Decorating Tips for Valentine's Day Gift Boxes

Whether you buy into the idea of Valentine’s Day or not, keep in mind that you need to plan for it when you decide to celebrate this holiday. If you’ve ever been at a supermarket or any retail store during Valentine’s Day, you will witness the scramble of the poor unfortunates who need to buy flowers and boxes of candy at the last minute. This does not include the many couples who insist on dining at popular, but crowded restaurants on Valentine’s Day.

As far as showing the love, creativity means a lot on Valentine’s Day. Whether you have a couple of hours or several days, there is time to decorate inexpensive Valentine’s Day gift boxes for your sweetie and whoever you have on your gift list. Most of the supplies listed below are inexpensive and can be found at the local craft stores or any store carrying art supplies. Here is what you will need:

Supplies

Inexpensive cardboard gift boxes of all sizes

Sheets of decorative paper (found at any craft or art supply store)

Spray paint

Acrylic paint (cheap--starting at 99 cents for a small bottle at any crafts store like Michael’s)

Spray sealer

Glue gun or white craft glue

Paint brushes of all sizes

Mod Podge (for the art of decoupage)

Paper cups, paper plates or meat trays to hold paint and Mod Podge (again, let’s get cheap)

Decorations found around the house, including sea shells, wine corks, bottle caps, Valentine’s Day decorations, etc. These can be glued to the top and sides of the boxes.

What is a Design Element?

In the world of fiber arts, the term, design element, means that the creator of a piece has added a mistake that could not be corrected. In other words, the artist screwed up! Learn from fiber artists and don’t agonize over mistakes or the fact that what you make for your loved one is far from the perfect product that you had pictured in your mind. Love what you are making and be proud that you took the time to create it. Be confident that your gift will be loved and admired. Gifts, no matter what shape they are in, need to be given away.

Instructions

Spray boxes in the color of your choice and let the paint dry. Shown here is a quick spray of white, which was used as base paint.

The Simple Painted Box

Simple brown cardboard boxes are attractive in a rustic way. For a quick and easy gift box, use a base paint, and then paint the box with the color of your choice, using acrylic paint. Let the paint dry, and then seal the paint with Mod Podge or spray sealer. Unless you feel that the box will be tossed as soon as the gift is given, always seal your work to preserve the paint. When you use Mod Podge, you don’t have to take it outside or wait for a nice day outdoors to use spray sealer. Once the Mod Podge is dry, this box is ready for gift giving.

Decorate the Simple Painted Box

Feel creative? After you have painted the box and have sealed it, is yours to decorate. Here are some suggestions:

1) Paint a saying on the top of the box that relates to Valentine’s Day like Amour, Lover, Secret Pal, etc. Romantics don’t need any help in this department.

2) Glue concert tickets or other mementos to the top of the box. Mementos that only the two of you would know about.

3) If you are beachcombers, add some shells or a sand dollar as decorations.

4) Comb the craft stores for cardboard cutouts and other decorations.

5) Get out your stamping equipment and what you have. Stamp away or decorate with cutouts and glitter.

6) Find items around the house to decorate. This includes wine corks and bottle tops.

7) Leave the painted box the way it is and let a fancy Valentine’s Day card do the talking.

8) Add a little decoupage to the box.

The Simple Painted Box Using a Little Decoupage

This painted box with the decoupage is easy to make. Don't be intimidated with a little decoupage because the process makes the painted box beautiful enough to use as a keepsake. Paint the box, then decoupage the top of the lid, the inner lid and the inner bottom of the box.

1) Paint the box and set aside to let the paint dry.

2) Trace the top of a box to a sheet of decorative paper. Cut three pieces.

3) Paint Mod Podge to the top of the box, and then carefully lay one of the paper pieces on the box top. Smooth paper over the Mod Podge to remove any bubbles or wrinkles. When dry, Mod Podge acts as a glue, and it also gives an attractive, shiny coat to the paper.

4) Let dry.

5) Repeat this process with the remaining cutouts of decorative paper. Use Mod Podge to glue the paper to the inner lid and the inner bottom of the box. After gluing the paper to the box, give it a top coat of Mod Podge, then set aside to dry.

6) When the decoupage process is complete, and the paper is shiny and dry, generously take a paint brush and paint Mod Podge over the sides of the box and the parts of the lid that are not decoupaged.

7) Let the Mod Podge dry, and apply another (or multiple coats if you wish) coat if desired. Don't forget to let the Mod Podge dry between coats.

8) Once dry, the box is ready for gift giving.

As you finish these boxes, you will find that they are simple and relaxing projects. Don’t be surprised if you make a painted or decoupage box for yourself or branch out and be inspired to make more complicated projects.

A little love, especially when it comes to one's creativity, never hurt anyone. Try it this Valentine's Day and see.