Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for 2-4 Year Old Boy - 2018

It's almost packing season 2019, here's one of the Operation Christmas Child shoebox my aunt packed at our family packing party last year a 2-4 year old boy.  I enjoy seeing what other people pack in their boxes for ideas/inspirations, hopefully som e of you do, as well.  If you'd like ideas for other ages be sure to check out my posts on OCC shoeboxes from this year for: Girl 2-4 , Girl 5-9,

2-4 Year Old Girl's Shoebox with Large Stuffed Dog

We had this supper cute stuffed animal for an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox, but it was a little big...could we still send it?  We didn't want leave out anything on our basic packing list (hygiene, school, and art supplies, clothing, whistle, etc as well as toys including a ball and stuffed animal with a family photo) or use too large of a box that might be hard to fit in the cartons.  Since it was a very soft stuffed animal, it ended up fitting just fine in a GoBox with lots of other great items!

Often people find it helpful to see how the box is packed to fit everything in, so here's some photos of how these items fit in the shoebox.

For more ideas/fun boxes, check out other shoeboxes we packed for 2-4 year old girls or our themed boxes!

Butterfly Themed Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxs for a Girls

I wanted to share a couple butterfly themed shoeboxes I packed for Operation Christmas Child.  A couple years ago I realized I'd ended up with a lot of "butterfly" items, and as I have an aunt who likes butterflies, I decided to make one in her honor, and included a photo of us together and in the recipient letter I told them I picked things I thought my aunt would have liked at their age.  This year I had so much stuff, I ended up making two butterfly boxes.  One for a 2-4 year old girl:

and one for a 10-14 year old girl:

When I do a themed Operation Christmas Child shoebox, what that means to me is while I stick to my normal list of things to include, I try to find versions of those items that fit the theme.  I may add an extra unique item or two, but on the whole it's the same list, just different types.  My basic list for those interested is:

• Hygiene supplies (soap & case; toothbrush & case; washcloth; comb)
• School supplies (lined paper, pens, pencils, sharpener, eraser, ruler, etc.)
• Art supplies (crayons, watercolors, and/or colored pencils; plain paper and/or coloring book; stickers, etc.)
• Ball
• Stuffed Animal
• Toy
• Game
• Something to wear
• Whistle
• Some sort of container (maybe a bag or tin)
• And a family photo

For more ideas/fun boxes, check out other shoeboxes we packed for girls or our themed boxes! 

Barnyard Themed Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for a Boy Ages 2-4 Years Old

Sometimes when we  win or earn gift cards online for shopping for shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, we use it to "splurge" on an item that might cost more than we normally budget for that type of item.  Such was the case with the cow blocks/puzzle I built this farm themed box around.

It was a great Wow item-16 about inch square blocks, brightly decorated so as to make up 9 different far scene puzzles (pig, cow, rooster, etc) by Melissa & Doug.  However it was a bit big, so there was concerns as to how it would fit, especially as when I do a theme box I stick to my normal list of things to include, I try to find versions of those items that fit the theme.  I may add an extra unique item or two, but on the whole it's the same list, just different types.  My basic list for those interested is:

• Hygiene supplies (soap & case; toothbrush; washcloth; comb)

Giraffe Themed Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for a Girl Ages 2-4 Years Old

One thing I always pack in shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child is stuffed animals.  Normally I go with Beanie Baby sized.  But sometimes there's a bigger one I want to send, like this giraffe.  Then you have to get creative to get it and everything else you need/want to send to fit.  Because when we make a themed Operation Christmas Child shoebox, we don't leave out anything on our basic packing list-I still put in hygiene, school, and art supplies, clothing, whistle, etc as well as toys (including a ball and stuffed animal) with a family photo.  We just try to find versions of what we are putting in that goes with the theme and occasionally an extra item or two. 

While I just had the stuffed animal originally, I found a lot of "theme stuff" to go with it, just from shopping our shoebox "stockpile"   I had plastic scissors that kinda looked like one, plus stickers, pad of colored paper with one on, and a giraffe print pencil!  Plus orange washcloth, turtle figurine, and kaleidoscope.  I thought the lion...albeit in an odd way, went with the theme, too. 

Often people find it helpful to see how the box is packed to fit everything in, so here's some photos of how these items fit in the shoebox.  I couldn't fit it in a GO, cardboard box, but it fit well in the new, official, plastic box.

For more ideas/fun boxes, check out other shoeboxes we packed for 2-4 girls or our themed boxes!

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for 2-4 Year Old Boy - 2017

I love looking at boxes others pack, so here's an Operation Christmas Child shoebox my aunt packed at our family packing party this year for a 2-4 year old boy, hope it

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for 2-4 Year Old Girl - 2017

Here is one of the boxes my mom packed this year for a 2-4 girl through Operation Christmas Child.  

If you'd like ideas for other ages be sure to check out my posts on OCC shoeboxes from this year for: Boy 2-4 , Girl 5-9, Boy 5-9, Girl 10-14, & Boy 10-14 (will be updated with links as I post those boxes, until I do, here's a link to all the shoebox examples posts). 

NOTE: Different countries have different restrictions on what can be packed in an Operation Christmas Child shoebox due to customs-no candy or toothpaste in the USA going forward.  Be sure to check the guidelines from your national organization before packing!

What went into the OCC shoebox gift (Items with ** are on the list of "Wow" items):

Example of an OCC Shoebox for Boy 2-4 Years Old - 2016

Here's an Operation Christmas Child shoebox my aunt packed for a 2-4 year old boy this year.    This shoebox was 360 inches cubed, for comparison, a GO box is 306 inches cubed, so it's pretty close in size.   Here's one of the 2-4 boy OCC shoeboxes she packed in 2015.  

If you'd like ideas for other ages be sure to check out my posts on boxes from this year for: Girl 2-4 years,  Girl 5-9, Boy 5-9, Girl 10-14, & Boy 10-14.

NOTE:  Different countries have different restrictions on what can be packed in a shoebox due to customs, and this is the last year for candy & toothpaste from the USA.  Be sure to check the guidelines from your national organization before packing!

What went into the shoebox gift:

• Hygiene Supplies:

Example of an OCC Shoebox for a 2-4 Year Old Girl - 2016

Here's an Operation Christmas Child shoebox my mom packed for a 2-4 girl this year.  I thought I'd share what she put in in case it was of interest to others.  This shoebox was 348 inches cubed, for comparison, a GO box is 306 in3, so it's pretty close in size.   Here's one of the 2-4 girl shoeboxes she packed in 2015.  

If you'd like ideas for other ages be sure to check out my posts on OCC shoeboxes from this year for: Boy 2-4 , Girl 5-9, Boy 5-9, Girl 10-14, & Boy 10-14.

NOTE:  Different countries have different restrictions on what can be packed in an Operation Christmas Child shoebox due to customs, and this is the last year for candy.  Be sure to check the guidelines from your national organization before packing!

What went into the OCC shoebox gift:

• Hygiene Supplies:

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for 2-4 Year Old Boy

It's been a busy week with packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  I thought I'd share what my aunt packed in a box for a 2-4 year old boy.  If you'd like ideas for other ages be sure to check out my posts on boxes from this year for:  Girl 2-4 years, Girl 10-14 years, & Boy 10-14 years...as the middle range 5-9

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for 2-4 Year Old Girl

It's been a busy week with packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  I thought I'd share what my mom packed in one box.  It was for a 2-4 year old girl.  If you'd like ideas for other ages be sure to check out my posts on boxes from this year for: Boy 2-4 years, Girl 10-14 years, & Boy 10-14 years...as the middle range 5-9 gets the most boxes, we chose to do the other ages this year.

It took some careful planning and packing but I was able to get all of the items pictured into the pre-printed "Go box" in the picture.  Packing in standard sized boxes, especially the pre-printed boxes helps them get a lot of shoeboxes in each carton they send out and they're more sure they'll have enough for the kids that show up at the distributions. But remember-if you don't have an Operation Christmas Child Go box any shoebox sized box: shoebox, plastic box, even a traditional box will work!  See the pros and cons of different shoeboxes here:  What Type of Box to Use.  First I'll share a list of what went into it, then I'll share how it was packed.

What went into the shoebox gift:

• Hygiene Supplies:

Teddy Bear Day ~ First Operation Christmas Child Shoebox for 2015

My friend runs a brick and mortar discount craft store.  She recently opened an online store, The Rag Bag of Shelby [Updated:  no longer in business], and donated fabric for me to make a dress for one of my shoe boxes.  I got to "shop for free" at her online store.  I chose this sweet cotton fabric Teddy Bear print--it is a Boyd Bears print.  It so soft to the touch.  So I began to build my first shoebox for the 2015 Operation Christmas Child collection around this dress.

Do you remember the Kohl's Cares Bear I wrote about earlier that I just couldn't resist?  He will be tucked inside the box with the dress.  I added the blue bow to

Twins ~ Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Crafting Progress Report

This week's Shoebox Sewing & Crafting for Operation Christmas Child  includes Twin Sets.  I have read of people doing "twin boxes." They either put two of everything in one shoebox or make two matching shoeboxes.  This came to mind with these two projects.

Brother & Sister Set

After sharing this fabric and teddy bear on Simply Shoeboxes' Facebook page asking should I use it for a boy or girl I decided to make both since there seemed to be a tie.

I had this little short set with the red shirt from a Dollar General clearance sale.

I needed another teddy for the little boy box and found this red fella just waiting to be sent filled with