Help someone beat the winter blues with this DIY care package. It includes fun gift ideas and free printables for making a cute box of sunshine gift.
Care packages are a great way to show someone you care, especially if they are going through a tough time. You can make a care package for anyone – a friend, family member, or even a stranger. They’re perfect all year long because kindness is always in season! Put together a box of sunshine for someone today with this easy DIY care package tutorial and fun care package printable!
DIY Care Package
A care package is a gift box full of fun items. This can be a parcel or cardboard box filled with activities, foods, trinkets, luxury items and/or thoughtful gifts. They are typically sent to a person through the mail service (FedEx, USPS, UPS) but can also be hand delivered.
A care package doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should be thoughtful and personal. There are so many different ways to make a care package. You can include anything you think the recipient would appreciate, whether it’s food, activities, or just some words of encouragement. The sky’s the limit!
What do I put in a care package?
What happens when an amazing, scrapbook-loving mother of five starts loosing kids to college? She transfers her scrapbook making to college care packages. Kristen, an amazing mother and friend, has created some of the best care package ideas I have ever seen. She starts with a theme and she gets rolling with incredible items to put inside the packages.
You don’t have to be a mother of five or a former scrap-booker to make amazing gift boxes. You simply have to know what to put inside a care package. To make your own care package, start by gathering all of the items you want to include. Try to stay on a theme and go from there. Of course, the theme can be “a few of my favorite things…” (meaning personalize it to yourself and the gift receiver.)
Here are some ideas to get you started. Choose a few items from each category to make a special treat the gift receiver is sure to love!
Food Items: non-perishable snacks, candy, gum, tea, coffee, favorite foods, healthy snacks
Activities and Entertainment: books, puzzles, board games, crafts, adult coloring books
Encouragement: positive affirmations, encouraging quotes, a handwritten note, bible verse cards
Trinkets: Mugs, bookmarks, framed photo, postcard with a sweet gift message, favorite items
Once you have your care box items, it’s time to put together your care package!
Care Package Ideas
If you’re still not sure what items you’d like to add to your care package, take a few minutes to think about the person you’re giving it to. For example, a care package for a college student during exams might have some fun snacks, maybe a soft blanket, and a calendar of positive sayings.
Do they love sewing? Maybe reading is more their thing. It could be that their favorite thing in the world is you and some photos, and handmade items would be the perfect choice.
Care Package Ideas might include…
College
While many of us might have memories of late night parties and the ability to do whatever we want, college can be difficult. Being a way from home can leave college students feeling lonely and a bit insecure when it comes to new situations on campus. A college care package is perfect for reminding a young adult suffering from homesickness how much you love them. College care package ideas and opportunities are available all year long. Sweet treats and baked goods offer a taste of home during semester and final exams (add extra for the roommates!) In addition, college kids will appreciate a package offering a re-stockpile of essentials, school supplies, basic needs, and décor for the dorm room.
Military
Service members and/or military families will appreciate trinkets from home. Any family over seas or in a foreign country can tell you there are things they miss form home. Military care package ideas can include a piece of home include candies, foods and treats found in your common grocery store. This can include men and women on deployment or military spouses and kids displaced by service in a foreign country.
Birthday
You say it’s your birthday! Celebrate the birthdays of family and friends with a special occasion gift box. This can be something sent over UPS or even hand delivered yourself. A birthday care package is an excellent time to add the recipients favorite things. If working on a budget, put a birthday gift box together with the help of fellow family and friends for a really large and special care package.
Holidays
Play into the theme of a the holidays and make sure to include some of the most random holidays too. Easter, Christmas, Halloween, Valentine’s Day and St. Patricks’ Day are all perfect times to send a care package. Toss in all the themed candies and snack items that fit the holiday theme. For example, for Christmas include holiday lights, Christmas tree cakes, some of your favorite cookies, hot cocoa and maybe even an ugly Christmas sweater.
Sick
How about a care package for sick friend or cancer patient. Self-care items are excellent for those undergoing chemo, radiation or with other aliments. In a get well soon care package, add items like soup, lavender soap, chamomile tea, and other stress relief goodies like essential oils and a diffuser.
New Mom
A self care package is perfect for a new mom and young baby. In addition to a thoughtful gift for the new arrival, think of mom. What could you have used as a new mother? It’s hard to bundle sleep but what made aid in making the transition easier. Practical items might include new sleep shirt, your favorite coffee, a relaxing robe, bathtub tray or sleep mask are all excellent things she can use when around the house taking care of a new baby.
Thinking of You
There doesn’t have to be a reason for a care package for family and friends. Create a just because care package with favorite snacks and treats of a best friend, extended family or a long distance relationship to boyfriend or girlfriend.
How to Make a Box Of Sunshine
What makes a sunshine box perfect for anyone? Sunshine is a great gift theme for a friend or family member because it’s such a cheerful, happy thing. It really can be used for any of the care package ideas. Use for a new mom, cancer patient, college student, friend or even family. It’s the perfect way to show someone you’re thinking of them and that you wish them nothing but happiness!
To make your own little box of sunshine, start by gathering some of the items you want to include. We included many yellow things that are perfect for the “sunshine” theme.
Box of sunshine gift ideas can include thoughtful items like…
- Banana Chips
- Juicy Fruit gum
- Lays potato chips
- Honey
- Lemon Heads
- Lemon Tea
- OREO golden cookies
- Simply Lemonade
- Popcorn
- Sunscreen
- Yellow socks
- Sunglasses
- Sunflowers and other faux flowers
- Burt’s Bees lip balm
- Candle
- Peanut chocolate M&Ms
- Pencils
- Dish towel
- Drink mixes
- Rubber ducky
- Highlighters
- Glow Sticks
- Sticky notes
- Yellow confetti
- Yellow crinkle paper shreds
- Amazon gift card
- Yellow balloons
- Bananagrams Word Game
The list doesn’t end here. In your free box of sunshine care package printable set, there is a whole page of sunshine themed ideas in the kit, so there’s no stress trying to find the perfect items. Many of these care package ideas stick to a yellow or orange (sunshine) theme for good vibes and sheer fun!
Then find a decorative box or basket that will fit the items. Add some sunshine-themed items like sunglasses, a beach towel, sunblock, a good book for by the pool… anything that makes your friend beam.
Last but not least, don’t forget to add the adorable notes and printable tags from the box of sunshine printable PDF and you’re set! Consider printing on 8.5 x 11 sticker paper so you can cut, peel and place on the outside of the cardboard box.
Download the Box of Sunshine Care Package Printable Now
Shipping a Care Package
If you’re shipping the package, make sure to choose a sturdy box and reinforce the flaps so nothing gets damaged in transit. Fill the bottom of the box and around the items with packing peanuts or crumpled up paper. If you are using the sunshine theme, this yellow crinkle cut paper is ideal for not only a ray of sunshine when the package is open, but also for protection of contents. Filling the box with “fluff” will help keep your items from moving around too much.
There you have it! Your very own DIY care package complete with a fun care package printable and a box of sunshine that will make anyone smile. Now go make someone’s day today or plan this fun activity for Random Acts of Kindness Day!
More Cute Care Packages
Are you inspired? Want more DIY Cute Care Pcakges you can make?
Take a look at these fun gifts to send in the mail including monthly and seasonal themes as well has punny phrases! Find plenty of DIY Care Package Ideas and Printables for military members, care takers, college students, friends, girls, boys, and more.
Free Care Package Printable
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How to Print at Staples
Don’t have a printer? You can print at your local print shop or your Staples Printing Center. Watch this video for how I print my PDF documents at Staples.
Where to buy care packages?
If you’ve gotten this far and you are completely overwhelmed with the idea of making your own care package, that is okay. For close to the same amount ask making a personalized care package, you can also buy care packages online.
The best place to find a care package is from creative sellers. Etsy has amazing care packages made by creative people. Take a look at these cute care packages you can buy.
- Care Package for Him
- Care Package for Her
- Care Package for College Students
- COVID Get Well Care Package
- Care Package for Cancer Patient in Chemo
- Love & Hugs Thinking of You Care Package
In most cases, Etsy sellers will ship the care package for you leaving nothing but the thought to your DIY part of the present.
Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your care package ideas. Leave a comment here or on Pinterest!
WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.
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