Operation Christmas Child

While I’m in Ecuador distributing boxes with Operation Christmas Child I thought I’d share a FABULOUS idea for a great way to upcycle and add something to your shoeboxes. In fact I think this idea is so fabulous that I’d LOVE local VBS groups to get involved this summer and help us collect empty baby food containers, craft scraps, buttons, beads etc so we can fill them. I first saw this idea from my friend Clip With A Purpose and Rhonda took on the project to create this craft for us.

Now over to Rhonda:

Hi! Isn’t it so exciting that Clair gets to go with Operation Christmas Child to distribute shoeboxes?? I am Rhonda and I am a huge fan of OCC as well! I wanted to share an idea of something you can do as an individual or en masse with a group.. to create mini craft kits for the shoeboxes!

One starts with a simple little upcycled item.

These little baby food containers are TINY but they are perfect because they are recyclable and have their own lids!

Aren’t they CUTE?? Well, once Clair gave me the idea of using these for our shoeboxes the ideas started brewing. THINK of the possibilities! I have a couple of ideas I worked up but I know this is just the beginning.

In this tiny kit are enough beads for a couple bracelets and a necklace.. and I have included some pretty cording as well. I think this would be so FUN for a girl’s 5-9 or 10-14 kit!

All of this fit easily in the tiny little box, with room to SPARE.. plenty of room for trim as well. Maybe line the shoebox itself with some fabric.. and what opportunities are opened!

Mixed Craft Kit.

In one little kit I fit tissue paper, pom poms, stickers, scrapbook papers, and funny eyes.

And then once you have the kits let the FUN BEGIN. You can decorate the boxes to be a cute gift for the child receiving the kit.

The sky is the limit! Use stickers, paper, paint pens, and let your imagination lead the way.

If you are a crafter or scrapbooker or quilter you likely have TONS of scraps perfect for creating boxes without spending ANYTHING. And know that these little, itty bitty boxes can open BIG possibilities of creative fun for the child who gets the Operation Christmas Child shoebox!

I am Rhonda, a blessed wife of 21 years to my love, and homeschool mom to 2 great kids. We have been packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child for many years. First, just on our own at church. Then with our 4H groups. Then a year ago the Lord saw fit to move our family to beautiful Southern Oregon, and we were blessed to find our new church home was the Collection Center. We jumped in with enthusiasm and now both my 16 year old daughter and I are year round volunteers for Operation Christmas Child. We are more than a little OCC Crazed. You can see a little of what we do at our blog.

For other great Operation Christmas Child homemade ideas check out these links or visit my Operation Christmas Child Pinterest Board.

Operation Christmas Child fan? Me too! Please sign up for my daily tips email. You’ll get great FREEBIES in your mailbox! If you love OCC like me then you’ll want to pack as many boxes as possible and by signing up for my email you won’t miss out on the deals I write about throughout the year.