A Doll and Her "Own" Shoebox Themed OCC Shoebox for a Girl 10-14 Years Old

 

We often like to use traditional shoeboxes to pack for Operation Christmas Child, but some are just too small to send...one was so small I got the idea to pack a doll, and the mini shoebox inside a more normal sized box, so the girl and her doll could both have a shoebox!  With the doll theme I was excited to have a bag sewn out of doll/girl fabric.

When I do a theme box, 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 (not pictured below) 

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:

And how the mini box was packed.  I tried to mirror some of the girl's items in the "doll's" box, like washcloths-full sized and mini, notebooks of different sizes, rulers, etc.

For more ideas/fun boxes, check out other shoeboxes we packed for 10-14 year old girls or our themed boxes!

Walmart Deals for Shoeboxes

A lot of people who shop year round for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes have been reporting finding good deals on items at WalMart.  I thought I'd share the Brickseek links for as many of the items people have been getting as I can to help others find them.  For those unfamiliar with Brickseek, it is a service that attempts to track  inventory and prices at stores.  It's not foolproof, but it is a good way to get an idea of stock and prices before one heads to the store.  You should be able to just put in your zip-code in each link and get an idea of what deals you may find at your local store.  Remember to be kind and understanding as it may not have the stock or price you expect.  And utilizing the in-store price scanners (and maybe app) can be helpful, too!  I've also heard that if your's aren't down today, check after Feb. 1st.

Check out my new, regularly updated post:

Walmart Clearance Brickseek  

OCC Shoebox Stockpile Saturday ~ 1/27/2018 ~ Hard to Beat 90% off

Fred's stores are having 90% off clearance, and I went a couple times and got some fun stuff to pack in Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes!

The penguin was too cute!  A pair of shin-guard socks which I hope to put with a soccer ball. And a couple packs of note-cards-9 cents each, to split up among older girl boxes.

The other trip to Freds led to more shinguard socks, stuffed animal, plus a couple other fun items.  I thought I could string the bells on yarn or ribbon or include with jewelry making kits. I normally don't include Playdough, but the workers knew I shopped for kids and were so excited about it I bought one-haha!

 I picked up some fishing supplies at a closing store from which to make kits for the older boys.

Also, got in some little mending kits I'd bought from AliExpress plus some bonus needles.  I'm planning the mending kits for older boys and needles to make sewing kits for the older girls. I bought them when they were running a deal.

Spent from shoebox packing budget: $10.54 
Saved $47.23  or   80%

Saved thru 90% clearance:  $41.69
Saved through closing store deals: $3.93
Saved through AliExpress deals: $1.61  

Size of OCC Shoebox Items

As another year of shopping for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes begins, it's time to think about what we're buying.  We make lists.  We also have to make decisions on individual items.  We make these based on appropriateness, quality, cost, etc.  Another thing to consider is size.  We have a limited amount of room to fill, and some things are just too big to start with.  Others just take up a lot of room.  While it's important  to have a "Wow" item something nice sized (we're instructed as a first step to "select a medium to large 'wow' item"),  there is also an advantage to small items.  Maybe our Wow item or just our lists of "must send" or something that was laid on our heart, or we found to send took up too much room, and we have trouble fitting everything in, that's when finding small things can help.  I tend to send mainly mid-sized items, but always like some small things to tuck in the corners and holes, it lets me put more things in, and gives them something to share if they should so desire.

As an example, I packed two shoeboxes, with the exact same list of items inside, just different sizes of those items.  Here's a mini and a massive box packed as an example (NOT actually sent).

Now, I think all of these items are great things to put in shoeboxes-almost all were just pulled out of shoebox packing stash, had their photo taken, and went back to be packed in shoeboxes in a more mixed manner.  I just don't think they should all be put together like this because it makes one box too big (I'm not even sure it would fit in the shipping carton) and one too small.  Operation Christmas Child tells us to "Start with an average-size cardboard or plastic shoebox."  and as you can see below, compared to an official OCC Go Box, they're nowhere near average.  The small one is a third the size of a Go Box, and the large boot one, the size of three!

Also, if you're curious, this is what the boxes looked like inside (remember, neither of these were sent, just put together as an example.

Now sometimes a larger item has obvious advantages of durability-how long the child will be able to use them:

Some things, it doesn't really matter about the size, for instance nail clips, so getting the smallest we can will give us more room.



And, sometimes, the smaller version of an item may actually be the more sturdy option.  Like this Hotwheel car that's die-cast compared to all plastic.

Here's a size comparison of the various items by category (with a list of what was included)

And, finally, just a cute photo of the dinosaurs for size comparison!

EXPIRED Bar Soap Deal for OCC Shoeboxes

I wanted to share about a deal I got last year on Dial Soap for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.  There is currently this printable coupon available, you should be able to print two on your computer. 

EDIT: This coupon has reached it's limit of prints, I'll share if I see it available again.  Also, if you get the newspaper, check the coupon inserts from the 21st, there should be the same coupon available.

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!