Kite Tail While Sewing to Save Time ~ Sewing Tips & Techniques

I am always looking for ways to save time while sewing for my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.  The faster I go, the more items I can make and the more children I can share with.  Over twenty years ago I saw a tip on a t.v. show that the host called "kite tailing."  It is like making a kite tail--you know, a string with fabric pieces tied every so often.  Basically you do not stop sewing between pieces of a project, or when doing "mass sewing," that is making several of the same

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

Simple Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern and Tutorial ~ Perfect for OCC Pencil Pouch or Hygiene Supplies

We use a lot of handmade drawstring bags in our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes and I am always looking for an easier way to sew them so I can go faster and make more (especially since I need to make them for our own shoeboxes and the kids' packing party at church).  This is my newest version:  a lined drawstring pouch just the right size for pencils and other small school supplies or to hold the hygiene supplies we include (soap, washcloth, toothbrush, comb, etc.).  I've decided to share my Simple Drawstring Bag Pattern and Tutorial

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:

DIY Travel Checkers Game with Drawstring Bag

I made this Travel Checkers Game a year or so ago and it got tucked away in the wrong place so it never got packed in an Operation Christmas Child shoe box gift. When my daughter found it I decided I'd share the instructions of how I made it in case anyone wanted to make one. I used felt for mine and I like how the felt pieces cling to the felt board; but you could just as easily make this a scrap buster project and sew strips to weave and little circles for the checker tokens.  This is a really quick project.

When researching checkers my daughter found that it is a game played around the

Girl's Skirt Sizing Chart Sizes 2 to 14

I have been wanting to design some skirts for my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes but had no idea what sizes to make them.  I went searching the web and after checking dozens of sources, from blogs to pattern companies, I compiled what I think is an average sizing chart for making girl's skirts.  I am sharing it in

DIY Travel Tic-Tac-Toe Game Tutorial (or Noughts & Crosses) ~ Great for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

Finding reasonably priced quality toys for my Operation Christmas Child shoe box gifts is becoming harder and harder each year.  I am on a quest to craft my own. This Travel Tic-Tac-Toe Game is the first I have designed.  On the "how to play" instruction sheet I am calling it Three In A Row.  It may make more sense to children in other countries -- either with limited English or when translated.   I put

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

Simple Drawstring Tote-bag to Hold an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox ~ Illustrated Instructions & Pattern

I posted about my drawstring bags I made that a shoebox could fit inside to include in my shoe box gifts.  Operation Christmas Child recently shared my post for my Scrappy Draw String Tote Bags on their Facebook page which generated dozens of requests for a pattern.  Here is a step by step, illustrated how-to of my method for

Memory & Matching Game Scrap Fabric Tutorial ~ Designed to Pack in an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

I have hundreds of "armholes" cut from the Pillow Case Style dresses I have been making for my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.  I need to be using them up some how.  I just know they can be put to good use as shoebox gifts.  The first project I decided to use them in is a matching game for the 2 to 4 year old boxes.

Jingle Bell Kid's Fleece Scarf Instructions ~ Designed for Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

I love when something inspires me to create something new for an Operation Christmas Child shoe box gift.  Pam Suter, The Unofficial OCC Critter Creator (click to read her story:  Add A Little Love), has been crocheting little bears with scarves on.  At the end of some of the scarves she has put little jingle bells.  When I saw pictures of these a light bulb turned on!  Why not add jingle bells to

Mini Fleece Lovey Blankies ~ Great for 2 to 4 Year Old Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts

I made a fleece pillowcase dress for a friend to give to a local little lady thru her church's Christmas outreach program and with the left over fabric I was able to make three mini blankies for Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.  I think a little cuddly can comfort a child.  After I finished the first one I read a story in Franklin Graham's new book, Operation Christmas Child: A Story of Simple Gifts, about a child in a war torn country who was left orphaned and was clinging to a blanket and singing to herself. That story certainly encouraged me to finish the

Pillow Case Style Dress Instructions ~ How To Sew A Pillowcase Dress from Fabric to Include in an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

Like I shared in the earlier post, Basic Pillowcase Style Dress Instructions ~ And My Passion for Sewing Them, I have had a ball sewing hundreds of these simple pillowcase dresses for both Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts and Dress A Girl Around the World.  When searching for illustrated how-to instructions to share

Basic Pillowcase Style Dress Instructions ~ And My Passion for Sewing Them for OCC Shoebox Packing

I have shared how my newest passion is making pillowcase dresses for girls in crisis.  It all began because I wanted to add more practical items in my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes and chose to focus on including more clothing.

I had been introduced to the Pillowcase Dress idea a while back  but promptly put it out of my mind.  After our move last year and my new "laundry room/sewing room" combo got set up I was ready to sew for kids in need and remembered Jessica's post and went "Googling" for pillowcase dress tutorials.  That's when I stumbled upon my newest favorite blog:

Child's Fleece & Cotton Fabric Scarf w/Pocket for an OCC Shoebox ~ Tutorial

Another fun scarf I found while searching for ideas for my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes was a Fleece Scarf with Pockets.  As always, I simplified the

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

Felt Marble Maze DIY ~ How to Sew One for OCC Shoeboxes

I  kept seeing Marble Mazes around the net and decided I'd try to make some for my Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing.  Basically you sew a marble between two pieces of fabric and sew a maze for it to be pushed thru.  Most that I

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 Hand Towel Apron for a Child ~ How to Instructions: Perfect for an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

When my mother in law passed away she had a stash of brand new, nice hand towels stored away for gifts for her children and grandchildren.  My father in law brought us a bunch of them and my mind recently has been spinning on what I can make for the Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.

I remember when my girls were young I would make them aprons to wear as they helped out in the kitchen.  My youngest daughter remembers my making them one