This week, CraftPaperScissors.com is featuring easy craft projects that can be donated to Operation Christmas Child. Learn more and enter our Plaid giveaway!
By Betsy Burnett of Aim Happy
Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts are distributed to some of the poorest children in the world. For these children, not only may this be their first gift ever, but for many a shoebox gift might provide much needed school supplies or personal care items to help them and/or their family. This week, our featured item is the “washcloth.” A staple in most households, many children not only don’t own one, but don’t have regular access to what they need to stay clean.
A couple of years ago I talked to a shoebox recipient who told me about how excited she was to receive a washcloth! She was one of the youngest at the orphanage, because of this the towel that was used during bath time went to all of the other children before her. This being the case she never really felt clean. When she received a washcloth in her shoebox, she was excited, she could now wash her face whenever she wanted to, she could finally feel clean!
Washcloths don’t have to be boring though! If you are handy with knitting needles or a crochet hook, there are many patterns out there for making simple ones. My friend Blain from “BGL Creations” does a simple crochet washcloth in bright colors. She says they are 18 rows of 30 half double crochet stitch. (Here’s an Easy Crochet Washcloth Pattern and an Easy Knitting Washcloth Pattern!)
For those not handy with the hooks or needles, it doesn’t mean you have to be less personal with your gift, how about turning your washcloth into an adorable “bunny?”
When I was little, my mother would make “boo-boo bunnies” when we injured ourselves, so when I started packing shoebox gifts, I decided why send just a washcloth, why not send a bunny instead?
Washcloth “Boo-Boo” Bunnies
Materials:
- 1 flat square washcloth, washcloths with a woven or solid raised border, do not work as well, because your bunny turns out bulky.
- 1 elastic hairtie.
Optional: ribbon, googly eyes, and or mini pompoms and fabric glue.
Instructions:
- On a flat surface, lay your washcloth down flat, smoothing out wrinkles, If desired you may cut the tag off.
- Fold in half diagonally creating a triangle.
- Starting with the point across from the fold, roll the point towards the fold.
- Take the rolled washcloth, and fold in half. creating a long “U”
- Fold this in half again.
- Add a rubber band and adjust the ears.
Because the purpose of these is for cleaning, I normally leave them “as is” at this point. The fun is in the shape of the washcloth and it can be made flat again, when unfolded. For those wanted to take an extra step and keep them as a “boo-boo” bunny you may embellish with ribbon, googly eyes and or mini pompoms to keep it looking like a bunny. You can wet these and toss them into the freezer they get cold in 5-10 minutes and many times a child will keep a bunny on a bump longer than an icepack. If you wish to use an ice cube, you can slip the ice cube into the body of the bunny, and the wash cloth will absorb the drips as it melts.
How to Get Involved
Readers can check out the Operation Christmas Child website. There they will find shoebox stories, information on how to pack a shoebox gift, find the nearest drop-off location, have free resources sent to them and more! Friend Operation Christmas Child on Facebook.
If they would like to hear more about my personal adventures as the #CrazyShoeboxLady, they can visit my blog and click on “Shoebox 1K.” I’m also on Facebook!
Plus: A Grand Prize Giveaway from Plaid!
We’re giving away over $300 worth of craft supplies from Plaid! (Thanks, Plaid.) Enter the giveaway today!
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You know I love a good bunny craft! Great idea for a shoebox stuffer.
These are so sweet!
I have been knitting and crocheting for several local needs. I made and gave scarves to the homeless, baby hats for the local hospital, bibs for a nursing home (these were sewn), and quite a few stocking caps for one of our elementary schools that have a large number of children that are living below the poverty level and need so very much. The variety keeps me from getting tired of any one item and allows me to help meet a number so needs. I am going to try crafting some items for my ‘shoebox” this year, as we participate at my church.