is on the go and spends a lot of time in her car, so I suggested that she hang a different verse on her rear view mirror each week or two. I made the tags in different shades and patterns of blue, her favorite color. I chose verses related to God’s plans for us and what we have/are when we are joined with Christ. She absolutely loved it. Thank you for sharing this idea.
I love, love this idea.. I just used it yesturday.. A friend has been bedridden and down in the dumps. So I created her some of these with encouraging scriptures and mailed to her in a pretty package. She should get them today. I think this is gonna be my new gift idea, with putting them in a pretty jar that I altered. This is a way I can use my creativity and bless someone too. Thank you so much for sharing…