Fat Quarter Library Bag Pattern & Illustrated Tutorial

A small Library Bag with wide handles is the perfect tote bag to include in an Operation Christmas Child shoebox.  It will roll up and tuck in without taking up much room and the handles will be useful in many cultures where the bags are carried on the head.  In other cultures they can be thrown over a shoulder or carried by hand.

The Fat Quarters Library Bag I designed for my shoeboxes is made from two fat quarters.  One for the outer fabric and one for the lining. The way I designed the bag it is completely reversible.  This way the child can choose their favorite side or

Mini Blanket Fleece Lovey with Crochet Edging Tutorial ~ Made for an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

One thing I love to include in my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes is a bitty blanket lovey.  I read a story once of a child Samaritan's Purse came upon in a worn torn country hiding in the back of a pick up truck and she was clinging to a small piece of cloth.  I hope that a fleece lovey with a crochet edging may bring comfort to a child

Zip Plastic Bags from MDSupplies & Services Review and How They Can Be Used in Packing OCC Shoeboxes

Here's a review of the zipper sealing plastic bags made by Dukal from MDSupplies & Service's special Shoebox Shoppers order form.     MDSupplies & Services has helpfully made us who pack for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes a special order form of just items that can go in OCC hoeboxes...plus it has FREE SHIPPING!!!   (Disclosure: post contains affiliate links & I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on them)

MDSupplies & Services offers 9  different sizes of bags in cases of 1,000 (prices effective at time post was published -- use order link above for free shipping):

• Zip Bag, Clear 3 x 4" (ZIP34) $6.35 (less than a penny a bag)
• Zip Bag, Clear 3 x 5" (ZIP35) $6.99 (less than a penny a bag)

Enhancing Sewing Kits for Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes

First I'd like to thank everyone for welcoming me in taking over the Simply Shoeboxes blog.  This is the first chance I've got to write a post, but I've been posting photos/quick updates of my Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing on Simply Shoeboxes' Facebook Page.

I posted a picture on Facebook about adding material and other goodies to the sewing kits we got last year to put in the 10-14 year old girl shoeboxes I'm packing.  There was a lot of interest as to how much fabric to put in, so I thought I'd write a post to report on how much I put in, plus some general thoughts on fabric in shoeboxes.

So, how much fabric should one put in a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child?

Well...I'm afraid there's not a cut and dry answer for that! :)  Any scrap of fabric will help a child in their practice of seaming and hemming.  So even an eight inch square can be useful.  It all depends on how much you have available/can afford,

3-Step, Five Minute Drawstring Tote Bag for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

While rearranging my sewing room I came across several hand towels and bandannas that I had tucked away in my Operation Christmas Child craft pile a year or so ago.  I decided to quickly turn them into drawstring bags and the 3-Step, Five Minute Drawstring Tote Bag was born!  I love the sturdy fabrics and the fact that the seams are already finished.  The terrycloth is also great for the hygiene items and one towel is the perfect size to hold them all.


Supplies:

A Fun Find! $11 Sewing Kits for $1 Each ~ Perfect for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

Guess what's on my Christmas wish list? Sewing kits!  My daughter stumbled upon these great Singer sewing kits while at a local dollar store picking up the last of the toothbrushes we needed for 2014.  She bought a few for my 10 to 14 year old boxes this year and said they had dozens left.  I quickly added it to my Christmas wish list!  I love getting presents I can use in Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.

Some had these stickers on them showing the original price as $10.99.

They contain larger scissors and these little scissors in the mending kit inside.  My daughter wants to add extra needles -- she says needles are easy to loose and their thread will be useless without them.  I

Upcycling Greeting Cards Into Needle Books for Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Gifts

I am always trying to think of ways to upcycle cards as they are so sturdy and lovely.  Here is my latest:  needle books for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.  I want to include small sewing kits in several of my 10 to 14 year old girl shoeboxes this year.  My mom can no longer sew and I have a box of her sewing supplies.  I decided to check it out and see if there were any new items I could use in my sewing kits.  I found some pins and needles and to make a simple needle book I used felt and a greeting card.  These will be included along with thread, scissors

Shoebox Drawstring Bag Style #2 ~ Large Enough to Hold Operation Christmas Child GO Box

After sharing my scrappy drawstring bags sized so an Operation Christmas Child shoebox can fit inside, I received dozens of requests for a pattern.  I designed three bags to share instructions for and one post became too long to share them all at once.  So I am sharing them in three different posts (find links

Drawstring Gift Bag Style #1 ~ Illustrated How-To Instructions: To Hold an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

I recently shared my drawstring bags I made for my OCC shoebox gifts sized so a shoebox can fit inside.  Operation Christmas Child shared the post for my Scrappy Draw String Tote Bags on their Facebook page and I have received dozens of requests for a pattern.  I've designed three bags and the original post was too long to share them all at once.  So I am sharing them in three different

Making Bead Kits for My Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts

This is the first year I have made jewelry bead kits for my Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.  I got this large box of 1800 beads last year when someone had it leftover from a church project and didn't want it. I knew I could use it for my shoeboxes, but it just sat on my shelf waiting.

I wasn't sure what containers I could use but knew I could get little plastic bags at the local craft store for a few pennies.  Then Office Max had these adorable plastic containers on special for 25 cents each.  I divided the beads in pink and purple sets putting the pink in the clear containers and the purple in the purple containers.  I then made satin drawstring bags using up scraps from another project to tuck them

Small Drawstring Bags for Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gift Packing

A variety of sizes of drawstring bags comes in handy in Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.  In my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes I always include hygiene items, school supplies and toys which all lend themselves to being tucked away in drawstring bags.  So I have designed a simple, frugal drawstring

Drawstring Bag for OCC Shoebox Gift ~ From Upcycled Upholstery Sample

This simple-to-sew drawstring bag is just the right size for an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift--it will fit easily and all of the goodies from the shoe box should be able to tuck inside for the child to carry them all.  This one is made from an upholstery sample so it is really heavy duty.  Any fabric would do though.

Square Bottom Drawstring Bags How-to Instructions

Simple Crocheted Stand-up, Drawstring Bag Instructions ~ Great for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

I wanted to make a simple drawstring bag to hold marbles to put into a 10 to 14 year old Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift.  We had gotten several bags of marbles on clearance at Michaels after Christmas and once the little guy opens the bag they came in to play with them he would have nothing to keep them in.  So I designed this small bag.

I had a ball of cotton twine my girls had left over from an AWANA project and I thought it would be fun to use it for a boy's bag.  I liked how it looked as I was making it, but wanted just a splash of color so added a red pony bead to the end of the drawstring.  I then made one out of thin,