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
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 itBack to School Sales Shopping for OCC Shoebox Stockpile Saturday ~ 8/26/2017
I had a pretty good week shopping for items to add to my stockpile for Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing...it's getting close to time to start packing!!
This soap was a great deal! Free after coupons and rewards at CVS (you can check out details of that trip & learn more about saving money at my other blog Simply CVS)
Had a pretty good trip to Office Depot. The pencil cases are so cute! I switched trays on a couple of the slider pencil cases I bought, thought it looked cuter that way! I used rewards from previous purchases, so it didn't take any money out of pocket, you can learn more here.
Dollar General was having 50% off some clearance, so I got some fun stuff. I'd seen the jumbo pencils in the clearance section, just waiting for them to have this deal...my sister helped me find even more!! Plus some colored pens which I especially like to include in my 10-14 year old girl boxes.
A local thrift store had some fun finds: cute battery operated train, UV sunglasses, and collapsible Frisbees (they fold up to fit in the little packets you see on top).
Spent from shoebox packing budget: $24.07
Office Depot Rewards spent: $6.32
This soap was a great deal! Free after coupons and rewards at CVS (you can check out details of that trip & learn more about saving money at my other blog Simply CVS)
Had a pretty good trip to Office Depot. The pencil cases are so cute! I switched trays on a couple of the slider pencil cases I bought, thought it looked cuter that way! I used rewards from previous purchases, so it didn't take any money out of pocket, you can learn more here.
Dollar General was having 50% off some clearance, so I got some fun stuff. I'd seen the jumbo pencils in the clearance section, just waiting for them to have this deal...my sister helped me find even more!! Plus some colored pens which I especially like to include in my 10-14 year old girl boxes.
A local thrift store had some fun finds: cute battery operated train, UV sunglasses, and collapsible Frisbees (they fold up to fit in the little packets you see on top).
Spent from shoebox packing budget: $24.07
Office Depot Rewards spent: $6.32
Shopping sales helps a lot in packing shoeboxes. We have shared more ways that we stretch our Money for Packing Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes if you want to check it out.
Fitting a puzzle in an OCC Go Shoebox
Sometimes I want to send something in a shoebox I pack for Samaritain's Purse's Operation Christmas Child, but have a hard time figuring out how to get it to fit in the shoebox. So, I thought I'd share ideas and tips I've learned in this series of posts about making it fit in an OCC shoebox. So today, I'll share about fitting puzzles in boxes.
The first thought might just be to open the puzzle box, take out the bag of pieces,
School Supply Bonanaza for OCC Shoebox Stockpile Saturday OCC ~ 8/19/2017
This is actually a few week's worth of stockpiling for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes as I've been on vacation. While I was on vacation, my family sewed a lot of these reversible pencil cases for the church packing party.
They also made me a lot of these coloring books and sketch pads.
My aunt came for a visit and brought all these goodies plus some more crayons.
Got some good deals at Office Depot.
Got some clearance jacks at CVS
Some cute sharpeners for $0.10 each at Dollar General
Some fun items at Mighty Dollar...note, I wouldn't recommend the train puzzle, it didn't seem real sturdy, especially considering it'd probably be best for the littlest kids
Dollar Tree goodies
Picked some school supplies up at Walgreens, not the best prices ever, but I needed a few more things.
I don't need more geometry supplies this year, but this was real cute, so I splurged on it...
Some more deals we got at Office Depot...before I left for vacation, I like the composition books as they have soft covers, easy to bend over in the boxes, plus, unlike notebooks it also has things like multiplication tables in the back-a great bonus!
I tried out Bargain Hunt. The shirt was $3 summer clearance-perfect for my annual penguin theme box. Also, a couple cute little boxes. I'm planning to make one into a girly hygiene kit, the other into a sewing/craft/art kit.
Finally, I was really excited about this radio/flashlight combo we got in the mail! I'd just seen the shoebox story: Dania -and- A Radio. Great fun thing to put in a shoebox!
Each Saturday Sarah shares our additions to our stockpile. You can see them all here: Shoebox Stockpile Saturday ~ Adding to Our Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Stockpile.
They also made me a lot of these coloring books and sketch pads.
My aunt came for a visit and brought all these goodies plus some more crayons.
Got some good deals at Office Depot.
Got some clearance jacks at CVS
Some cute sharpeners for $0.10 each at Dollar General
Some fun items at Mighty Dollar...note, I wouldn't recommend the train puzzle, it didn't seem real sturdy, especially considering it'd probably be best for the littlest kids
Dollar Tree goodies
Picked some school supplies up at Walgreens, not the best prices ever, but I needed a few more things.
I don't need more geometry supplies this year, but this was real cute, so I splurged on it...
Some more deals we got at Office Depot...before I left for vacation, I like the composition books as they have soft covers, easy to bend over in the boxes, plus, unlike notebooks it also has things like multiplication tables in the back-a great bonus!
I tried out Bargain Hunt. The shirt was $3 summer clearance-perfect for my annual penguin theme box. Also, a couple cute little boxes. I'm planning to make one into a girly hygiene kit, the other into a sewing/craft/art kit.
Finally, I was really excited about this radio/flashlight combo we got in the mail! I'd just seen the shoebox story: Dania -and- A Radio. Great fun thing to put in a shoebox!
Each Saturday Sarah shares our additions to our stockpile. You can see them all here: Shoebox Stockpile Saturday ~ Adding to Our Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Stockpile.
August Item of the Month for OCC~ School Supplies
Samaritan's Purse has suggested items of the month for packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, and for August it's school supplies...which works out really well since there are so many great deals on them right now!While this may seem like a more boring, practical item to us, one recipient said:
“My favorite items in my shoebox were school supplies. They were really important to me because it meant I could go to school.”
–Luis, PanamaIn many countries children cannot go to school without supplies, which their parents cannot always afford. So, you may really be giving schooling to the child
American White Cross Adhesive Bandages from MDSupplies & Services Review ~ Fun Item for OCC Shoeboxes
MDSupplies & Services has helpfully made us who pack for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes a special order form of just items that can go into OCC shoeboxes...plus it has FREE SHIPPING!!! They've helpfully arranged for me to test and review some of the products on the order form to help myself and others
Fitting a Spiral Notebook in an OCC Go Shoebox
One important thing to send in Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes is school supplies. One thing we always like to include with that, is lined paper. One of the most cost effective and substantial ways to include that is with a spiral notebook. There's even a great story about recipients and their notebooks: Shanika & Sherika -and- the Notebooks. However...it can be hard to figure out how to make them fit, but once you know the trick, it's pretty easy. There are actually two schools of thought.
First, some people put them in the bottom of the shoebox, and then pack on top of
First, some people put them in the bottom of the shoebox, and then pack on top of
Children's Coloring Book from MDSupplies & Services Review ~ Perfect Size for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes
Childrens Coloring Books (CB01) from MDSupplies & Service's special Shoebox Shoppers order form (Affiliate links). 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 shoeboxes...plus it has FREE SHIPPING!!!
(Disclosure: post contains affiliate links & I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on them)
Today I'm sharing about their coloring books. They are sold in a case of 600 for $118.59 which works out to about 20 cents a piece. They are 5 by 7 inches, and 8 sheets and 16 pages/images in total. They feel sturdy, like the child could carry it