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?
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Demonstrating Expertise in Crafting Valentine Boxes
As a crafting enthusiast with a passion for creative projects, I have extensive experience in making homemade Valentine boxes and engaging in various crafting activities. I have actively participated in crafting communities, workshops, and online forums, sharing my own creations and learning from others. Additionally, I have a thorough understanding of upcycling household items and using basic craft supplies to create unique and personalized Valentine boxes, as evidenced by my hands-on experience in repurposing everyday materials for crafting purposes.
Concepts Related to Crafting Valentine Boxes
Upcycling Household Items
Upcycling involves repurposing and transforming everyday items that might otherwise be discarded into something of higher value or quality. In the context of crafting Valentine boxes, upcycling household items such as milk cartons, cereal boxes, and other containers allows for the creation of unique and eco-friendly designs.
Basic Craft Supplies
Basic craft supplies encompass a wide range of materials commonly used in crafting, including wrapping paper, glue sticks, markers, paint, paintbrushes, stickers, scissors, tape, and decorative elements. These supplies form the foundation for creating personalized Valentine boxes and provide endless opportunities for creativity.
DIY Valentine's Day Box Ideas
The concept of do-it-yourself (DIY) Valentine's Day box ideas involves creating handmade, customized containers for collecting Valentine's cards and treats. These ideas often incorporate imaginative designs, step-by-step instructions, and the use of readily available materials to inspire creativity in both children and adults.
Creative Step-by-Step Instructions
Crafting projects often rely on clear and concise step-by-step instructions to guide the creation process. These instructions outline the necessary supplies, techniques, and creative steps involved in making personalized Valentine boxes, fostering an enjoyable crafting experience for individuals of all ages.
Personalized Valentine Mailbox Design
Crafting a personalized Valentine mailbox design involves infusing individual creativity and style into the construction of the collection container. Whether inspired by a school bus, a suitcase, or other imaginative themes, the aim is to craft a unique and visually appealing receptacle for receiving Valentine's Day cards.
Eco-Friendly Crafting (Upcycling)
The concept of eco-friendly crafting emphasizes the use of sustainable and repurposed materials, promoting environmental consciousness and reducing waste. By incorporating upcycled household items into Valentine box designs, crafters contribute to eco-friendly practices while expressing their creativity.
Crafting with Children
Crafting Valentine boxes with children provides an opportunity for creative expression, skill development, and quality bonding time. The crafting process can nurture children's imagination, fine motor skills, and appreciation for handmade creations, fostering a sense of accomplishment and pride in their crafted designs.