Valentine's Day Boxes ~ and more!

We had fun making theses boxes. Each year I wait until the last miunute and do not get to constructing boxes. Many years I have bought gift bags, put a few hearts on them and that was it. I felt bad doing so. Was I too busy to make their boxes no, I was just lazy.

I wanted to make this year fun. Changing my priorities. The kids didn't seem to mind using the bags, but still oooed and awed over other boxes people had made.

Each child gave me ideas of what they wanted their box to look like. I constructed the shape. The child decorated his/her own box.

Be creative!

You can make a monster very easily.
A cereal box covered in wrapping paper. Cut out a hole for the mouth. Yarn for hair. Triangles for teeth.  Pipe cleaners for arms.

 The truck had me stumped a little, but we finished it.

We took a paper bag from the grocery story and covered the box. Cut out the doors. We used A LOT of duct tape!  :)  The front of the truck is what had me stumped but I cut and taped things together until it resembled something like a cab of a truck.

 
  Of course every princess needs a castle. 

 I took a box and taped down all of the flaps of the box except one. We wrapped the box in wrapping paper. Made a little door that opens like a drawbridge door. Then she decorated.


Then there is Herman! The robot of sorts. 

He kind of just happened. We, again, wrapped the box with wrapping paper. This paper had print on both sides! I left a little paper on the top and cut strips making his hair.  When I cut out the mouth I realized that there was a flap in the way. No worries there was still a slot for the cards. We just made "teeth" with white paper. We love Herman! :)


These did take some time to finish. Yet we had a great time and we added Art to our school day.

The kids will use these boxes today at the homeschool Valentines party. Super excited.

Then what?

After talking to a friend last night she threw out an idea that I love. (THANK YOU BETH!)

Turn the boxes into Encouragement Boxes.

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."  Ephesians 4:29 esv

Having the kids write encouraging thoughts, scripture, or even drawing a picture for another sibling.
The kids need to be more encouraging to one another. There are sibling scwabbles, but we want cultivate encouraging hearts.
What better way to do so?  And we get to enjoy these boxes year round.