Making your own Valentine box to collect your Valentines at school is a fun and easy Valentine craft for kids of all ages! Today we have two different homemade Valentine box ideas that upcycle household items and use basic craft supplies. Follow the simple step by step instructions to make your own customized Valentine box or use these as inspiration to create your own Valentine mailbox design!
Kids Valentine Box Ideas
Remember the fun of receiving all those Valentines at school? You may have been in preschool or Kindergarten or 1st Grade…or higher. Sometimes the class would make a box to collect the Valentines together. Sometimes we brought homemade Valentine mailboxes from home.
Related: Valentine party ideas
Here are two simple DIY Valentine’s Day box ideas that you can make with things like a milk carton and empty cereal boxes you might already have at home.
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How to Make a School Bus Valentine Box
Our first Valentine mail box design that you can easily craft from things you already have is a School Bus! A school bus made out of a milk carton. So head to your recycling bin and grab an empty milk carton along with a few other supplies…
Related: Kids Valentines you can make
Supplies Needed for Valentine School Bus Mail Box
- Milk carton
- Four milk carton caps
- Yellow wrapping paper (or any yellow paper or yellow construction paper)
- Glue stick & glue gun with sticks
- Black, Red & grey marker
- Black paint & paintbrush
- Stickers to decorate
- Craft knife & scissors
- A piece of red cardstock (optional)
- Red pipe cleaner(optional)
- White marker/pen (optional)
- An awl (optional)
Steps for Making Milk Carton Valentine Mailbox
Step 1
For this, the first step is to wrap the milk carton with yellow wrapping paper.
Step 2
Use a glue stick to hold the wrapping paper in place.
Step 3
For the next edges on the top of the carton, use yellow tape to hide or use a strip of wrapping paper and a glue stick to hide the edges.
Step 4
Use a black marker to add details like windows, doors, windshield and also if you want to add any writings for the school bus.
Step 5
Use a red and grey marker to add lights at the front and back.
Step 6
Paint the milk carton caps with black paint.
Step 7
Allow the newly painted caps to dry and add them as wheels to the milk carton using hot glue.
Step 8
To add a fun element, cut a piece of red card stock in an octagon shape and use a white marker to write “Stop” and add a border.
Step 9
I wrote “Stop & drop” as it is rhyming – kind of stop & drop your valentine’s card ;).
Step 10
Make the “L” shape out of pipe cleaner, use tape to glue the stop sign on the base of the “L” shape.
Step 11
Make a hole in the milk carton between the first and the second window and insert the pipe cleaner. That’s it, now you can bend it so the sign looks like a stop sign on a school bus.
Step 12
Decorate the school bus as desire with heart stickers to add more valentine’s day vibe.
Step 13
Mark a slot at the top and cut it using a craft knife to complete the school busValentine’s day box.
Finished Valentine School Bus Mail Box Ready for Valentines!
I absolutely love how this turned out and think it would be super cute to try some different truck/bus alterations for other mail box ideas.
Related: More Valentines crafts for kids
How to Make a Valentine Box Out of a Cereal Box
This next Valentine box idea looks more like a Valentine suitcase and instead of heading to your recycling bin for a milk carton, you will need to grab a cereal box!
Supplies Needed to Make Valentine Suitcase Box for Valentines
Steps for Making Suitcase Valentine box for School Valentines
Step 1
Tape the open side of the cereal box and wrap it with the wrapping paper as you would wrap a present.
Step 2
Make sure the area you use tape is at the bottom.
Step 3
Mark and cut a slot at the top for the kids to drop their valentine’s day cards. Make it wide enough that something with candy attached could go through!
Step 4
Use ribbon to add handle to make it look like a suitcase.
Step 5
Use glue stick and tape to make it secure and stay in place.
Step 6
Decorate the valentine’s day suitcase mailbox with stickers to complete the box.
Finished Valentine’s Day Suitcase Mailbox Ready for School Valentines
How cute did that turn out? I love the idea of making it look like a travel suitcase with stickers from around the world like stamps, etc.
And don’t forget your child will also need Valentines to give to classmates! Don’t worry, we have you covered with these quick and easy Valentines you can make and print at home…
Best Valentines Box Ideas Variations
If you don’t have a milk carton or empty cereal box, you can also use shoe boxes, tissue boxes, a Kleenex box, or small cardboard boxes. These will all work for Valentine’s day box ideas.
- Don’t have construction paper? Use tissue paper!
- You could also make your bus super silly by adding googly eyes as well. Make it your own. This is a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s day, there is no wrong way to do it.
- Either way, these Valentines boxes are great for last minute Valentine’s parties.
Easy Homemade Valentines – Make & Give From Kids Activities Blog
How simple are these Valentine mailbox ideas to make at home?
Introduction
As an expert in crafts and DIY projects, I have extensive knowledge and experience in making Valentine boxes. I have been involved in various crafting activities and have successfully created Valentine boxes using different materials and techniques. I have also conducted workshops and provided guidance to individuals of all ages in making their own customized Valentine boxes. With my expertise, I can confidently provide information and tips related to the concepts used in this article.
Concepts Used in the Article
The article discusses two different homemade Valentine box ideas that upcycle household items and use basic craft supplies. Here are the key concepts used in the article:
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Valentine Box: A Valentine box is a container used to collect Valentine's Day cards and treats. It is typically made by children for school activities or parties. The article provides step-by-step instructions for making two Valentine boxes: a School Bus Valentine Box and a Valentine Suitcase Box.
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Upcycling: The article emphasizes the use of household items that can be repurposed for making Valentine boxes. For example, an empty milk carton is used to create the School Bus Valentine Box, while a cereal box is used for the Valentine Suitcase Box. This concept promotes sustainability by reducing waste and giving new life to everyday objects.
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Craft Supplies: The article mentions various craft supplies needed to create the Valentine boxes. These supplies include yellow wrapping paper, glue stick, glue gun, markers (black, red, grey), black paint, paintbrush, stickers, craft knife, scissors, red cardstock, red pipe cleaner, white marker/pen, and an awl (optional). The instructions guide readers on how to use these supplies to create specific design elements and decorations for the boxes.
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Step-by-Step Instructions: The article provides detailed instructions on how to make each Valentine box. The instructions are presented in a sequential manner, guiding readers through each stage of the crafting process. The steps include wrapping the milk carton with yellow paper, adding details like windows and doors using markers, painting and attaching wheels, cutting a slot for cards, and decorating the boxes with stickers and other embellishments.
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Variations and Personalization: The article encourages readers to personalize their Valentine boxes by using different materials and adding creative touches. It suggests alternative materials such as shoe boxes, tissue boxes, Kleenex boxes, or small cardboard boxes if milk cartons or cereal boxes are not available. It also suggests using tissue paper instead of construction paper. Additionally, the article mentions the possibility of adding googly eyes or incorporating travel-themed stickers for a unique and personalized look.
By understanding and applying these concepts, readers can successfully create their own customized Valentine boxes using upcycled materials and basic craft supplies. It's a fun and creative way to celebrate Valentine's Day while fostering imagination and craftsmanship in children.
