Kids will have fun delivering their Valentine cards and letters in a handmade mailbag. This art activity engages fine motor and creative skills as kids make a mailbag to use in pretend play.
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Mailing cards and letters is an important part of Valentine’s Day activities. A Valentine-themed mailbag adds a personal touch to the Valentine’s Day card exchange.
Kids can fill the mailbags with Valentine cards they make themselves at home or in the classroom. They’ll have fun role playing ‘mail carriers’ as they deliver the homemade cards to friends and family.
This paper mailbag is easy to make with everyday craft materials.
Valentine paper mailbag craft
There are a couple different options for making a mailbag, depending on your available materials and preferences.
The mailbag can be made with a brown paper bag – a lunch bag or flat card bag – or red or pink cardstock.
You’ll need crayons, markers, stickers or other art supplies to decorate the mailbag. (affiliate links)
You’ll also need heart shape cutouts in different sizes.
Instructions for a mailbag craft
Step 1.
Cut out two rectangles approximately 6 x 8 in. (15 x 20 cm) from card stock for the mailbag.
Step 2.
Cut two heart shapes from cardstock, either the same color as the bag or in a contrasting color.
Cut out a center portion of each heart, leaving a border to form the handles.
Step 3.
Tape or staple one heart shaped handle to each mailbag shape. If you staple, cover the staples with tape.
Note: I like to use a tape dispenser for craft projects. It allows you to to keep one hand free to hold the project.
Step 4.
Tape three sides of the mailbag, leaving the top edge open. You can also reinforce the sides by gluing or stapling before taping.
Step 5.
Decorate your mailbag with stickers, crayons, markers or other craft supplies.
Your mailbag is ready for pretend play, mailing Valentine cards to family and friends!
Fun with a Valentine mailbag
This is an easy craft kids will love. Add this to your Valentine theme to support a child-led activity.
Fill the different spaces in your classroom with Valentine themed materials to support pretend play with a mail room and a card-creating center.
- Art corner: Make craft materials available for making Valentine cards.
- Play area: Set up a post office station where kids can mail and collect Valentine cards, to fill their mailbags. Deliver the cards to friends in the classroom, or to stuffies and other toy characters.
Valentine’s Day is an opportunity for learning through play with crafts and pretend play. Start with this simple mailbag craft to inspire hands-on engagement with props and materials.
