St. Valentine's Day Mailboxes

St. Valentine's Day is coming up tomorrow, and we are finally starting to get ready!  With a birthday just one week before Valentine's Day, I never seem to have the time to do all the things I would like to do, to get ready for this fun feast day.

Every year we have wanted to make "Valentine Mailboxes" and just never have had the opportunity. . . (My kids always end up using a shoe box or paper/gift bag for the cards they receive.)   This year, inspired by the darling Pottery Barn Kids Valentine Chair Backer and a number of crafty versions on Etsy, we decided to make our own using some empty cereal boxes, scrapbook paper, images of St. Valentine and ribbon.

First I cut the box, measuring 7" from the bottom to form the base for our mail box.  I cut down the side of the box first - saving the front and back to make the top flap. 

Next I put Mod Podge all over the front to attach the scrap book paper.   I cut it slightly larger than the front and then trimmed where/when necessary.  I then continued to attach the paper to all the sides and bottom of the box.

After that I took the remaining cereal box and made a flap.  I used double sided tape to stick the two pieces together, as shown in the picture above, before covering both sides with scrapbook paper.  

Next I burned the heck out of my finger hot glued a ribbon around the top of the box... Note the bowl of ice/water in the picture! ;)  Now you all know why I prefer to "craft" with food and melted chocolate!

We added a little more ribbon to the front flap, strategically covering up a little tear in the paper with our "bow" and adding a loop to the back for hanging the box. 

We also cut out the birds and clouds from the leftover scraps of paper and glued them onto the back. 

I thought it turned out darling! 

After Twinkle Toes' Princess Mailbox was finished, Rascal and I started on his.   Quite appropriately, he opted for a real Saint Valentine Mailbox.

Rascal still is trying to decide on a quote to add to the right side of the box.  

Next up was Chiquita's mailbox.  

 She also really enjoyed picking out her scrapbook paper.   

She was very happy that we were able to line up the butterfly to fit on the top flap... 

... and she loved the cheery flowers for the back. 

Captain also decided to use a picture of St. Valentine, along with some "camouflage" looking paper with fleur-de-lis, a symbol for Our Lady.  He was very pleased with the results.   Like Rascal, he too is trying to decide on a quote to add to the front.

Now if we could just finish up the actual cards, and make one or two more mailboxes for Snuggles and Rose... we will be almost ready for tomorrow!