Something From Nothing: Free Basket Makeover

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See how I created something from nothing with this free basket makeover!

A few weeks ago my daughter and I had an afternoon to ourselves. All the boys in our lives were out of town.

Sweet girl time.

We made our way through a few thrift shops and got one item I was particularly proud of. Proud because my mini me daughter spied the FREE basket that I had completely overlooked! She sifted through the pile of possibility and pulled out a metal frame and a broken basket. I felt certain we could come up with some way to make something out of this basket deemed as nothing.

We headed home and spent an afternoon crafting together. She worked on a painting project and I went to work on the basket.

By cutting down the broken side the basket looked more like it was meant to be that way. A quick coat of spray paint and we were already headed in the right direction.

This damask canvas ribbon was on sale a while back and just spoke to me. It’s been quietly beckoning to me for a while “use me…use me.”

So I did.

I rummaged through my extra junk stash and found an old piece of hardware off a long gone dresser. It got a facelift with a fresh coat of black chalk paint.

After wiring on my new “tag” with some beads from my daughter’s bracelet making kit the makeover was complete. Chalk tip here.

I had to whittle down a small piece of chalk to get the point small enough to write legibly with. My handwriting is not one to impress. The small tip helped.

Filled with apples, this little basket is a wonderful addition to our decorating landscape.

Let’s tell the truth here. Decorating can be intimidating. Do ya’ll feel that way?

Do designing magazines and interior decorators ever make you feel sub par?

It’s easy to look at other people’s homes and think they look better than yours. I quickly go down the rabbit hole of, “they have a bigger budget than I do” or maybe, ” they have more raw decorating talent than me.”

Those thoughts lead to even more thoughts, “I’ll get to this project when I hit the lottery” or better yet, “why bother?” Name brands and high dollar furniture can wage war on our psyche.

We put off doing because it never feels like enough. It’s like we can’t measure up to what others have going on.

That game spills over to other parts of our lives as well.

My heart has been overwhelmed by the story of the widow who gave all she had. (From Mark 12:41-44)

This “poor widow” gave two small copper coins to the temple treasury. It is important to note that in her day and age being a widow was no picnic (not that it ever really is).

She was likely alone, poor and awaited a grim future without family to care for her.

Yet this widow gave everything she had to God. Everything. Not know where her next anything would come from.

Why didn’t she have a death grip on her last dime (fractions of a penny actually)? Her last ounce of security? Didn’t she need a nest egg? Emergency fund?

Why on earth would she do this?

I believe it’s because she saw something in nothing. Her heart desired to honor the Lord and trust in Him with all she had, which to most looked like nothing.

She had faith God would provide. She wasn’t looking to the right or the left to see what others where doing. She wasn’t taking pride in giving when others weren’t or beating herself up for not having more.

She knew her Lord’s heart enough to know he wouldn’t laugh in her face or scoff at her meager means. She must have felt that giving what little she had was better than not giving at all.

And she was right.

God wanted nothing but her.

Jesus’ response to watching this whole transaction go down? He commended her to his disciples and said she gave the most of all.

Two coins.

The most of all.

Because her giving was out of poverty and pure heart.

Because it wasn’t about the coins.

I’m guilty of putting my personal budget, desires and comfort before tithing. I think almost all of us have said, “when I make more money, I’ll give more.” Or how about, “When I have more free time I’ll help out the church or my neighbor.”

I’ll do this when that…the list could go on and on and my guilt would grow deeper and deeper. We want to have something big to give. It’s a nice gesture, but not really what is asked of us.

Today could be the day to put an end to all those ideas of grandeur. God wants whatever we have to offer, no matter how small. Even if it feels like nothing. 

Not because he needs it, He doesn’t. He wants it because where we vest our time and money is where our heart is. And he wants our heart.

Just because this cute little basket was free doesn’t diminish it’s value to me. It holds special regard because of what it represents. God sees our offering the very same way.

The sacrifice of your heart is desired and welcomed by our loving Father…no matter the earthly value or size.

So, what do you think? Want to join me today in giving God “nothing” so he can make something out of it?

You may also like these basket ideas:

Vintage Basket Wall Art

Outdoor Hanging Basket Idea