How to Make a Cool Valentine's Card Box

Valentine's Day is especially fun for children.

Elementary school children seem to look forward to Valentine’s Day. They make cards for their classmates and exchange them with each other. To store all those Valentines wishes, they'll need cool boxes. They can make their own boxes at home or in the classroom using a few simple items.

Things You'll Need

• Shoe box with lid
• 6 pieces of colored construction paper
• Pencil
• Glue stick
• Box cutter
• Crayons, colored pencils or markers
• Stickers
• Glitter

Instructions

1. Have your child choose his favorite colors of construction paper, then trace the shoe box lid onto one sheet with a pencil. After removing the lid, supervise your child as she cuts along the traced lines. Do the same for the sides of the lid.

2. Guide your child to trace each side of the box on a piece of construction paper and cut them out. Use a stick of glue to attach the paper to each side of the box.

3. An adult should use a box cutter to create an opening in the top of the lid that is long enough to accommodate the cards.

4. Instruct the child to draw designs on the newly covered box and lid using crayons, colored pencils or markers.

5. Suggest your child draw hearts and arrows with the glue stick and dust with glitter. She can also use stickers to decorate the box.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a sturdy shoe box, since it will be in little hands that tend to be less than gentle.

• A child’s shoe box is a good size for this project.

• Have your child carry her box to school in a plastic bag to avoid bending it and to protect the decorations.

• Use this box idea for other holidays. For example create a box for Christmas at Grandma’s house. Save on postage by letting your child distribute your holiday cards from the box at a family function.

• Be sure to supervise this project. Some little ones get curious about the way things taste and might decide that glitter and glue look tasty.

References

• MakingFriends.com: Valentine Mailboxes