Do you have a friend or two you’d like to surprise with a fun Valentine’s Day gift? How about making them a Valentine’s Day Party in a Box! Everything they need to decorate and celebrate.
I put together a Valentine’s Day Party in a Box for a few of our friends and family members – the ones we won’t get to see on Valentine’s Day. I wanted them to have a fun surprise, and something to show them how much I love them.
Listed below are the items I’ve included in my boxes, as well as the notes I wrote for each item. Hopefully these ideas will inspire you.
We entertain a lot, often with “themed” parties. I believe there are four basic things every party needs, so I made sure to include these things in the box:
- Decorations
- Treats and/or Snacks
- Beverages
- Activities
Click any image or link for more information about the item and where you can purchase them. NOTE: The links below allow you to assemble several party boxes.
The links in this post contain affiliate links. I’ll receive a small commission (at no expense to you) if you make a purchase after clicking on my link. Thank you for your support!
Decorations
Red Heart Pool Floatie
I know, this may seem a strange thing to include as a decoration, but… it’s basically a large red heart! Once it’s blown up, it makes quite an impression. And, it can be saved and used in the pool in the Summer.
TEXT FOR YOUR NOTE: Here’s a big red heart to show you how much I love you. Blow it up and lean it against a wall, place it on a couch, or set it outside your kids bedroom doors for a fun surprise on Valentine’s Day. Kids can lay in the heart on the floor while they watch “A Charlie Brown Valentine” – classic fun.
Red and White Balloons
Everyone loves balloons! Include a reusable heart shaped balloon, red and white polka dot balloons, and I LOVE YOU letter balloons. These mylar balloons can be inflated with a straw, and then deflated and stored to be reused another day.
TEXT FOR YOUR NOTE: Love is in the air, and so are balloons – inflating joy and lifting hearts for a Valentine’s Day to remember. Just use the included straw to blow them up and place them around your room or tape them to windows. They can be deflated and stored for another day.
LED Neon Heart
A bright neon heart light will definitely set the mood for love!
TEXT FOR YOUR NOTE: Glowing love, bright and bold – a neon heart light where warmth and romance unfold. Hang this light on a mirror or window to set the mood for Valentine’s Day love.
Red Heart Light String
A heart shaped light string casts a warm glow for a Valentine’s Day dinner.
TEXT FOR YOUR NOTE: Heart-shaped lights, a glowing embrace – casting warmth on love’s sweet space. Hang this light string on your dining room window for a soft glow during dinner.
Pink Valentine’s Day Tree
Add a fun pink Valentine’s Day tree for your friends to decorate. It also looks fun as it is.
TEXT FOR YOUR NOTE: Branches adorned in pink delight – a tree of love for Valentine’s night. Here’s a tree as a symbol of family. Decorate each branch with handmade ornaments, a string of lights, or leave it just as it is. Making ornaments is a fun activity to do as a family – use air dry clay, salt dough clay, or construction paper and markers. Be creative!
LED Flameless Heart Candles
These heart shaped flameless candles are fun to scatter around a room or group together as a centerpiece.
TEXT FOR YOUR NOTE: Turn on the candles and watch love glow. Use them together as a centerpiece, or let each person take one to bed with them as a loving nightlight.
Flower Petal Confetti
Everyone loves a little mess with confetti! Include a bunch of flower petals to spread the love.
TEXT FOR YOUR NOTE: Petals in the air, love everywhere! Sprinkle the petals outside each family member’s bedroom as a fun surprise to wake up to on Valentine’s Day.
Heart Gift Bags
Include several cellophane gift bags for your friends to use for special Valentine’s Day gifts or treats.
TEXT FOR YOUR NOTE: Small bags, big surprise – the magic of giving neatly disguised. Use these bags to hold bubbles and kisses and other small gifts for your family.
Treats
Strawberry Heart Cakes
Include a box of Strawberry Cake Mix, Buttercream Frosting, Red Sprinkles, and Heart Shaped Cake Pans with Lids and your friend will be able to whip up a batch of perfectly pink and tasty cake.
TEXT FOR YOUR NOTE: Hey sweet stuff! Here are the supplies you’ll need to make a batch of sweetheart cakes (just add eggs and oil). Make the cakes the day before Valentine’s Day, then give them as a sweet surprise to your family on Valentine’s Day. Or, turn this into an activity you can do with your family and make the cakes together. If you have extra cakes, give them to your neighbor, or pop them in the freezer and save them for another day. Enjoy!
Hershey’s Kisses
Of course you have to include a bunch of kisses! A package of Hershey’s Kisses with red and pink foil will certainly show your friends and family how much you care.
TEXT FOR YOUR NOTE: A KISS for you – the sweetest gift sealed with love. Enjoy the kisses in a bowl on your counter for anyone to enjoy, or save a few and place them on the pillows of your loved ones as a surprise before they go to bed.
Beverages
Drink Pouch Punch
Include several drink pouches with your favorite recipe for a pink or red punch. Drink pouches are fun to drink out of – they’re something different. Kids love them, too. And, they can be reused, and even frozen.
TEXT FOR YOUR NOTE: Sip, seal, and savor – a drink pouch, turning sips into moments of pure delight. Use the funnel to add your favorite pink or red beverage, chill or freeze, and enjoy. (The pouches can be washed and reused for another day). Pouches are perfect for easy punches (combine pink lemonade with ginger ale), or for adults – add a shot of vodka for a fun cocktail.
Activities
Valentine’s Day Bubbles
Everyone loves blowing bubbles, including adults. Include a bunch of bubble wands for a fun activity.
TEXT FOR YOUR NOTE: Life is better with bubbles – a momentary burst of joy in every breath. Blow bubbles with your dinner – it’s an unexpected surprise at dinner.
Love Notes
Include a bunch of blank cards and envelopes so your friends can write love notes to their family members. This is also a fun activity for kids to do. The finished notes could become the ornaments on the Valentine’s Day tree. If you want, you could also use your color printer and print out a bunch of vintage Die-Cut Valentine’s Day Cards or vintage Valentine’s Day Postcards (I have a bunch on the blog for my vintage shop).
TEXT FOR YOUR NOTE: Ink from the heart – love notes on Valentine’s Day. Use these cards and envelopes to write love notes to your family members. Leave the notes in their pockets, on their pillows, or under their dinner plates. A fun memento.
Decorate Together
Decorating for Valentine’s Day is a family affair! Kids enjoy helping put up the decorations. After the holiday, save everything for next year.
TEXT FOR YOUR NOTE: Trimming the Valentine’s Day tree, hanging the lights, and creating memories – holiday decorating is a family affair that sparkles with love. Have fun decorating together!
Assemble Your Box
Once you’ve gathered all the items you want to include in your Party in a Box, it’s time to put everything together.
Cardboard Box
I reused some boxes I had for the main gift box. Here’s what you do:
- Carefully undo the box so that it is flat.
- With the outside of the box facing up (the used side), remove any shipping labels and excess tape, then use red and pink acrylic paints to paint what will be the inside of the box when you reassemble it.
- Allow that painted side to dry, then reassemble the box with the painted side facing in. Use a hot glue gun or tape to reassemble the box. Make sure to leave the top of the box open.
- After the box is reassembled, paint the outside of the box.
If you prefer, you could use markers or chalk markers on the cardboard without painting it, or you could embellish the box with decoupage, stickers, lace, dollies, or washi tape – be creative! - After the box is completely decorated, it’s time to fill the box with all your goodies! You could use tissue paper or paper shred as “stuffing” for the box for each piece to be nestled into.
- Seal the top of the box and you’re ready to give it as a gift!
Gift Tag
Add a gift tag to each box. This is optional, but does add a personal touch. My tag says “A Valentine’s Day Party in a Box – love, joy, laughter, and sweet memories inside”.
Additional Tips
- You can find used boxes from your local grocery store, or maybe even from neighbors.
- I recommend a box that is roughly 12″ tall x 10″ wide x 15″ long, but other sizes will work as well.
- You don’t necessarily have to turn the box inside out – I only did that because the outside of the boxes had labels and tape on them so it looked better with this side being the inside of the box. If you’re decoupaging the box, turning it inside out isn’t as important.
- If you can’t find a box, decorate a paper grocery bag and turn this idea into a Valentine’s Day “Party in a Bag”.
So there you have it – the makings of a Valentine’s Day Party in a Box! If you make this for your friends, share a comment below and let me know how it went!
Did you like this article? Follow me on social media for even more!
I save fun things to Pinterest, share information on Facebook, and occasionally post to Instagram.
Click to sign up for email updates so you never miss a thing.
And…. go back to my Home Page for even MORE fun!
