How to Pack and Send a Box for Operation Christmas Child

Thanksgiving is so late this year and is therefore shortening the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas music and decorations are banned from our house until Santa makes his grand appearance in the world-famous Thanksgiving Day Parade.

But, I give all of you permission to break tradition just long enough to pack a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child. Pop in your favorite Christmas music, gather the family and have some good old-fashioned fun while teaching your children how to be giving, caring individuals. I am asking each reader to commit with your family to pack one shoebox filled with trinkets and treats for a child around the world.

What is required from you?

1. A box (cardboard or plastic - similar in size to a shoe box). Want to have a shoebox packing party? You can order boxes online for a donation.
2. Print and attach a label for your box indicating gender and age group of the recipient!
3. Stuff the box with goodies (more info below)
4. Drop-off your box during the 3rd week of November! 
5. Donate $7.00 per box to cover shipping costs. If you cover the shipping cost online, you are able to print a unique barcode and Follow your box around the world. If you wish to write a check, please check their web site for current info on how to do so. 

Do you have to drop off your box at a designated location?

No. You may mail boxes at any time throughout the year to this address:

Operation Christmas Child

Samaritan's Purse

PO Box 3000

801 Bamboo Road

Boone, NC 28607

Suggested Items for Boxes:

• Toys (Ideas for Boys and Girls)
• School Supplies (Don't forget the crafty supplies, too.)
• Hygiene Items
• Accessories
• Something personal from you

Sending Something Personal

I think this might be my favorite part of the box and here are some of my ideas for what you can put in the box:

• A handwritten note and photograph of your family
• Artwork made by your kids (polymer clay sculpture, jewelry, paintings/drawings, etc.)
• Something handmade by you (a zippered pouch, game, etc.)

I read on the Operation Christmas Child web site that if you include your name and complete mailing address, you may even get a response back from the child. How cool is that?

Can I still help if I don't have time to pack a box?

Yes! You can build a box online!

For additional information: OCC: How to pack a Box

Preemie Owl Hat - Free Crochet Pattern

Do we really need another owl pattern?? Truth be told....ummm, no.

But, of the oodles and oodles of patterns available, none of them are super quick to make for donating. I set out to make my own bird/owl that is super cute without all the fuss.

The Dainty Daisy has organized an ongoing collection for hats of all sizes for Rosie's Cozies specifically focused on hats for NICU babies.

She has received about 100 hats towards the goal of 500 hats in March. 

We have to help!  If you have just an hour, you can make a preemie hat. So, please make a few. It will bring love and comfort to what could be a dark and lonely day for these families. Here are just a few of the hats I am mailing next week. The free Sock Monkey pattern is available here. The pattern for the owl hat is posted below. I hope you will participate.

Materials

Worsted Weight Acrylic Yarn - Stay away from wool as babies may be allergic.

Size "I" Crochet Hook

Harnessing My Yarn Stash - One Skein at a Time

Why do I have all this yarn and still have to buy more?

Since October, 2011, I have constantly had orders and not a day has gone by where I did not have another order waiting as soon as I finished one. The problem is that nearly every order is unique. It requires a yarn that I don't already have. So, I use the money from one transaction to buy the yarn for the next transaction. It is a rare occurrence for an order to use up an entire skein of yarn, so with every order, my stash grows larger and larger.

But, the yarn stash monster has been fed long enough. This year, I am committed to destashing as much as possible so that I can actually be profitable in my 2nd full year of business.

January Wrap-up

I set goals in January and I am trying my best to keep up with them. Let's recap them real quick.

• Crochet more for Charity
• Rest once a week
• Always Take Photos/Create a Ravelry Project Page
• Design More

So, January is over....how did I do?

Sock Monkey - Free Preemie Pattern for Rosie's Cozies

My friend Elisabeth at Calleigh's Clips and Crochet Creations created a new Preemie Tiger pattern for Rosie's Cozies. I would have never known about this project if it hadn't been for her. She inspired me to come up with my own design to fit a Zooish theme. 

Rosie's Cozies is a project created to honor the families of those fighting for the lives of their children in the NICU. 

Rosanna DeVries was born at 23 weeks and after two rollercoaster weeks, the Lord chose to take her home.  This project is meant to honor little Rosie's life and the family who fought for her.

2013 Goals

Goal 1: Crochet more for Charity

Sometimes art is most beautifully shared through the unselfish act of giving to someone in need. I will crochet more for Charity. I created Charitable Crochet on Pinterest and hope that some of my great online friends will help me find more organizations and opportunities to pursue this goal in 2013. If you know of charities looking for donated crochet items, please leave a comment on this post and I'll add it to the board.

Goal 2: Rest Once a Week

Running a business can prove quite demanding when you work a full-time job. Add two kids and a husband who is a full-time pastor and you have my life. Crocheting used to be my method of relaxation. Then, it morphed into a business that has been going full-steam ahead since October, 2011. 

I need rest and it will only happen if I make it happen. This practice has been very beneficial to me and to my family since the new year began. Serving my family will always come first. I will communicate this up-front to customers and give an "anticipated" time period for the item requested. I will make sure I give myself more time than needed to complete the project, so that I don't feel rushed to meet a deadline. I crochet to relax. It will not become a stressor this year. :)

Goal 3: Always Create a Ravelry Project Page

And ALWAYS (always, always, always) take photos of items before they leave my house. Working rest into my calendar was not a priority last year, so I always felt rushed to meet deadlines and let too many amazing things go without photographing them. I always asked for pictures, but rarely received them. :(

This year, I will load all of my projects on Ravelry and I will take pictures. And, I will make it a point to share pictures on my blog and Facebook page more often.

Goal 4: Design More

I know that for a goal to be attainable and good, that it must be measurable. I would like to design one pattern per month. However, I do not want to pressure myself. Therefore, my goal is to create 6 new designs this year. Anything beyond 6 patterns this year means that I am stress-free and loving what I do.  Most of the designs I make this year will be free. 

I have an idea for a line of patterns that would be available for purchase. No one is making/selling that idea right now. I'm ecstatic that the idea for the product line came to me not long after starting Niccupp Crochet and there is still no one making/selling it. If I can hunker down and set to work on that sometime, that would be awesome. :)

So, these are my goals for this year. I don't have anything over-the-top exciting in my goals. This is my year of rest and enjoying what I do. 

Crocheting for Newtown, CT

This is a purely informational post and a quick round-up of three opportunities I have seen on ways to donate your crochet talents to help the community of Newtown, CT.