Some people have that gift of saying just the right words at just the right time that makes all the difference between having a bad day to just have a very trying one. Me? I'd rather call it a blessing because there are truly just a few who can turn your bad day into a bearable one with just a few words! Such people usually come right out of the blue and without any plan or reason can make you smile in the middle of a day that has all the potential to turn into a major headache.

That's why I take the time to thank such people in totally unexpected ways, the way they unexpectedly made my day better. I never try to take anything for granted. I know how it is to be on the receiving end, and because of that, my sentences and requests to anybody and anyone are always peppered with a heartfelt “thanks.”

Doing something however to show how grateful you are is definitely much better. So for two consecutive evenings (during the time I was still sick), I slowly worked on a “shaker box” to surprise my friend back.

I used the following stocks which I got from Memory Box (Paper Pizzaz, foam adhesives and fibers), A Lasting Impression (Gin X Coasters), SMILE (Paper Multi-Pack/Mrs. Grossman's), Memory Lane (Tags To Go), My Little Attic (Bazzil ChipToppers). The Brenda Walton Neopolitan papers and the bejeweled butterfly came from my personal stocks. The metal see-through box is something I came across at Market, Market at The Fort. I knew it was something I could use in doing some small scrap work (or even mini books) for friends.

To add “dimension” to the design, I made use of the thickest foam adhesives I have. I adhered everything at the back of a chipboard I covered both ways. To further add a “layering” or dimensional look, I added a see-through sticker right in front.

Inside the container, I made an intricate tag containing a small vellum envelope with a thank you note. At the back of the tag, I told my friend to use the tag in an LO as an embellishment.

Go surprise someone who surprised you with a kind word or gesture. Better yet, do the first “surprising” yourself! Nothing beats the high you get from making another person feel special.