Break out the paints, pastels and pretty papers—because it’s time for a whole new round of Valentine’s box ideas. Your kiddo needs to prep for their school’s holiday party (they’re back!), and we’ve got ideas that include everything from a unicorn valentine box to heart-printed paper. So go ahead and break out the cardboard shoe boxes you’ve been saving all year, it’s time to get crafty. See our favorites below.

Wrapping Paper Unicorn

hello, Wonderful

With a printable template in hand and a roll of your kiddo’s fave patterned wrapping paper, you can create this adorable unicorn valentine box from hello, Wonderful!

R2D2

Joys of Boys

Head to your local Dollar store, pick up a white swivel-top trash can and you're halfway to making this simple R2D2 Valentine Box. Joys of Boys Blogger (and mother of FOUR boys!) Kara Lewis has the instructions here. Bonus: If your Star Wars fanatic wants to send some Force-ful Valentine cards, check out her free Star Wars Valentine printables.

Unicorn Box

Sara Albers and Melissa Fenlon via Alice & Lois

We are in love with the bright colors and adorable graphics in this whimsical unicorn Valentine's Day box created by Alice & Lois for Oriental Trading Co. The best part? All you need to do is supply the paper. 

Rubik's Cube

Peppermint Plum

Go retro and create this cute Rubik's cube box from Peppermint Plum!

Punkin Patterns

It's a little bit traditional, a little shabby chic—this Valentine Box from Punkin Patterns lets you put your own special stamp on your project by wrapping a carefully folded cereal box with whatever scrapbook paper fits your kiddo's personal style. 

Faux Flower Unicorn

A Girl and Her Glitter

Make magic with this faux flower-filled unicorn art activity. Get the full how-to steps from A Girl and Her Glitter here.

Plaid Online

Your Valentine will be ready to pack up and head out with this easy project that makes a suitcase-style Valentine box. What's more, the case is just a repurposed cereal box (with a whole lot of decorations on top). Kids will love collecting their loot and then whisking their box away by the handles when the end-of-the-day bell rings. Get the instructions at Plaid Online.

Printed Paper

Mini Monets and Mommies

Forget about the plain holiday wrapping paper everyone else uses. Your child can get creative crafting their print for a stand-out Valentine’s Day box. Celebrate the winter season and use snow-like cotton balls to paint print heart shapes onto red or pink paper. Wait for the paint to dry and wrap a reused shoebox.

Easy-to-Make Monster

One Creative Mommy

Let's be honest: Not all parents have it in them to pull off a Pinterest-worthy project every time their kids have a special occasion. For moms and dads who don't have a lot of time (or money) to prep their kids' projects, this Valentine box is uber-simple (with a free printable!) and totally adorable. Head to One Creative Mommy to get the instructions.

Feed Me Box

Small Fry

For kids who want to get noticed, this "Feed Me" Valentine box is sure to do the trick. Your little ones will love seeing their silly faces magnified for this mailbox craft that uses your kids' wide-open mouths as the letter slots. Find out more from the crafty Mamas at Small Fry Blog.

A Real Mailbox

Make and Takes

Sometimes, the best Valentine's mailbox is simply, just... a mailbox. This Little Pink Mailbox project may take a little bit of thrift-store scouring to score the perfect mini mailbox, but once you find it, all you need is a fresh coat of paint to make it Valentine-ready. Plus, this little beauty can be used all year long (because, really, any day is a good day for a love note!). Get some inspiration from Kami at Make and Takes.

Mail Box Box

Camp Clem

Your kids will love the real postal box look of this "You've Got Mail(box)" created by southern mama Gina Cleminson at Camp Clem. The faux USPS box may look complicated, but it's all made with a shoebox, some carefully cut slabs of cardboard, and a printed logo.

—Melissa Heckscher and Erica Loop

Featured image: iStock 

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Cutting out box tops to help your kiddos schools is almost a rite of passage as a parent, but did you know you can still help your local school without destroying all the cereal boxes in your pantry? That’s right, there’s an app for that!

Box Tops for Education’s app lets parents ditch the scissors by scanning in their receipts and still raking in the funds to help out. All you have to do is use the app to take a photo of your receipt (within 14 days of your purchase) and it will automatically locate eligible products for you, even updating your school’s earnings in real time!

While there are tons of participating products that can be scanned using the app, if you come across an older Box Top you can still clip and send to your school. Every coupon is still worth $.10.

In even better news, Box Tops’ just unveiled a brand new feature where you can select schools in need and direct your funds there for added support. According to the Education Trust, low-income schools receive almost $1,000 less per student in state and local funding so each and every Box Top helps out in a big way.

If you’d like to learn more about how Box Tops’ new in-app feature is helping schools in need, you can head here.

––Karly Wood

 

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It’s hard to resist the sweet, sweet goodness that is a Rice Krispies treat. Now you don’t have to feel guilty about enjoying the dessert bliss at breakfast, thanks to a brand new product from Nestle!

Coffee mate Rice Krispies Treats Flavored Creamer packs all the flavors of marshmallow and toasted cereal you’ve been enjoying since your childhood. The drinkable treat pairs well with any style coffee, and let’s be honest––a baked treat on the side.

photo: Courtesy of Nestle

The fun new flavor will hit retailers nationwide in Jan. 2022. While you’ll have to wait a few more months to get your hands on the new creamer, it’s still plenty of time to perfect your Rice Krispies treat recipe to go right along with it.

––Karly Wood

 

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There’s nothing better then enjoying a cold Wendy’s Frosty on a hot day. Now you can take your love of the chocolatey treat to the breakfast table!

Kellogg’s is teaming up with the fast food restaurant on the ultimate breakfast: Wendy’s Frosty Chocolatey Cereal. The limited edition cereal is packed with round cereal bites coated in cocoa and mixed with chocolate flavored marshmallows.

photo: Kellogg’s

Did we also mention that each box comes with an offer to snag a free small Frosty on the Wendy’s app? Hold on to that excitement: you’ll have to wait until Dec. to get your box of Wendy’s Frosty Chocolatey Cereal.

An eight ounce box will cost you $4 and a 13 ounce size a little over $5.

––Karly Wood

 

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Once shops start breaking out pumpkin spice everything you know it’s almost here—Halloween! Even if you’re not a kid going trick or treating, it’s still so fun to pretend to be someone (or something) else for the day and take in all the creative costumes around you. Not human? No problem! Halloween is an inclusive event and all of your furry friends are welcome to get in on the Halloween spirit. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite, easy (no sewing required) costume ideas that will have your pet fitting right in with your ghoulishly fun fam—happy haunting!

Caring for a family pet has its own set of tricks and treats! Hill’s Pet provides science-backed nutrition for every age, size and need and makes it easier to support your pet’s needs. Learn more about how Hill’s helps pet owners stay a step ahead.

Beanie Baby

Are you a 90’s baby? Then you should turn your pet into a Beanie Baby, baby! This one is great for cats or dogs. It’s minimal but so sweet and nostalgic. All you need is some felt to cut out the heart-shaped tag and a white marker or paint. Just attach the tag to their real-life collar and they are as cute as the coveted "it" collectibles of their day. Get ready for lots of smiles on your daily walk.

Coffee Cup

If your pet is on the smaller side, this one is perfection: Turn your furry friend into your favorite cuppa joe! All you need is some cardboard or poster board, some inspo for the cup logo from your favorite coffee joint, a lid to top it off and some fabric elastic to tie it all together. This costume idea is HOT!

“Hairy Pawter” aka “Harry Potter”

It’s everyone’s favorite young wizard (just furrier than you remember...) This one is a crowd-pleaser for sure and it doesn’t take any wizardry on your part, just a few bucks for supplies. You’ll need some felt, hot glue and pipe cleaners to make those iconic specs. You can find loads of pictures of Harry Potter online, simply pick a look and be inspired! Not into research? Just put together the glasses, that famous scarf with strips of felt and the lightning bolt "scar" and you are good to go!

Cereal Bowl or Martini Glass

The “cone of shame” can’t ruin your pet’s costume game! Truly make it work, by turning your pet into a bowl of fruit-colored cereal! Head to your local craft store and buy some multi-colored foam—then cut it into circles and “toss” into their cone. Cut out a spoon shape from cardboard and spray silver to complete the cutest bowl of cereal you’ve ever seen.

Cones are so cool, they can also turn your pet into a walking martini! Pick up some foam ovals at any craft store, spray green, and skewer with a plastic rod or stick—cheers!

Ballerina Tutu or Cheerleader

Because pets can be pretty light on their toes, not to mention flexible (hello, downward dog yoga pose), turn your friend into a ballerina with the perfect tutu! This one is good for pets that aren’t into the full costume vibe. All you need is some tulle, fabric elastic and velcro tape to hold it in place. Measure your pet’s “waist” so you know how large to make the band. Then cut strips of tulle and tie them onto the band however you please.

Want to rep your fav team? This look doubles as a cheerleader uniform—just use tulle in your team's colors and accessorize as little or as much as you want.

 

—Jamie Aderski

An elf’s four major food groups are candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup. General Mills holiday cereals are hitting shelves now and that includes the return of your coveted Elf cereal.

To add to the excitement, everyone’s winter favorite, Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch is back by popular demand.

Elf Cereal

This maple-flavored cereal (Buddy’s favorite flavor) offers delicious green and red holiday tree marshmallows and maple-flavored corn puff cereal pieces in every spoonful.

You can find Elf Cereal in grocery retailers nationwide for a limited time this holiday season. Boxes retail for $2.50 for a mid-size box and $3.99 for the family size.

Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch

Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch is returning to shelves again for another sweet and festive winter season. Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch brings its classic holiday flavor to Cinnamon Toast Crunch for a whole new way to enjoy the delicious taste of sugar cookies – perfect for a festive breakfast or cozy afternoon snack.

You can find Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch in grocery retailers nationwide for a limited time. Boxes retail for $2.50 mid-size / $3.99 family size.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of General Mills

 

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Krispy Kreme is on a roll! Today the beloved chain launched its first-ever cinnamon rolls to make your breakfast run even sweeter. And yes, there’s one topped with Cinnamon Toast Crunch!

For a limited time you can buy the Original Glazed Cinnamon Roll or the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cinnamon Roll, topped with your fave childhood cereal and finished with a cereal milk icing swirl. Don’t mind us as we drool all over our screens.

Instead of the traditional frosting, Krispy Kreme opted to use its iconic donut glaze for the rolls. They’re hand-rolled and feature a yeast-raised dough, because the best baked goods always take time. Grab them individually or in a special four pack, in shops and online at participating locations.

Unfortunately for cinnamon roll fans, these babies are only around until October 10. Grab one this week and enjoy it with Krispy Kreme’s fall drinks!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Krispy Kreme

 

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What if you could make Cinnamon Toast Crunch even better? That’s what General Mills is promising this fall and it sounds absolutely delicious. Apple Pie Toast Crunch will be hitting store shelves for the first time ever next month, plus a couple other seasonal favorites!

Using the crunchy whole wheat and rice cereal base of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, the new cereal will offer the taste of apple pie in every bite. Ready to up the ante? General Mills recommends mixing it with Dulce de Leche Toast Crunch to create a caramel apple in your bowl.

But if you’re ready to skip straight ahead to the holidays, you’ll love this next piece of news. Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch and Elf Cereal are coming back to a store near you! The Elf in particular sounds amazing: it’s maple flavored cereal with four new marshmallow shapes in candy, candy corn, candy cane and syrup.

You’ll be able to scoop all of these cereals starting in early October at retailers nationwide. Boxes will retail at $2.50 each for a midsize, or $3.50 for a family size. The most important meal of the day is getting a serious upgrade!

––Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of General Mills

 

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If you’re like us and believe that marshmallows are the best part of kid’s cereals, you’ll love this news. Lucky Charms Just Magical Marshmallows is back! For a limited time, you can buy packs of the puffy treats at local retailers, cereal not included.

Lucky Charms says they’re great for snacking, baking or simply adding a few more mallows to your breakfast bowl. Inside each pouch you’ll find hearts, stars and horseshoes, clovers and blue moons, unicorns, rainbows and tasty red balloons. They’re selling for around $4 at retailers and already listed for much more than that on the secondary market.

The pouches come in eight collectible designs with one of the magical marshmallows starring in each. And while they’re not exactly a health food, they are gluten free! See if you can snag a pouch near you before they disappear!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of General Mills

 

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Country roads…take me home…to the pumpkin spice latteeee. West Virginia is the king of pumpkin spice consumption, according to new data from Instacart. Fittingly launched right as Starbucks returns the ultra-popular PSL, the survey revealed the hottest seasonal flavor trends and the states most (and least) likely to jump on the pumpkin bandwagon.

Unsurprisingly, Hawaii is the least likely state to purchase pumpkin spice products on Instacart, probably due to the absence of a real seasonal fall. Meanwhile, West Virginia is 122% more likely to buy, followed by Iowa (90%), North Carolina (62%) and Ohio (60%). Other pumpkin averse states? Washington D.C., Louisiana and Massachusetts.

The top pumpkin spice products on Instacart? They’re all breakfast related! Coffee creamer came out on top, followed by the actual spice, ground coffee, cream cheese and bread. The company found that quick oats, protein bars, pumpkin and waffle mix and cereal are also hot pumpkin-themed products compared to 2019.

Instacart also noted that searches for pumpkin spice products started early this year, in late July. Retailers haven’t been hesitant to hype up their offerings either, from cup noodles to cookie dough to blizzards. Love it or hate it, the craze is on!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Ryan Christodoulou, Unsplash 

 

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