Comfy and Wearable

How to make a Child Nap Blanket
A soft fleece nap blanket is a wonderful security and comfort for a young child. This pattern is easy and relatively inexpensive. So roll up your pretty nap blanket and tie it with a bow. Then tuck it into your Operation Christmas Child shoe box gift as a warm and comfy hug from you.

Supplies: Fleece material, scissors, rotary cutter, tape measure, ribbon, optional: sewing machine with matching thread, pinking shears

Where to find: Fabric stores, discount stores, department store with fabric department, garage and yard sales, look for holiday clearance sales and remnants

To make:
1) Cut 30-36 inches of soft fleece material (56 inch wide fleece material)
2) Cut above piece of material in half lengthwise resulting in two pieces of material that are about 28 inches wide
3) Trim rough edges as needed with end results of 27-28 x 30-36 inches
4) Round corners of blanket by laying a small plate or bowl at the corner and cut around bowl or plate with rotary cutter or scissor
5) May leave edges as is, or trim edges with pinking shears, or sew a wide zigzag stitch around the fleece material – creates a scallop effect
6) Fold and roll up the nap blanket
7) Wrap around the middle of the rolled up blanket with a colorful ribbon and tie into a pretty bow
8) Optional: sew pieces of fleece material together to make a fleece quilt, and continue with #3 to #7


How to make a Fancy Bracelet
It is so much fun to make these little bracelets using beads, bells, and tiny ornaments. The girl that receives your Operation Christmas Child shoe box will have as much fun wearing her new fancy bracelet as you did making it.

Supplies: Stretchy jewelry cord (Stretch Magic) (I prefer size .5 or .7 mm), beads (think – lots of color and interesting shapes), foam beads/shapes, little bells, small plastic jewelry bags or suitable bag, scissors

Where to find: Craft stores, dollar stores, discount stores, yard and garage sales

To make:
1) Select 7-7 ½ inches of colorful beads
2) Thread beads onto stretchy cord
3) Hint: use wooden beads from Christmas garland and other holiday garland; tiny Christmas tree ornaments; foam beads on sale; craft beads sold by pound bag
4) Knot off and clip off excess stretchy cord
5) Place bracelet in plastic bag



How to make an Easy Fabric Hat
A soft and colorful hat is always fun to wear.  This simple easy-to-make hat will be enjoyed by the boy or girl who receives your Operation Christmas Child shoebox.
Supplies: Colorful fleece or other stretchy fabric (knit, double knit), matching thread, sewing machine, scissors, measuring tape, ribbon, string or cord
Where to find: fabric store, your favorite store with a fabric department, yard or garage sales
To make:
1)    Cut fleece to 16 x 22 inches – stretches the long way (greatest stretch goes around the head)
2)    Fold in half with right sides together
3)    Sew a ¼ inch stitch along the short ends to make a tube
4)    Leave the last 3 inches unstitched – will become part of the fringe
5)    Cut 3 inch slits every ¾ inch along this end to create fringe
6)    Turn right side out
7)    Cut a piece of scrap fabric 1 x 8 inches or use cord/string
8)    Gather fringes and tie tightly with piece of fabric or cord/string at base of fringes
9)    If you use string or cording, tie matching ribbon around cord/string
10) Roll bottom up twice to make a band, or fold bottom under (to the inside) 3 inches and stitch a ¼ inch seam from the edge of fabric around the cap to create the band
For knit fabrics that may ravel:
1)    Follow instructions # 1-3
2)    May zigzag around raw edges of  both ends of the tube to prevent raveling
3)    Turn right side out
4)    Gather fabric 3 inches from end (top) and tie with ribbon into a knot
5)    Fold bottom under (to the inside) 3 inches and stitch a ¼ inch seam from the edge of fabric around the cap to create the band
Optional: may cut fabric 16 x 20 inches for smaller child
Optional simple pattern without band and fringe:
1)    Cut fabric 20 x 22 inches – stretches the long way (greatest stretch goes around the head)
2)    Fold in half with right sides together
3)    Sew a ¼ inch stitch along the short ends to make a tube
4)    Fold tube in half with right sides showing and both raw edges forming top of hat
5)    From the top measure down 1 ½ to 2 inches
6)    Gather fabric and tie off with ribbon


How to make an Easy Fleece Scarf
This very simple scarf is easy to make and fun to wear.  Choose a soft and colorful fleece pattern.  The boy or girl who receives your Operation Christmas Child shoebox with this scarf will thank you.
Supplies: colorful fleece, scissors, measuring tape, plastic bag
Where to find: fabric store, discount store, fabric department of your favorite store
To make:
1)    Cut rectangle of fleece – 9 x 50 inches
2)    Cut fringe on each end of scarf – 3-4 inches long and about ¾ of an inch wide


How to make a Fun Novelty Necklace
Little girls all over the world like to wear fun and colorful necklaces. Use your creativity to make unusual and interesting ones – think bright colors, different textures, and jingling bells. No Operation Christmas Child shoe box gift for a little girl would be complete without a piece of fun jewelry. I make these for 2-4 and 5-9 age girls.

Supplies: Soft fuzzy thick yarn (walk through the yarn stacks at your favorite store and look for interesting yarn in fun colors), all kinds of beads in different shapes and sizes, little bright fun-shaped erasers, metal crochet hook size 2 or any appropriate size to thread through bead, thin metal crochet hook like size 10 for inserting into erasers and pulling yarn through, or large eye craft needle, 3x4 inch jewelry bags or suitable bag

Hint: holiday clearance sales of beads, bells, and erasers; wooden beads from Christmas garland; tiny Christmas tree ornaments and plastic or wooden garland for table-size Christmas trees; chunky jingle bells; little fun-shaped erasers

Keep in mind the risk for swallowing small items for very young children. Make your necklaces age appropriate.

Where to find: Fabric and craft stores, yarn shops, dollar stores, discount stores, holiday clearance sales, garage and yard sales

To make:
1) Cut yarn 25-26 inches – needs to be loose enough to take off easy
2) Thread on odd number of beads (5 or 7 beads) onto yarn; may need to use a crochet hook or large eye craft needle to help feed the yarn through the bead or the eraser
3) Tie the ends of yarn into a knot – make sure necklace is no smaller than 24 inches completed as little girl head circumference is about 18-20 inches
4) Place in 3x4 inch jewelry bags or other suitable bag


How to make a Simple and Pretty Necklace
Even if you have never made jewelry before, you will find this a very simple and inexpensive way to make a pretty necklace for the girl who receives your Operation Christmas Child shoe box.  I make these for the older girls 10-14.

Supplies: Stretch jewelry cord(I prefer cord size .5, .7, or .8mm as it knots better), variety of beads, small jewelry zip lock bag, small piece of card stock paper to fit in jewelry bag or 3x5 index card, scissors

Where to find: Craft stores, discount stores, dollar stores, yard and garage sales
Hint: use wooden beads from clearance Christmas or other holiday garland; small ornaments or bead garland for table Christmas trees

To make:
1) Cut pieces of stretch jewelry cord about 20-21 inches long – average child head circumference is 18-20 inches
2) Select 3-4 inches of beads (about 5 or 7 beads), best to have odd number of beads as it hangs better
3) Thread beads onto cord and tie off into a knot.
4) Cut 2 small slits on one side of card stock paper or 3x5 card
5) Slip necklace cord into slips to make a nice presentation for your necklace
6) Place card with necklace in bag