How to Make a Gratitude Box for Christmas (a Favorite Things Gift as Seen on Oprah)

For her 2008 Favorite Things show, Oprah focussed on gifts from the heart, such as the Gratitude Box. These boxes are handmade, and filled with letters expressing to the recipient how grateful the giver is to have her/him in their life.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Box with lid
• Something to cover it with (paint, wrapping paper, mylar... anything you want)
• Things to decorate it with

1. Find a good, sturdy box. The box should be large enough to hold several sheets of paper, and have a sturdy, removable lid.

2. Cover the box in color. Think about the recipient when considering how to do this. You could cover it with paper, fabric, paint, etc.

3. Decorate the box. This could be done with seasonal decorations, or things that express something about the recipient.

4. Write a letter to the Gratitude Box recipient. Have the letter come from the heart, expressing what the recipient means to you, and why.

5. Ask friends and family to write similar letters for the recipient. Be respectful of their time though. The holidays are a busy time for everyone, so ask friends and family a few weeks in advance, so that they will have time to think about what they want to write. Remind them again a week or so before Christmas.

6. Fill the box with letters from yourself and family members or friends.

7. Present the box on Christmas. (It might be a good idea to have some Kleenex on hand.)