Unicorn Valentines Day Box

If your kiddo wants a Valentine’s box that steals the spotlight at the classroom party, this Unicorn Valentines Day Box is pure magic. Made from a recycled cereal box and bright cardstock, this project comes together in about 30 minutes and delivers big personality. It is colorful, creative, and a perfect way to reuse something you already have at home.

This craft is also a great opportunity to work on cutting, measuring, and following directions while creating something they are excited to show off. Let’s make it.

unicorn valentine's day box featured image

Materials for a DIY Unicorn Valentine Box

Before we jump into creating, gather everything you need. Using a recycled cereal box keeps this project budget friendly and eco conscious.

Materials:

• Cereal Box, 12 oz size – recycled
• Gold glitter glue
• Colored cardstock – black, white, light pink, medium pink, orange, yellow, bright green, blue, lavender
• Glue gun and glue sticks
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Unicorn patterns

You can also substitute felt, craft foam, or construction paper for the cardstock if that is what you have on hand.

Now that your supplies are ready, let’s start building your unicorn.

How to Make a Unicorn Valentine Mailbox

This project comes together step by step. Encourage your child to help measure, trace, and glue to build independence and confidence.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Gather all supplies.

Yellow cereal box labeled “Toasted O’s” displayed with colorful cardstock paper, googly eyes, glue, scissors, and a hot glue gun on a wooden background.

Using scissors, carefully remove the flaps from the four sides of the cardboard cereal box.

Cereal box laid on its side while scissors cut a long strip from the bottom flap.

Step 2: Measure and Cover the Box

The height of a 12 oz cereal box lines up perfectly with standard 8.5” by 11” cardstock. Measure and cut two rectangles 2.75” wide by 11” tall from white cardstock for the sides.

White cardstock being wrapped and glued around the cereal box to cover the printed design.

Place a second piece of white cardstock across the front of the box. Carefully fold the right and left sides around the edges and crease firmly so it hugs the box.

Attach the folded piece to the front using a glue gun, securing the sides in place. Then glue the two white rectangles onto the sides of the box.

Hot glue gun securing white paper around the side of the cereal box.

Liquid craft glue can be used instead of hot glue, but drying time will be longer.

Step 3: Trace and Cut the Unicorn Pieces

Download and print the unicorn patterns. Trace the muzzle once and inner ears twice onto medium pink cardstock. Trace the horn once onto yellow cardstock. Trace the outer ears twice onto white cardstock. Trace the closed eyes twice onto black cardstock. Trace the cheeks twice and nostrils twice onto light pink cardstock.

Paper templates of hearts, ears, eyelashes, and a unicorn horn traced onto colored cardstock with scissors nearby.

Cut out all pieces carefully, cutting just inside the traced lines for a clean finish.

Cut out paper pieces including pink ears, yellow horn, black eyelashes, and heart shapes arranged on a table.

Step 4: Create the Rainbow Mane

Using scissors, cut strips approximately 1 inch wide and 5 to 6 inches long from medium pink, orange, yellow, bright green, blue, and lavender cardstock.

Strips of brightly colored paper cut into long rectangles for the unicorn mane.

Starting with lavender at the top, fold about a half inch of the strip and glue it to the side of the box. Continue layering and gluing the rainbow strips down the side until the mane is complete. Trim any excess length as needed.

Step 5: Assemble the Unicorn Face

Glue the inner ears to the outer ears and attach the nostrils to the muzzle.

Pink ears being attached to the top of the covered cereal box with a hot glue gun.

Glue the muzzle to the bottom front of the box. Attach the horn at the top center. Position the ears on either side of the horn. Glue the cheeks just above the muzzle and the closed eyes above the cheeks.

Nearly finished unicorn box with rainbow paper mane attached to one side and facial features glued in place.

Outline the horn with gold glitter glue and set aside to dry completely.

To finish, add your child’s name to the mailbox using stickers or a marker before sending it to school.

Your magical mailbox is ready for Valentine’s Day cards!

Completed unicorn Valentine’s Day box decorated with a yellow horn, closed eyes with lashes, pink cheeks, heart details, and colorful mane, surrounded by conversation heart candies.

Please Share This Unicorn Valentines Day Box

Did you make this Unicorn Valentine Mailbox with your kiddos? I would love to see it. Share your finished creations and tag me so we can celebrate your colorful classroom magic together.