Fill-A-Shoe Box Ideas and Themes

[forHISglory]

Have you ever made a themed shoe box gift?

Last night I started to put together some Christmas gifts for my grandchildren, who are all rather young. I wanted to make activity kits for them. I bought some plastic shoe boxes and will be filling them with craft items. Here's what I have so far:

1. pad of colored paper
2. blunt scissors
3. crayons
4. markers
5. stickers
6. glue stick
7. plastic templates to trace
8. yarn
9. foam sheets and cutouts
10. wooden craft sticks
11. chenille sticks

This got me to thinking. Even when the contents are gone, the plastic shoe box will be something the kids can use to organize and store things.

Now here's my challenge for you all. If you were to give a themed shoe box gift, what would be the theme? With what would you fill it? Who would be a good recipient? How creative can you be in making a shoe box gift? How would you decorate the box?

For example, how would you fill a shoe box for a baby shower? For a birthday gift to an elderly person? For a young couple just buying a house? For someone who is ill?

I'd love to hear your ideas on this, and also ideas on other items to put in my activity boxes.

Thanks!

[IntlMom]

Well, we do Operation Christmas Child every year. I buy lots of the small school supplies that they request around this time of year so when it;s time to fill the boxes, i just go to my "stash". Add a couple little toys (yo-yo, jump rope, jacks, hot wheels), some hard candy (the only kind allowed) and WA-LA, you've got yourself a box!

[IntlMom]

OK, just thought of another idea that I have done in the past. But it's much bigger than a shoebox. For a shower gift, I have given a laundry basket filled with household items. (cleaning products, shampoos, soaps, lotions, air fresheners, etc......you know, all the stuff we get for FREE!!). The receiptents always love this!

Ok, next idea: I get a great big bowl. I mean REALLY big, like the kind you would mix carmel corn in or the biggest batch of cookies you can think of. Anyway, take this big bowl and fill it with food items. Spices, mixes, frostings, baking soda and powder, rice boxes, etc.......

[Maine Girl]

How about some play dough and cookie cutters for your grand kids.

If i was to fill a shoe box for gifts there are many ideas, for advid readers like my self i would put a paperback book, book mark, packet of cocoa or tea.

my co-workers and i love chocolate i would fill with all our favorites. I would also fill with various crafts depending on who i was giving it too. Bath salts and pots of lotion could work. Of course that size container would make a wonderful first aid kit that is portable.

[Dancing Lotus]

For a first house I would put things like super glue, nails, sandpaper, a paint brush, picture hooks. All those little things that you keep in the junk drawer. Maybe a book about handyman projects. The box could be decorated like a little doll house.


For a fist car, I would put an air freshener, pressure gauge , handy wipes, rain-x, fuzzy dice for the mirror. A roll of quarters, You should always keep quarters in the car for things like toll roads or maybe if you need to use the air pump at a gas station.

Baby shower- I would make a box thats ment to be kept in the car for emergency. Things like wipes, hand sanitizer, tiny trash bags and extra change of clothes, a recieving blanket.

[perSue]

oh FAB idea!

shoe box gifts are something I'm WELL versed in

i've done anything you can think of... seriously.

for baby showers, I've given travel sized baby needs... ie, baggie of wipes, couple small bottles of baby powder, baby oil, itty bags of tissues, little hair brush, socks, onesies, nappies, etc.

for sick ppl, try some generic medicine... cold/flu meds (day and night time), antidiarrheals (i know, no one talks about it, but we all get it!), pepto, tums, tissues, feel better card, vitamin c pills or fruit or coupons for fruit/juices, packs of crackers or plain popcorn.

a "coming of age" box... with a packet of "frequently asked questions" and other "needs"

bday gifts are extra neat because you can individualize the box!

college box, sent say once a month or every couple months... have razors, deodorant, socks, toothpaste/brush, combs, soap/hygiene items, whatever they may need.

I always have lotsa fun putting things in there... lotsa freebies/samples are great for these kinds of gifts.

I've done a "sampler" box for dss on the different "snack" free samples I've gotten... granola bars, hot cocoa's, gums, etc.

it's all a matter of imagination

[sunshine]

Fishing box -- lures, bobbers, weights, various weight lines, stringers, etc.

Emergency car supplies - hat, socks, gloves, 1 -2 days supply of foods, hand cell phone charger, heat body/hand warmers, flashlight ( I get the shake ones), jumper cables, space blanket

Baby shower - photo album, GC to photographer, cute outfit, small toy, socks

Teen/college - roll of quarters for laundry, GC to fast food joints, snack foods, small joke book

Elderly - socks, music CD's of past era music, homemade snacks

[forHISglory]

What an awesome set of ideas! This may well be a shoe box Christmas.
Thanks!

Any more ideas?

[Jamauk]

Since most of my friends are on their second or third child ~ when one is pregnant I like to give some pampering gifts to the mom since she has all of the baby supplies she needs.

I usually give a basket (but a shoe box would work, too) with some scented lotion, a bag of microwave popcorn, some chamomile tea, a trashy novel, some funky color of nail polish, bubble bath, some chocolates or cookies....anything to pamper the Mom to be.

[Lori Biever-Launder]

When I go to a baby shower, I often buy the safety supplies needed for the home--outlet covers, door hooks, etc. I would bet you could fill a shoe box quickly with this theme!

I have done the cleaning supplies route too. If I didn't have enough to fill the laundry basket (from t he dollar store), I would pick up boxes of detergent, dust pan, shower cleaner, sponges, etc. while I was there. I filled a basket for about $10.00.

OOOOO--I thought of another one! How about a pet theme for a new pet owner? You know treats, toys, GC to a pet store (ONLY for supplies, not to buy a pet), etc. You could decorate the box like a bag of pet food or even load up a bed with the goodies in it!

WHY did I just throw out the ten shoe boxes I have been saving? I could have used them for gift boxes for Christmas!

[Maine Girl]

I thought of a couple of ideas
How about a meal in a box soup mix and bread mix and maybe a desert all put in to either zip lock bags or fabric bags.
Also i did this as a gift for a nine year old boy a disposable digital camera and a photo album.

[sunshine]

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" Kits to make:
Individual Packet of apple cider, Small Ornament, Mini Nativity Scene,Christmas Cookie Cutter, Christmasy Potpourri, Candle

Time-For-Tea Kit
Doily, Small Tea Cup, Pretty Teaspoon (the tiny decorative kind), Teabags,Pretty Sugar Cubes, Packets of Sugar and Cream

"Going through a Hard Time" Kit
Teabag, Bubble Bath, Mini Kleenex, Prayer Card (CC size), Band-Aid,
Candle (inthe rain), Mini Bible, Lotion, Hot cocoa or cider packet, Encouraging mini book,Vitamins

"Sleep Tight" Kit
Earplugs, Eye Blinders, Mini Stuffed Animal, Mini bottle of Excedrin
PM, Writeout: "When you can't sleep, don't count sheep; talk to the Shepherd" ~roll up and tie.

Happy GardeningKit
Seed Packets, Pretty Gardening Gloves, Mini Watering Can, Mini
Terracotta Pot(with plant in it), Hand Lotion, Gardener's Soap

Teen Gift Box
Hair Claws or Combs, Lip Gloss, Face Glitter, Fun Pencil, Fancy Notepad,Lotion, Favorite Candy, Cute Frame, Fold-up Purse Brush, Bookmarker

Tiny Tot Gift Box
Specialty Band-Aids, Chalk, , Fancy shoelaces, Crayons, Stickers,
Light-switchplate, Scissors, Small toys, Specialty Band-Aids, Hair pretties (girl)or mini vehicles (boy)

"Gotta Get Organized" Kit
Labels (different sizes), Scissors, Marker Pen, Paper Clips, 6-inch ruler,Tape, Stamps, Mini Stapler, Gift Tags (hand-stamped), Thumbtacks. Post-a-notes

[DonnainME]

I do something similar for kids but use BackPacks. It's been a hit.

[katkat]

I have been making Christmas boxes this way for several years for my now 97 year old aunt. I used to do them for my parents. All have loved them. My aunt starts as soon as the box arrives, opening one wrapped gift each evening & there are usually about 2 weeks' worth.

I have put in a roll of tape, small boxes of candy[ like a Whitman's Sampler type], Christmas socks[ placed on top with a note to open me first],hand sanitizer, canned nuts, tiny kitchen items--like a microfiber dishcloth--,snapshots of family, fancy herbal teas, hand lotion [ small ], more candy[ ! ], small Christmasy or wintery paper napkins, occasionally something a bit more pricey like a pair of slippers,etc. She lives in an apartment in a retirement community, has friends there--so things like the napkins or goodies come in handy if a friend drops in--& does amazingly well. She RAVES about these boxes. Each one is wrapped separately, but I skip the ribbon, etc. If I have several kinds of wrapping paper, I make sure to vary the wrapping.

In one trip, or as I go along, I can pick up everything in the grocery store , drugstore, etc. Even the wrapping is fast b/c I don't go overboard with trimmings, etc.---just enough to keep things covered since she she does the little evening ritual.

The shipping can get a bit pricey, but she is my last member of that generation & I love her very much. She lived with us or near us before she moved many states away.

You have all given great ideas.---katkat

[Laura2]

For a teenage girl, you could make a box with nail polish, cotton balls, makeup, hair ties, hair brush...