I've never been a fan of wrapping paper and tissue paper being used once and then thrown away. A while ago, I started saving both of these things to reuse. If someone gave me a gift and the paper looked like it was still in good shape, I would fold it up neatly and store it away in my gift bin.
I swear my toddler plays with the cardboard box toys I make her more than her store-bought toys. I recently saw an idea on Pinterest on turning an old box into a regular blue postal box that I thought was really cute. Since it was getting close to Christmas, I decided to do a "Letters To Santa" postal box using old red tissue paper, some old wrapping paper, and some other craft supplies I had around the house. Keep reading to see how to make your own แฆใโกโน)ใโก
** What You Need:**
- Old box (height > width)
- Recycled red tissue paper and/or wrapping paper
- Glue gun/clear packing tape
- Extra piece of cardboard with same width as box (to go over the top of the box)
- Paper towel roll (cut into four even pieces)
- Scissors
- Extra supplies to decorate the mailbox
1. Cut side flaps of box into a half-circle shape and fold slightly inward.
2. Use a glue gun to glue the flaps together where the arrows are pointing.
3. Curve the other piece of cardboard over the top of the mailbox and hot glue it on both ends to the back and front of the mailbox.
4. Cut a small slit in the top front of the mailbox for incoming mail.
5. Cut a larger door in the middle of the mailbox for retrieving the mail. (I cut it in the back, but you could also do the front.)
6. Wrap the mailbox with reused tissue paper or wrapping paper. I suggest wrapping it the same way you would wrap a gift. Hide loose edges by folding it inside and securing it with glue. Be sure to cut a hole in the tissue when covering the mail slit and wrap the door separately.
7. Cut tissue paper to wrap around each paper towel roll. Secure it with glue. Turn mailbox on its side and hot glue each mailbox foot to the bottom. Hold each until it dries.
8. Decorate the mailbox with a "Letters to Santa" sign and other wrapping paper prints, stickers, etc.
Tip: use a hole punch around the edges of a piece of square cardstock to create a stamp shape.
** Another tip: Use the packing tape to tape over some of the glued-on stuff. I do this because it keeps my toddler from ripping things off.
Thanks for reading, and Happy Holidays! ๐
