How to Make a Valentine's Card Collection Box or Mailbox

As a child, I walked from desk to desk placing my Valentine's Day cards into my classmates' collection boxes or "mailboxes." This tradition still goes on today at many elementary schools nationwide. If your child is in need of a Valentine's card collection box or "mailbox," then I have some ideas that may work for you.

Shoebox Collection Box or "Mailbox"

Shoeboxes are easy to obtain and make great boxes for storing household items in. Shoeboxes also make great bases for your Valentine's card collection box or "mailbox". To transform your ordinary shoebox into a Valentine's work of art you only need a few supplies. Some Valentine's print wrapping paper, scissors, and tape can be used to easily dress up your shoebox. Simply cover the entire outside of your shoebox and lid with wrapping paper and tape into place. Make sure to cut a slit in the lid of the shoebox as an opening for dropping Valentine's Day cards in as well.

Another idea for transforming a shoebox into a Valentine's card collection box or "mailbox" is to use plain brown wrapping paper. If you don't have any brown mailing paper then brown paper bags can be used instead. Wrap your shoebox like you would with the wrapping paper, making sure to cover your shoebox completely. Once you have wrapped your shoebox with the brown wrapping paper, your child can then begin to decorate it in a Valentine's Day theme. Red and pink hearts stamped or drawn on the paper is a good start. Let your child's imagination go wild to create a custom look for their Valentine's card collection box or "mailbox".

Cookie Tin Collection Box or "Mailbox"

Chances are you have plenty of cookie tins leftover from the Christmas holiday. These cookie tins can be easily transformed into Valentine's card collection boxes or "mailboxes" with a few simple steps. The first step is to find a cookie tin large enough to hold the Valentine's cards your child will receive and remove its lid. Next cover the cookie tin with contact paper in colors of red, white, or pink. Make sure that your contact paper is not transparent which would allow your Christmas cookie tin's design to show through. To cut your contact paper to size first draw a line on the back of the contact paper. Next place your cookie tin on the back of the paper on the starting line and mark a dot on the part of the cookie tin that is right on the starting line. Roll your cookie tin until the dot you marked on your tin is touching the contact paper on the opposite side. Make sure to mark the top and bottom to measure the correct height of your cookie tin to ensure complete coverage. Once your cookie tin has been covered in the contact paper your child can attach sticky foam heart shapes or X's and O's onto the contact paper. Next cut out a circle from a piece of felt at least two inches wider than the opening of your cookie tin. Cut a slit in the middle of the felt wide enough for the children to insert their Valentine's Day cards in. Place the felt over the cookie tin and secure into place using a large rubber band.

Gift Boxes

Another idea for creating a Valentine's card collection box or "mailbox" is to use gift boxes leftover from Christmas. Some gift boxes may already be red in color meaning they won't have to be covered in any wrapping paper. However if your gift box is not red then you will need to wrap the gift box in Valentine's Day themed wrapping paper. To make transportation of your gift box collection box or "mailbox" easier for your child, you can wrap some ribbon around the wrapped boxes on both ends. The ribbon will help keep the box from opening up and also create a beautiful design for your child's Valentine's card collection box or "mailbox". Make sure to cut out a slot for dropping the Valentine's Day cards in before securing the box with the ribbon.

If you have forgotten to help your child make their Valentine's card collection box or "mailbox" and need a quick last-minute solution, then I have a few ideas you can use. Your child's Valentine's card collection box or "mailbox" doesn't have to be made from a box. In fact an empty basket with a handle would work well as your child's Valentine's card collection box or "mailbox". To add a special touch simply tie some Valentine's Day colored ribbons you have laying around the house around the handle of the basket. Leftover red ribbon from Christmas would work well in this instance. Another quick and easy Valentine's card collection box or "mailbox" is a decorated empty tissue box. Tissue boxes come in many pretty designs and you are sure to find some with hearts on them or decorated in other Valentine's Day themes. Simply pick up one of the big rectangular sized boxes from your local grocery or drug store and empty the tissues from the box. Save the tissues as a refill for when your at home box of tissue becomes empty. If one box would not be big enough you can attach two different tissue boxes together using rubber bands hidden by ribbon. One last idea for a last minute Valentine's card collection box or "mailbox" is to use a brown paper sack. Let your child decorate the brown paper sack with pretty hearts along with other Valentine's themed decorations.

Hopefully you will find one of these ideas useful when it comes time to create a Valentine's card collection box or "mailbox" for your child to take to school. Remember to have fun with it and let your child have creative control. There are many craft items that can be used to create these collection boxes which can be found on the shelves at your local craft store. Happy Valentine's Day!