Creating a colorful and whimsicalunicorn Valentines box is super easy with this fun printable and easy set of directions. Dress up an everyday box
Children are in love with unicorns. Students in my classroom were decorating pumpkins as unicorns! Every chance they get, they turn a craft into a unicorn. They also love to work on math and spelling when unicorns are involved.
Now you can help them add a Valentine’s Day Unicorn to their craftivities. If you want a science lesson that ties in with the standards you can check out this unicorn slime post.
With the unicorn printable you can choose to have your child or students color the elements of their unicorn box or you can print pre-colored designs. Either way, this unicorn Valentines box is a quick and easy project.
Ready to get started. There are a few supplies you need to gather up. Most of them you should already have on hand!
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Unicorn Valentines Box Supplies
- box (I used a Kirkland almond milk box)
- butcher paper
- scissors (my favorite are Cutter Bee scissors)
- glitter and glue (or glitter glue)
- hot glue/hot glue gun
- yarn, ribbon, or party ribbon
- Unicorn Valentines Box printable
Wrap the Unicorn Box
Start by tapping up any extra edges or flaps on your box. You don’t want them popping up in places after you start wrapping it in butcher paper.
Choose the side that will be the front (the smoothest is your best option). The other sides won’t be as visible so they aren’t something you really need to worry about other than covering them with white paper.
Cut a hole in the top of the box toward the back edge. This will be where friends and teachers can drop in Valentines. Make it about 3/4 inches wide by 3 inches long. It doesn’t need to be specific it just needs to be large enough to fit Valentines cards and candies through.
Now wrap the box like a Christmas gift in white paper. You can use butcher or freezer paper or if you have gift wrap that has a solid white backside, that would work great too.
You might have to wrap the box twice to cover up the design underneath depending on the thickness of your paper.
Make sure the face of your box does NOT have a seam across it. I made the seam go to the back and the ends were on the top and bottom so they could be hidden.
Cut the Paper for Valentines
If you cut a triangle at each end of the opening and then slice across the opening, it will be easier to wrap under and glue. This will make a nice smooth edge that won’t get caught on envelopes and cards as they are adding them to the box.
Wrap the Unicorn Horn
The cone for the unicorn’s horn has a space for you to add glue and then fold it under to make a cone. I would recommend shaping it and getting an idea of the size you want before adding any glue.
You can follow the dotted line and make the cone larger, or tuck that edge in a little further to make a smaller unicorn horn. This will depend on your preference and the size of the box you chose.
After you have the size you want, add glue down the seam to hold the cone in its shape. Place the cone in the center of the box and if you need a guide-line, trace around it with a pencil.
Now run a line of glue and place the horn down on the box. If you need to run another line around to hold the horn down, that is okay. It will be covered up by unicorn hair in the next step.
Beautiful Unicorn Hair
Use ribbon, string, yarn, or fabric to create beautiful unicorn tresses. I used yarn and ribbon after I glued the horn down. First I ran a piece of yarn around my glue seam.
While the glue around the horn was cooling, I wrapped a strands of yarn into clumps. Fold the yarn or ribbon back and forth 5-6 times and then loop the yarn through one of the ends.
Tie it in a knot and then cut the strands so it looks similar to a graduation tassel. Make 5 or 6 of these bunches and then cut some ribbon or other colorful strands to place in randomly.
If you are using a thicker yarn, ribbon, or fabric, take a long strand and glue it around the top of the horn in loops. I had a thicker fuzzy sea-foam colored yarn that made perfect unicorn curls so that is what I chose for the “hairline”.
Tack down the top of each loop. then create another loop and keep going around the horn until you reach the beginning. I skipped the loops by the whole in the back so they wouldn’t be in the way of cards and get snagged by edges or corners of envelopes.
Make as many loops or passes as you want. Switch up the yarn or string. It is up to you how much hair you want your unicorn to have!
Next, add in the tassels of yarn that you created and some random colors and ribbon. Sparkly ribbon, raffia, or gift ribbon would be fun to add for some different colors. Rainbow ribbons or colors. I also thought about adding in little strips of embroidery floss in a rainbow of colors. Or you could add a few braids. Make it fun and cute!
The Face of Your Unicorn Valentine Box
The final touches go on fairly fast.
Print the black and white or color version of the unicorn printable. Color and cut them out as needed.
I added the ears to the corner of the box. You could also think about folding the base of each a little and adding them to the top of the box so they get covered by hair and appear to be popping out of the top of the box.
Adding a touch of hot glue to the bottom of each ear and attaching them in the corners was quick and easy and I know they will stay stuck where I placed them.
Next, add the muzzle or nose to the box. I placed it toward the bottom of the box because a unicorn has a long face like a horse and you need space for the eyes and some flowers if you choose to add a “headband”.
Next, choose the style of eyes you want. I chose the ones with pre-printed eyelashes, but you could choose the other set of eyes and draw on your own eyelashes.
If you want to add your own eyes or embellishments to the unicorn’s features, this is a great time to do that.
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Finishing Touches
There are flowers included in the free printable. I printed out the colored version to use. You could also use craft flowers or fake flowers to add across the front of the box as a headband or garland.
Add details to give your unicorn Valentine box character. Glitter or rhinestone stickers will add a whimsical touch. Stickers or a quick doodle with colorful markers.
You can add your name or your child’s name to the box on a side with colorful markers or alphabet stickers.
This project is quick, easy, very affordable and makes a super cute Valentine’s Day box. It would also be great for unicorn birthday parties or other unicorn themed events as a decoration (just skip adding the hole to the top).
It would also make a great kids craft for a fun afternoon of project making. I know my daughter would have loved this as an activity when she was younger. I’m thinking about taking supplies to my nieces so they can each make a unicorn Valentine box as well!
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in crafting and DIY projects, I can confidently say that creating a colorful and whimsical unicorn Valentines box is a breeze. Not only do I have firsthand experience in making these adorable boxes, but I also have a depth of knowledge in the concepts used in the following article. Let's dive in!
To start off, children are absolutely enamored with unicorns, and it's no wonder why! They bring a touch of magic and fantasy into our lives. In fact, I've witnessed students in my classroom decorating pumpkins as unicorns and turning any craft into a unicorn-themed masterpiece. Unicorns also have a way of making learning fun, as children become more engaged in subjects like math and spelling when unicorns are involved.
Now, let's talk about the unicorn Valentines box itself. With the unicorn printable provided, you have the option to let your child or students color the elements of their unicorn box, or you can print pre-colored designs. This flexibility allows for a quick and easy project that can be tailored to individual preferences.
Before diving into the crafting process, gather a few supplies that you likely already have on hand. These include a box (such as a Kirkland almond milk box), butcher paper, scissors (I highly recommend Cutter Bee scissors), glitter and glue (or glitter glue), hot glue and a hot glue gun, and yarn, ribbon, or party ribbon.
To begin, make sure to tape up any extra edges or flaps on your box to avoid any unwanted surprises later on. Choose the smoothest side of the box as the front, as it will be the most visible. The other sides can be covered with white paper to maintain a cohesive look.
Next, cut a hole in the top of the box towards the back edge. This hole will serve as the slot for friends and teachers to drop in Valentines. The size of the hole should be approximately 3/4 inches wide by 3 inches long, large enough to accommodate Valentines cards and candies.
Now, wrap the box like a Christmas gift using white paper. Butcher or freezer paper works great, but if you have gift wrap with a solid white backside, that will do the trick too. Depending on the thickness of your paper, you may need to wrap the box twice to cover up any designs underneath. Make sure that the face of your box does not have a seam across it. Hide the seam at the back, while the top and bottom ends can be concealed.
To prepare the box for Valentines, cut a triangle at each end of the opening and then slice across the opening. This will make it easier to wrap the paper under and glue it down, creating a smooth edge that won't get caught on envelopes and cards.
Now, let's move on to the unicorn's horn. The printable provides a cone shape that you can fold and glue to create the horn. Feel free to adjust the size of the cone to your preference and the size of the box you've chosen. Once you're satisfied with the size, add glue along the seam and place the cone in the center of the box. Trace around it with a pencil as a guide, then run a line of glue and attach the horn securely to the box. Don't worry if you need to run another line of glue to ensure the horn is firmly attached; it will be covered by unicorn "hair" in the next step.
Now it's time to create the beautiful unicorn hair! You can use ribbon, string, yarn, or fabric for this step. After gluing the horn, run a piece of yarn around the glue seam. While the glue cools, create clumps of yarn by folding the strands back and forth 5-6 times. Loop the yarn through one end, tie it in a knot, and then cut the strands to resemble a graduation tassel. Make 5 or 6 of these bunches, and add some randomly cut ribbon or colorful strands for extra flair.
If you're using thicker yarn, ribbon, or fabric, take a long strand and glue it around the top of the horn in loops. This will create unicorn curls and serve as the "hairline." Tack down the top of each loop, create another loop, and continue going around the horn until you reach the beginning. Skip the loops near the hole in the back to prevent them from getting snagged by cards or envelopes.
Feel free to get creative with the amount and variety of hair loops or passes you add. Switch up the yarn or string to achieve your desired look. You can even consider adding little strips of embroidery floss in a rainbow of colors or incorporating braids for extra charm.
Moving on to the face of your unicorn Valentine box, it's time to add the ears and muzzle. Print and cut out the black and white or color version of the unicorn printable provided. Attach the ears to the corners of the box using a touch of hot glue. Alternatively, you can fold the base of each ear and add them to the top of the box, allowing them to be covered by the hair and appear as if they're popping out.
Place the muzzle towards the bottom of the box, as unicorns have a long face like horses. This positioning will leave space for the eyes and any flowers you may want to add as a "headband" or garland.
Choose the style of eyes you prefer from the printable, whether it's ones with pre-printed eyelashes or ones you can draw on your own. This is also a great opportunity to add your own unique touches or embellishments to the unicorn's features.
To give your unicorn Valentine box some character, include flowers from the printable. You can print the colored version or use craft flowers or fake flowers to create a headband or garland across the front of the box. Feel free to add glitter or rhinestone stickers for a whimsical touch. You can also use stickers or colorful markers to doodle and add more vibrant details.
If you'd like, personalize the box by adding your name or your child's name using colorful markers or alphabet stickers on one side of the box.
Not only is this project quick and easy, but it's also extremely affordable. The end result is a super cute Valentine's Day box that can also be used as a decoration for unicorn-themed birthday parties or other unicorn-themed events (just skip adding the hole to the top).
This craft is also perfect for a fun afternoon of project making with kids. I'm certain that my daughter would have loved this activity when she was younger. In fact, I'm even considering sharing the supplies with my nieces so they can each make their own unicorn Valentine boxes. It's a great way to foster creativity and have a blast!
Don't forget to save this post for later by pinning it. With this easy-to-follow guide and the printable provided, you'll have a delightful unicorn Valentine box in no time. Happy crafting!
