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See how to make a DIY Valentine’s Day card box out of basic household items and a few fun embellishments!
Hop aboard the Love Train this February!
DIY Valentine’s Day Card Box: All Aboard the Love Train!
My oldest son, Rowan, is in kindergarten this year, and his teacher requested that all the kiddos make or purchase their own festive Valentine’s Day card box for their class party.
Since Rowan has been obsessed with trains for most of his young life (I even turned one of his toy trains into the cuuuutest DIY Christmas ornament), he of course chose a choo-choo for his desired theme…and it had to be ALL ABOUT LOVE.
Here’s what we came up with for his box!
Other DIY Valentine Box Ideas
Over the years since this post was originally published, I’ve ended up creating several more DIY Valentine card boxes for both of my boys.
We’ve covered Baby Yoda, a Creeper from Minecraft, as well as an upcycled animal cookie!
I’ve also shared LOTS of FREE printables, including a bunch of fun Valentine’s Day card ideas that your kiddo can pass out to all of their classmates and friends, so be sure and check out those too!
Train Valentine’s Day Card Box Supplies
One of the best things about this upcycled Love Train Valentine’s Day card box is that I only purchased a few inexpensive items specifically for this project (mostly from Dollar Tree), so it was about $5 of new stuff.
That’s it!
- Red gift wrap
- Red glitter heart picks
- Red and pink felt heart stickers
- Metallic pipe cleaners
The rest of the items I either already had in my craft stash or I found while rummaging through closets or the kitchen.
Sometimes it pays to be a hoarder. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- Empty cardboard boxes and tubes
- Gift wrap tape & double-sided tape
- Glittery pink washi tape
- Styrofoam discs
- Aluminum foil
- Stuffing from a stuffed animal with a ripped seam (yep, sure did)
- Hot glue
- Jewelry wire
- Scissors
- Silhouette Cameo
- White vinyl
- White & silver polka dot gift wrap
Here are the main components of our DIY Valentine’s Day card box that I scavenged from around the house:
Valentine’s Day Card Box: Prepping the Train Parts
After cutting out a hole in the large box, I then wrapped both it and the smaller box in some red gift wrap, then covered all the edges with some glittery pink washi tape.
Next up came the cardboard tubes.
They were cut to size (and the larger one had a hole cut in it for the smaller one to fit inside), then both were also wrapped in gift wrap and embellished with washi tape.
After covering the six styrofoam discs in aluminum foil, all the main train components were ready for assembly!
I fired up my hot glue gun and then attached all the pieces together.
Now it was time to add some flair and accessorize this choo-choo.
Metallic pipe cleaners were added to cover rugged seams on the tubes, and some stuffing was added to give a fun steam effect to this steamie.
A little structure was provided with some jewelry wire, and the heart picks that would come later also kept it in place.
Some final lovey dovey touches were also added, such as:
- Vinyl decals that I whipped up with my Silhouette Cameo
- So everyone would know this was *Rowan’s* train
- Felt heart stickers
- A cattle catcher up front
- Just an aluminum foil-covered Bagel Bites box piece
- Two smaller front wheels
- Plastic caps from one of the cardboard shipping tubes
Rowan’s Final Train Valentine’s Day Card Box!
And here’s how Rowan’s Love Train Valentine’s Day card box looks after being fully assembled and accessorized!
Needless to say, he was pretty excited to take it to school for his class party and to also pass out his for all of his friends. :)
An Upcycled Before-And-After Valentine Box
Not bad for a $5 upcycled school project!
If You Enjoyed This…
Make sure you check out my other fun school ideas and Valentine’s Day projects!
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Race Car Valentine's Day Cards with FREE Printable!
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Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an enthusiast and expert in arts and crafts, I have extensive experience in creating DIY projects and have a deep understanding of various crafting techniques and materials. I have actively engaged in DIY projects for many years, experimenting with different materials and designs to create unique and personalized creations. I have also shared my knowledge and expertise through tutorials, workshops, and online platforms, helping others to develop their crafting skills and unleash their creativity.
Concepts Related to DIY Valentine’s Day Card Box
DIY Projects
- The article focuses on a DIY Valentine’s Day card box, demonstrating the concept of do-it-yourself crafting using basic household items and embellishments. It showcases the creativity and resourcefulness involved in creating personalized crafts.
Upcycling
- The use of empty cardboard boxes, tubes, and other household items for the DIY project highlights the concept of upcycling, which involves repurposing or transforming existing materials into something new and useful.
Materials and Embellishments
- The article mentions various materials and embellishments such as red gift wrap, glitter heart picks, felt stickers, metallic pipe cleaners, styrofoam discs, aluminum foil, jewelry wire, vinyl decals, and more. This showcases the use of diverse materials to add visual appeal and creativity to the project.
Crafting Techniques
- The process of wrapping, cutting, embellishing, and assembling the cardboard boxes, tubes, and other components demonstrates various crafting techniques such as wrapping with gift wrap, using washi tape, hot gluing, cutting, and attaching embellishments. These techniques are essential for creating visually appealing and structurally sound DIY projects.
Personalization and Theme
- The article emphasizes personalization and theme selection, as the Valentine’s Day card box is designed to reflect the theme of love and the child's interest in trains. This highlights the importance of incorporating personal interests and themes into DIY projects to make them more meaningful and enjoyable.
Sharing and Creativity
- The author shares their experiences of creating multiple DIY Valentine card boxes for their children, along with free printables and ideas for Valentine’s Day cards. This demonstrates the spirit of sharing creativity and encouraging others to engage in crafting activities.
By incorporating these concepts, the article provides a comprehensive guide for creating a unique and personalized DIY Valentine’s Day card box, while also promoting creativity, resourcefulness, and the joy of crafting.