Created To Inspire
For years now, the words ‘Create Hope’ have been a passionate force which helps me live my life. What else are we here on this big blue ball for other than to create hope & inspire others, and to do it all for the glory of God?
All. Everything we are, everything we do, every talent, even every tragedy can somehow inspire others and ultimately show God’s love. I truly believe this. It’s the way I try to live my life. I don’t always succeed & I get it wrong often, but I want to briefly share with my readers & this community how the Lord has given me a new avenue to inspire people!
I work with elementary-aged special needs children during the school year. Knowing I’d need a summer job, I began searching & praying. I wrote in my prayer journal, “God, how am I gonna juggle everything? I can’t leave the kids alone all day, nor do I want to. You are the Father of creativity. Will you share some of it with me so I can have income and still spend the summer with my family?”
So, that prayer sparked a series of events that has led to this. Create Hope Cuffs.
My family & I (and a portion of our town, ha!) are constantly on the search for old leather belts. Why? Because I’m upcycling them into leather cuff bracelets to sell locally & online. Yep, we had a blast with this summer gig... so much that we turned it into a full fledged business. And now, nearly two years later, the growth has been so incredible, it's become my more-than-full time job and we have several production assistants.
What makes Create Hope Cuffs leather cuffs different from the rest are the personalized inspirational words I inscribe letter by letter into each of them. I’m thankful to say not all of my training came from google, youtube or Pinterest!! Through some trial, error & prayer, God showed me a really cool way to add techniques that are all my own. Hallelujah for creativity birthed out of desperation and perseverance!
I love the entire process – finding the belts with my family, recreating them into bracelets, added just the right inspirational words, sharing my story, selling them and providing income for my family and possibly the MOST exciting part...
We are able to GIVE like never before!!! Create Hope Cuffs proceeds, through Children's HopeChest, go to our beloved Bheveni Community in Swaziland, Africa. Every bracelet you buy helps further their educational opportunities. In Swaziland, tuition must be paid in order to learn to read & write. If a child is orphaned or multiple children being raised by a single mother, how can they afford literacy when meeting life’s basic needs are already a challenge? So our B.E.S.T. (Bheveni Educational Scholarship Trust) Fund is set in place & is helping to keep nearly 200 kids in school every year! Praise the Lord!
So each time you buy an inspirational bracelet, not only is it inspiring YOU, it is teaching a child to read & write & to value their potential!
See why this bracelet making gig is so fun!?!? :)
And the idea was God-given, He helped me find a talent I didn’t even know I had, and He guides my hands through each step of the process. Leather stamping isn’t easy & sometimes my fingers get pounded instead of the stamp (ouch!), or a snap flies off & hits me in the eye, but hey, I’m still loving it!
One more thing: I’ve been blown away by how many custom/personalized orders coming in. In a world of near constant bombardment of negative messages... we need truth & light. Wisdom. Serenity. Radiant. Shine Your Light (for a whole family!) Proud of My Marine. Attraversiamo (Lets Cross Over). Worth more than Gold. Be still & know I am God.
All these words (& more) chosen by people who want to wear inspiration on their sleeve. Because we all need reminders of loved ones, reminders to keep moving forward, reminders to pray, reminders that we CAN live this life and all its fullness. Words are special. Just ask God, that’s how He’s chosen through the ages to communicate with us – through His Word, both written & spoken. So yeah, words have power. And meditating on the right words have even greater power.
Did I say this was going to be brief? :) Ha! Impossible.
So that’s my exciting news. Bracelets that create inspiration & bring education!
Want a custom order, there’s an option for that too. And be sure to like Create Hope Cuffs on Facebook!
Shine Your Light,
Danielle Brower
