Last Pre-packing Day OCC Shoebox Stockpile Saturday ~ 9/30/2017

We're planning our family packing party for next Saturday, so this may be the last stockpiling week before packing...now time to get busy with final preparations!   

We got a GREAT crafting donation!  Lots of handmade goodies, plus some bonus items!

I got my order from MDSupplies & Service's special Shoebox Shoppers order form, the rest of the needed toothbrush and soap cases.

Got a cute stuffed animal with it's tag still on for 50 cents from a charity thrift store.

And picked up some clearance school supplies from CVS for 75% off!

Also got some good clearance at Dollar General. 

Spent from Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing budget: $51.04

Crafting Fillers for Donations at Operation Christmas Child Processing Center

For those of us who love to craft and love to share, Operation Christmas Child is a perfect fit for our passion.  There are many handmade items which can be included in shoeboxes for kids in need.  If we craft more than we can pack in our shoeboxes, or even if we would rather not pack a personal shoebox at all, but would love to craft items for the cause, there are ways to donate our crafted goods to be included

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.

Donations for OCC Shoebox Stockpile Saturday ~ 9/23/2017

Our Operation Christmas Child stash got significantly bigger this week! :)   But some of it will take a bit of work before we send it...

Yay for inherited fabric!   This is our fabric stash organization for just the NEW fabric...I think we need to get sewing! :)

There were also a few little cross stitching kits!  Excited to put them in my 10-14 girl shoeboxes this year! 

My aunt got some yo-yos and pencil sharpeners that can sharpen the thicker colored pencils I got for the younger kids' shoeboxes.

My mom and sister also sewed 11 fat quarter tote bags.

Spent from shoebox packing budget: $0

Thankfully this week between donations and crafting our additions to our stockpile didn't cost anything, but that is not always the case of course.  If you are interested, you may like to read how we find extra money for packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.

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