Simple, Budget-Friendly Pencil Pack Filler Blessings For Operation Christmas Child Processing Center

[@marieterry625]

Thank you for donating desperately needed school supplies. Fantastic presentation!

[@byrdfeed9071]

Thanks, Marie. I filled the little bit of space at the top of the carton with a layer of beanie babies tucked in tight. I’m taking it along with me to the Aurora PC when I volunteer in December 👏👏

[@KarenYork-t2c]

This is my first year making pencil packs. Mine probably weren’t as cheap, though, lol. I don’t remember what I paid for them, but I bought 2-sets of pencil party favor packs on Amazons after Christmas sale. Came with the pencils, sharpeners, erasers, one set had stampers and one included rulers. Both had a form of miniature paper and stickers as well. Since I also purchased a box of 1200 pre-sharpened pencils and we has several left over, I also added 3 more to each pencil pack and small leftover toys from our packing parties. Some got a whistle, some a miniature stuffiy, or a small pull back car. We had some leftover pencil pouches and water cups,, so I filled the pencil pouches and my helper filled water cups putting them in a gallon size ziplock bag and then wrapping them with a rubber band to secure everything in place. I never knew how much fun making filler packs could be, but my helper and I really enjoyed putting these together! 😃😃😃 I never would have thought of doing something like this if I hadn’t become a KZbin vidiot the last couple years watching you and several other ladies on here showing the need for fillers and specifically pencil packs! So thank you for the inspiration and encouragement to do so! It was great fun to put together enough pencil packs to fill a medium size Amazon box with the pencil pouches plus half a second one with the cups! We also had other items left over to fill the box with the cups with fidget toys. So excited to send them this year and plan to continue to each year from now on, Lord willing! ❤❤❤

[@byrdfeed9071]

Yay! This is absolutely wonderful to hear. Stories like this keep me going L O L. Your pencil packs sound awesome and the extra fidget toys are perfect too. Yes, I agree, it IS FUN to pack filler!! God bless you (and your helper) 🥰

[@PamsPackingOCCshoeboxes]

I love making Pencil packs. I do it for Pencil Granny and Friends to put in OCC shoeboxes. You really packed those little bags full!! TFS

[@byrdfeed9071]

Thanks, Pam! So glad to hear you pack them, too 🥰

[@maritzacopping3309]

Great pencil packs! And the packed box looks so pretty you almost don’t want to disturb it🙂

[@byrdfeed9071]

Haha, thanks, Maritza 😄

[@elena-n5q]

This is such a great way to add value to boxes that are missing something. Nice that you show how inexpensive it can be. ❤

[@byrdfeed9071]

Yes, I agree. Thanks, Elena. 🥰

[@darlenerogers3218]

That is such a great idea to use those good containers. Perfect for this. Thank you for sharing. ❤

[@byrdfeed9071]

I know! They are too good to throw away and I love how tall some of them are. They hold a lot but still allow you to put your hand inside to grab what you need.

[@rochellegraham6578]

Trish, you are amazing. To watch you pack and fit into a box is something to see. You are a whiz at working up your boxes and such a help in helping others.

[@byrdfeed9071]

Thank you so much, Rochelle. I love packing shoebox gifts for OCC and enjoy helping others in any way I can. Thank you so much for your sweet comments 🥰

[@beckypetersen2680]

That was a super nice video. How nice they all look!

[@byrdfeed9071]

Thanks, Becky. I love making pencil packs for filler, even when they are simple, like these.

[@margaret5398]

Thanks to yourself and Denise Rogers I have done more fillers this year and loved it. Will definitely be doing pencil packs like this for next year, our collection dates are 11-16 November and I’m all ready to go. I have loved all your videos this year and your packing tips and storage tips are so helpful. Thank you for all you do it is so appreciated God Bless You. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🍁🍄

[@byrdfeed9071]

Thank you so much Margaret. That makes me happy 😃. I have to tell you a funny story that has nothing to do with OCC, but since you’re from Scotland I thought you might find it as interesting as I. Many years ago my sister and I took a trip to Buenos Aires Argentina. We went on a tour and our guide was a lovely young lady from Buenos Aires who spoke excellent English, but with a Scottish accent. I recognized the accent as Scottish, because I have a friend who’s mother is from Scotland. When I asked our guide if she was from Scotland, she said no, she was born and raised in Buenos Aires and had never left the country. I asked her how it could be she spoke English with a Scottish accent? She told me her grandmother was from Scotland and she was the one who taught her English. I just thought that was so interesting. It definitely makes sense, but never occurred to me that someone who did not live in a certain country could pick up the accent 🥰

[@bernievandewalker1420]

Love it and the music.

[@byrdfeed9071]

Hehe, it was just he fastest music I could find 😂

[@beckyblackburn2211]

Love the polka music and how inexpensively you created 100 pencil packs 🎉 Thanks Trisha. I enjoy doing pencil packs too!

[@byrdfeed9071]

Haha, I needed something really really fast. The polka music was the fastest I could find, 😂.

[@LaurieQ-g8s]

Amazing! Looks great. I'm going to start making them. It really helped to see how you did it. Thanks!

[@byrdfeed9071]

Fantastic! I’m so glad to hear it was helpful and you’re going to start packing them! Yay!!

[@dianaruthshoeboxes]

That's a great big bin to hold all your organized school supplies. Those sharpeners look like great quality! The pencils I bought for my pencil packs came pre sharpened... I bought the cheapest I could find! But unsharpened is totally fine as you provided a great sharpener. I love how colorful these are! Great idea including a comb. Wow.... 100! Awesome Trish. You made that look soooo easy. 😅✏️🖋️🧡

[@byrdfeed9071]

Thanks Diana. I love that under the bed chest. I have a few of them and they are perfect for storing OCC supplies. I love it particularly for my pencil pack filler stuff, bc I can just roll it out, carry it into the living room and work on it while I watch TV. Then roll it back under the bed when I’m done. I packed all 100 in two nights watching TV 😁.

[@SweetTDaily]

I love this video so much! The container on wheels you have to store your supplies is such a great idea. You were able to pack so many pencil packs for a good price - I'm inspired! Thank you for making htis video. 😊

[@byrdfeed9071]

Thank you SweetT. I’m so glad you enjoyed the video and even happier to hear you are inspired. Happy packing! 🥰

[@withloveIva]

I loved these! Your video last year on pencil packs really inspired me and I was able to make 100 just like the ones you did in the 4x10 bags! Super fun to make and customize and a great way to use those little toys we get during valentines! TFS

[@byrdfeed9071]

Oh, I’m thrilled to hear that last year‘s videos inspired you to make pencil packs. That’s exciting! Yes, yes, although not necessary, those Valentines toys are perfect to add just a little bit of fun and whimsy to these filler pencil packs. Thank you so much for your comment 🥰

[@drogers]

Oh those pencil sharpeners were such a deal! How I wish we could find those again. Love those monster finger puppets! Perfect for a pencil pack! Great pencil packs that will fly out of the bins so fast to bless a box! TFS Trish!

[@byrdfeed9071]

Oh, I know! I think the days of those kind of deals are over 😢. (Those pencil sharpeners were so cheap, I almost think they were a mistake 🫢)

[@drogers]

@ I think so too!!!

[@eastcoaststories]

2 weeks till collection week?! Don't remind me! lol. I need to hurry and finish my shoeboxes, and filler. I like you put all the items in a bin - very organized. I save those take out containers too! Great variety for the pencil packs. I understand about the combs. I bought combs from DT, like the ones in a multipack. They were so flimpsy. I'm torn to give them as filler because they are that bad. But I also agree, a so so comb is better than no comb. I love the way you pack the box, so organized! Great pencil packs, Trish! I know they are much needed! ✏

[@byrdfeed9071]

Yeah, I felt the same way about the comb. This one is probably worse than the ones from DT, but it works and I thought if a kid didn’t have a comb he might be pleased to have it. I also thought about the fact that this is filler. There might already be a better comb in the box. Also if a girl gets it, she might use it to comb a doll’s hair, if she has a better comb for her own personal use. Lots of thought 😂. I just figured it was better than throwing them away bc I had over 100 of them 😲

[@KellysKidz]

I love your tote organization!! I need to try that 🤩 awesome job packing up these pencil packs 🎉✏️ I can't believe we only have a couple weeks left!!

[@byrdfeed9071]

I know it! I actually said three weeks in the video and had to do a voiceover 😂

[@denise5457]

Love those! 💗✏️

[@byrdfeed9071]

Thanks Denise 🥰

[@dalehighnote6958]

These are so cute!

[@byrdfeed9071]

Hi Marlene. Thanks 🥰

[@valswain]

Trish! These are fantastic! Jealous of all those cute small crayon packs. 😉The little toys you are putting in are perfect! BTW, how much room will you have in your car for our trip to Aurora PC? 😂😂 I’d like bring along a few pencil packs for filler and a couple of my 130 shoeboxes so that I can track a couple boxes that might go to a different country - perhaps a South American country. My collection site usually sends boxes to Boone and from there they usually go to African countries. I’d like to see if a couple of my boxes would go to a different part of the world.

[@byrdfeed9071]

Thanks Val! Yes, I was so lucky with those crayons. I think I actually got them 2 yrs ago at my “lucky” WM in Cahokia, IL right before they closed it 😩. That was my go to store after every season/holiday once they went to 90% off. There was always plenty of stuff left. I guess that’s why they closed it 😢. I’ll have plenty of room in the car. I know we’ll have overnight bags, but I will have the whole backseat and trunk. I’ll make sure to clear out the trunk of any stuff we don’t need for our trip. I’d like to do the same. I was even thinking of bringing this whole box of pencil pack filler with me. If we turn it in when we get there, we might see it the following morning.

[@patriciagriswold6060]

I saw a video that said kids in other countries don't have gender influenced colors. I would imagine in the really poor areas that the children are just delighted about getting things with colors😊 They also will trade with other kids.

[@byrdfeed9071]

Yes, so true! I have heard that, as well. I once sent a Minnie mouse box for a 2-4-year-old girl. A little boy got it and his mother sent me pictures of him proudly wearing some of the Minnie mouse items and hugging his pink Minnie mouse stuffed animal with a big fat smile on his face.

[@tracystoaks6573]

Trish, thanks for sharing that great report. I'm glad that little guy was happy with his Minnie box.

[@joannmathews6448]

Where do you get the cellophane bags?

[@byrdfeed9071]

I get mine in bulk on Amazon. You can also get them at several other online places like ULINE or ClearBags and a few other places. Typically the bags are cheaper at these other places than on Amazon, but unless you buy thousands, you’re typically paying a shipping fee that then makes them more expensive than Amazon.

[@KarenYork-t2c]

@@byrdfeed9071thank you! I was wondering where to get the baggies as well! I just used gallon and quart sized ziplock bags this year. As well as a few leftover school pencil cases.

[@byrdfeed9071]

That works!! 🥰