Free Poster of Shoebox Item Ideas

A few years ago we made a post of ideas of things to pack in a shoebox.  It seems to have been quite popular.  We've seen it used as mini handouts for shopping ideas and blown up supper large as a poster.  With changes to banned items last year it needed updated.  I had dreams of a total re-design as a design person.  Well...I just really kept not having the time to do that, so I mainly just updated the items, here's the new one.  Please note, this is for the USA, other countries have different requirements.   Hopefully you'll find it helpful-feel free to use however you find helpful!!

If you have trouble printing it and and a PDF file of it would help, just email me at scribblingsarah at gmail dot com.

You can find shoebox supply collection posters thru this link:  Shoebox Printable Resources.

Collecting Games for Shoeboxes Poster

Samaritan's Purse has suggested items of the month for packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and for September, that's games!  As readers have found collection posters we've made for other shoebox items helpful to share with friends, family, church members, co-workers or fellow apartment building residents.  Here's what I came up with for games.  Feel free to share however it can help with your shoeboxes.  First, here's one to share if everyone knows where to drop the items off.

Also, made one with a blank to put in drop off info:

If you like this poster, you may want to check out our other collection posters.

PLEASE NOTE:  These posters are made based on USA rules, they may include items not allowed in your country's packing requirements. 

School Supplies for Shoeboxes Collection Poster

Samaritan's Purse has suggested items of the month for packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and for August, that's School supplies!  School supplies are so important as in many countries they are required to attend school.  I thought maybe a collection poster might be helpful to collect them from friends, congregation members, etc.  So, here's what I came up with.  Feel free to print it out, share online, etc. as needed to get more school supplies for shoeboxes.

If you like this poster, you may want to check out our other collection posters.

Hopping Frog Game Printable for OCC Shoeboxes

I always like to include games in Operation Christmas Child shoeboxs.  I like to give them something fun to play with, plus with a game they can play with others. I try to find ones with simple instructions or very common/universal like checkers.  I'd seen some hopping/jumping frog games, but hadn't found a good price on them, then I found some frogs at a really good price ($4 for a gross at Kipp Brothers), but no instructions, or anything to really make it a game, so I got to work.   I made printable instructions and game boards.  The game boards are half paper sized so they can either be printed on card-stock (and even laminated) and laid in the bottom of even a Go Box and the frogs tucked in elsewhere. Or the boards can be folded in half in a zippered plastic bag with the frogs.

Here are the printable sheets...you should be able to print each full sized on normal paper.

Printable Instructions for Building 3D Dinosaur Puzzles from H&J Closeouts

I bought a number of cute 3D dinosaur puzzles to pack Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes and thought they might be more enjoyable for the kids with an idea what they were trying to make and how to make it.  So I made up some simple instructions, and thought I'd share them here in-case others bought them from H&J Closeouts when they were available from them-they're out of stock now, but there are lots of other cool shoebox items available.  Below are the instructions and completed images I made.  You should be able to print them full sized on normal printer paper.  I'll probably print them front and back (instructions one side, completed other side) in black and white.  Here they are:

Spiro-art How-to Printable for OCC Shoeboxes

One thing I really enjoy sending in Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes is Spirograph type toys, but I've worried if they'll know or be able to figure out how to use them.  So, I made a little graphic to include with them, and thought I'd share it here in case others would like to include it in their boxes.  The images are below, my thought was one side is my best attempt at showing how to use it, the other some of what can be made with it. You should be able to print it full page on normal paper, than cut it

Butterfly Glider Printable Instructions to Include in OCC Shoeboxes

A few months ago I bought some butterfly gliders from Oriental Trading for my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and wanted to make some instructions to go with them.  I thought since I went to the effort to make them, I'd share them in case anyone else bought them (they don't have them anymore)  They should be able to print front and back, and should print on 8 1/2 by 11  inch paper.  I tried to make it understandable in any language, but did include a few words to help explain, but I think the arrows would do a lot on their own.

This is the first of a series of instructions I make or find to include with the items to be sure they know how to use the items I send in my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.

Happy Packing!

Hand Made with Love Tags Printables for OCC Fillers

If you read my blog, you know my mom and sister have been crocheting hats for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes & fillers to sent to the OCC processing center. They decided to put a "note" on them so the child would know it was a sign of love.  They came up with these cute tags to put one.  My mom also made a version for me to share here that says "Made by hand" instead of "Crocheted by

Wanted: Picture Calendars for Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes

I hope to add decorations to the inside of all of my Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts this year.  Calendars work perfectly for this so I made this collection poster to share in hopes of being able to get some from friends and family members.   I'm sharing it here in case anyone else wants to print it to hang up or share the image on their social media sites and collect calendars of their own.

You can find more Operation Christmas Child shoebox supply collection posters thru this link:  Shoebox Printable Resources.

If you like upcycling you may enjoy our Upcycling Crafts for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes Series.

Shopping for Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Stuffers ~ Poster Image to Share for Collections

My friend collects shoebox items for Operation Christmas Child year round at her small business.  I often make her signs to share on her Facebook page and to print and post in the store.  Here is my latest.  I wanted to share it in case any of you can use it in any way for your own collections.  I thought it was a good time to share how stuffing shoe boxes is much like stuffing stockings and while we pick up our stocking stuffers we can pick up shoebox stuffers.

You are welcome to print or use the image online.

You can find more shoe box supply collection posters thru this link:  Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Printable Resources.

WANTED Poster: Beanie Babies for OCC Shoeboxes & A Bountiful Donation

I shared the Beanie Babies collection image I made earlier.  But I changed it into a WANTED Poster and wanted to share it again in case any one could use it.  I emailed the image to my friend and she shared it in her small business but didn't get any donations for several weeks and then....well, see the image below!  My Operation Christmas Child stockpile is full of animals now.

These are actually Avon Full O'Beans animals. They were delivered brand new in the

What to Pack in an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox ~ Free Poster

My friend is collecting crafted items for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes at her craft store and customers were asking about packing their own. I made this sign for her to share to invite them to pack their own. I wanted to share it here so you can all use it if you want. Share it online or print it off and hang it at work or around town.  If you'd like more ideas about what to put in shoeboxes, you can see our posts of what we packed in 2015 in boxes for a  Girl 2-4 OCC Shoebox, Boy 2-4 OCC Shoebox, Girl 10-14 OCC Shoebox, & Boy 10-14 OCC Shoebox .

Remember this is for the United States, if you live in a different sending country, the requirements may be different.


UPDATE:  As of 2017 in the USA we can no longer send toothpaste & candy.  Here is a corrected poster.  We hope to update this soon with a new design!

WANTED Poster: Empty Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child

I have gathered many more packing items this year than expected!  What I didn't gather was enough shoeboxes to pack into!  What a great problem to have, tho!  Better than the other way around.  To help remedy this I made this WANTED poster.

My husband took it to work and hung it on the bulletin board.  Not only did he get empty shoeboxes he got inquiries of how they could pack their own Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.  Glad I had some extra brochures to send in!

I wanted to share it here so you could all use it if you'd like.  Just fill in the drop off information.  You can share it online or print it off--it even looks nice in black and white.  I added the note about packing their own after we got questions about that.

You can find more shoe box supply collection posters thru this link:  Shoe Box Printable Resources.

Beanie Baby Collections for Operation Christmas Child ~ Free Collection Poster

Beanie Babies are the perfect size and quality to tuck into shoebox gifts for Operation Christmas Child.  There are thousands around the states just tucked away whose owners don't know what to do with them.  Asking for donations of them for shoe boxes has been very successful for many packers.  My daughter found these at a Hospice thrift store for 25 cents each.  And we received the Avon ones in the image below from posting a sign.  We were thrilled as we include a stuffed animal in each OCC shoebox we pack.

Avon Full O' Beans babies -- received new in packages as a donation.

I made this image for a friend to use on her small business Facebook page.  I added her business name and address.  I wanted to share it here so if anyone was interested in using it they could.  You have my permission to save this image and use it for your own Operation Christmas Child collections if it would be of help to you. Just fill in your own personal information in the Deliver To box.

You can find a second collection poster, more suitable in size for printing here:  WANTED! Poster for Beanie Babies.

We've also designed other Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing Printables to help you collect or pack your shoeboxes.