Hunt for things to put in charity christmas shoeboxes

V.Lucky

On the Samaritans Purse website there is a link for some knitted puppets:

http://www.samaritanspurse.uk.com/occ/Knitted_Clown_Hand_Puppets.pdf

http://www.samaritanspurse.uk.com/occ/Teddy_bear_hand_puppet.pdf

I am doing the clown one, started it tonight and it won't take long to knit.


edited to get the links to work, doh!!

jap200

safesound wrote:

I'm sorry for hijacking your thread :silenced:
As pennance I found some of those polystyrene aeroplanes someone wanted:
http://www.sciencesleuth.co.uk/toys_detail.asp?p=47
and I wanted to mention Hawkins Bazaar as they do lots and lots of cute little things that would be perfect to put in any shoebox gift.
http://www.hawkin.com/

I went to an RSPB nature reserve at the weekend and the shop had lots of polystyrene birds and insects in packet for 35p or 50p. These are packaged and built just like the planes and of course don't have the worry of whether or not they are 'military'.

jap200

I would like to find some mouth organs / harmonicas as I think that these would be great for all ages - anyone have any idea where I can find them - under £1 preferrably?

Hootie19

jap200 wrote:

I would like to find some mouth organs / harmonicas as I think that these would be great for all ages - anyone have any idea where I can find them - under £1 preferrably?

A starting point, although expensive, compared to how much you were looking to pay.

http://www.elc.co.uk/toy-33068?&parent_category_id=535

sarahlouise210

I did a few of these boxes last year ...did them all for girls as having girls myself..that is what I am good at! I colour co-ordinated each box ...I included hair accessories,hair brush, pens,pencils,cuddly toy, small puzzle,toothbrush,flannel,kiddie make up,sweets,and solid perfume. Every item in the box was the same colour of varying shades ...they looked really lovely!

sarahlouise210

jap200 wrote:

I would like to find some mouth organs / harmonicas as I think that these would be great for all ages - anyone have any idea where I can find them - under £1 preferrably?

I bought some last year from INExcess ...they were 15p each!

Lara

jap200 wrote:

I would like to find some mouth organs / harmonicas as I think that these would be great for all ages - anyone have any idea where I can find them - under £1 preferrably?

Local cheapie shop had them yesterday - eight in a pack for just £1! I had a good look at them and although plastic looked pretty good. I didn't get any as I found recorders 4 x £1 . Perhaps if you have a little shop near you where you normally wouldn't go into - like mine! - you may be surprised. Tennis balls 5 for £1 also. Playing cards 4 for £1.

Your post of putting socks in a box is also very good. I put warm tights in for younger age group and socks for the older ones. They need something to keep their feet warm, don't they!

Remember:
After Christmas in sales there are always lots of tights sold off cheap especially M&S, Tesco & Peacocks. I usually buy mine then. This year I bought eight packs with two in each, various ages, and they cost 75p per pack, two actually cost 40p! So if you see something in the sales and they are too big/too small for anyone you know then pop them into your basket because come next October you'll save yourself a lot of money. Applies to hats/scarfs/gloves too . Sometimes I wonder if my loft will ever look normal again :rolleyes: .

V.Lucky

Anyone know where to get tennis balls from, no local cheapie shops around here. Somewhere big like Tesco (who have none) would be ideal. Thanks.

Got a pack of 3 x 100g soaps from Boots value range 29p.

Wilko's value toothpaste 21p for a big tube.

I read the list of accepted and not accepted stuff and notice it said only clothing allowed is hats, scarves, and gloves. Do they allow tights and socks then? If so, will get them in the sales for next year, as you suggest Lara.

Do they allow you to split packs of toothbrushes, so they are not wrapped, ie loose, as this would work out cheaper.

Lara

V.Lucky wrote:

Anyone know where to get tennis balls from, no local cheapie shops around here. Somewhere big like Tesco (who have none) would be ideal. Thanks.

Got a pack of 3 x 100g soaps from Boots value range 29p.

Wilko's value toothpaste 21p for a big tube.

I read the list of accepted and not accepted stuff and notice it said only clothing allowed is hats, scarves, and gloves. Do they allow tights and socks then? If so, will get them in the sales for next year, as you suggest Lara.

Do they allow you to split packs of toothbrushes, so they are not wrapped, ie loose, as this would work out cheaper.

Yes you can split the toothbrushes. You can also split the soap & put in a small plastic bag. Tesco were selling bags a few months ago which had toothbrush holder, soap dish, comb and a little pot. They only had blue and were only 25p so I have been able to split all my soaps and toothbrushes up. In the little tub I put some hairbands and also managed to put one of the PlayDoh party pots in the bag aswell. They then have a bag to hold it all in. Other years I have looked out for toiletry bags to put toothbrushes in etc.

Re the sock and tights - they say only hat/scarf/gloves as so many secondhand "manky" ones have been put through in previous years - you wouldn't believe the state of some of them - yuk! - but I leave the label on all mine & they can see they are new and are allowed through.

Tesco toothpaste is 21p also so is Asda. I bought flannels from Tesco around May time when they were on special for 15p. Boots Basics toothbrushes are 28p for 2 & Tesco around the same price. Check out Superdrug as well because some of their items are really good prices.

As for tennis balls - check out any markets. I have bought them before in Woolies but usually 3 for £1. You'll soon get your eyes peeled looking for these things! HTH

V.Lucky

Thanks for that Lara - not many markets around her either, but I will keep my eyes peeled.