On Veterans Day, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the brave men and women who have served our country. Sending a care package is a wonderful way to show support, but I believe we can make it even more special by adding a personal, handmade touch. 🇺🇸
Instead of just filling a box with items, we can fill it with love, creativity, and messages of thanks that come straight from the heart. It’s about turning a simple package into a powerful gesture of appreciation that a veteran can feel the moment they open it. ❤️
In this post, I’ll share 10 of my favorite DIY ideas that you and your family can do together to decorate a Veterans Day care package. These simple crafts will transform your box into a cherished keepsake, reminding our heroes that they are in our thoughts. ⭐
Our Top 3 Favorite Ideas
- Best for Beginners/Kids: Kid-Drawn “Hero” Portrait Gift Tags
- Most Unique: “Open When…” Letter Starters
- Biggest ‘Wow’ Factor: Custom Photo Collage Box Flaps
Handmade Tags, Notes & Embellishments
Kid-Drawn “Hero” Portrait Gift Tags 🇺🇸
There is nothing more touching than seeing a hero through a child’s eyes. I love this project because it’s a beautiful way to show gratitude through a child’s pure and creative perspective. My son and I once spent a whole afternoon drawing little portraits for a local veterans’ drive, and it was such a meaningful experience.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~20 mins
Best For: Adding a deeply personal and heartwarming touch to each item.
Key Materials: Cardstock or pre-cut tags, Crayons or colored pencils, Hole punch and twine
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: I always keep a bulk pack of blank cardstock tags in my craft drawer; they’re the perfect canvas for these little masterpieces.
Image-1: A close-up shot of a child’s colorful drawing of a superhero-style soldier on a tag, attached to a bag of cookies.
Hand-Stamped Gratitude Quote Tags 🇺🇸
This is a wonderful way to add a touch of elegance and inspiration to your care package. This project looks incredibly polished and is a fantastic way to practice spelling with the little ones! It’s a quiet, focused activity that older kids and parents can enjoy doing side-by-side.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~15 mins
Best For: Creating polished, uniform tags with inspiring messages.
Key Materials: Alphabet stamp set, Red and blue ink pads, Blank cardstock tags
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: Using a vintage-style wooden alphabet stamp set gives these tags such a classic, heartfelt look that feels extra special.
Image-2: A flat-lay of several completed tags with phrases like “Thank You, Hero” and “Brave & Free” stamped on them.
DIY Patriotic Sticker Sheets 🇺🇸
Who doesn’t love stickers? This is such a versatile and fun craft. You can use these stickers to seal letters, decorate the box flaps, or just include the whole sheet as a fun extra for the recipient to use. It’s a simple way to spread patriotic cheer throughout the entire package.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~25 mins
Best For: Sealing letters or decorating small items inside the box.
Key Materials: Printable sticker paper (full sheet), Markers or a color printer, Scissors
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: I recommend using a pack of Avery full-sheet sticker paper because it prints beautifully and the stickers are easy for little hands to peel.
Image-3: A child peeling a hand-drawn star sticker off a sheet, about to place it on a wrapped granola bar.
“Open When…” Letter Starters 🇺🇸
This is one of my absolute favorite ideas because it keeps on giving. This adds an interactive and emotional element that extends the gift’s impact long after the box is opened. It’s a way to offer comfort and a connection to home on different days and for different moods.
Details: Difficulty: Medium | Time: ~45 mins
Best For: Providing ongoing emotional support long after the box is opened.
Key Materials: Small envelopes, Note cards or paper, Markers and stickers
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: A set of colorful small invitation envelopes makes this project pop and helps organize each thoughtful note.
Image-4: A stack of brightly decorated envelopes tied with a ribbon, with the “Open When…” prompts clearly visible.
Beaded American Flag Keychain 🇺🇸
Here’s a craft that is both fun to make and useful! I find that tactile crafts like this are perfect for keeping little hands busy while talking about the meaning of Veterans Day and the symbols of our country. Plus, it’s a small keepsake they can actually use.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~20 mins
Best For: A fun, hands-on craft that also serves as a small, useful gift.
Key Materials: Red, white, and blue pony beads, Pipe cleaners or lanyard string, Keychain ring
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: A good multi-color pony bead craft kit has everything you need, making this a simple and stress-free project to start.
Image-5: A child’s hands holding up a completed beaded flag keychain, with a bowl of loose beads in the background.
💬 Quick Question!
Of the ideas we’ve covered so far, which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
DIY Box Liners & Fillers
Custom Photo Collage Box Flaps 🇺🇸
Imagine the smile on their face when they open the box and are greeted by friendly faces from home. This is the first thing they’ll see, and it makes an immediate, powerful connection to the community that supports them. It’s a simple gesture with a huge impact.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~30 mins
Best For: Creating an immediate, powerful ‘wow’ moment when the box is opened.
Key Materials: Printed photos, Glue stick or double-sided tape, Shipping box
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: Printing your pictures on high-quality glossy photo paper really makes the colors vibrant and protects the images during shipping.
Image-6: An open care package box showing the inside flaps covered in a vibrant collage of family photos and handwritten notes.
Hand-Lettered Gratitude Box Liner 🇺🇸
This is a wonderful family activity that turns a simple box liner into a meaningful tapestry of appreciation. Before you pack the items, lay a large sheet of paper on the floor and have everyone gather around to write notes, draw pictures, and share their thanks. Every inch of the paper becomes a message of support.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~25 mins
Best For: A collaborative family project to fill the box with love.
Key Materials: Roll of brown or white craft paper, Sharpies or permanent markers, Scissors and tape
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: A sturdy roll of brown kraft paper is my go-to for this because it holds up well and gives the whole project a warm, rustic feel.
Image-7: A shot of the family gathered around a large piece of paper on the floor, all writing and drawing messages together.
Red, White & Blue Crinkle Paper Filler 🇺🇸
Why use boring packing material when you can create your own festive filler? It’s a budget-friendly way to make the entire box look cheerful and thoughtful from the moment it’s opened. The kids will have a blast helping shred the paper and filling the box with patriotic colors.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~15 mins
Best For: A festive and budget-friendly alternative to packing peanuts.
Key Materials: Red, white, and blue construction paper, Paper shredder or crinkle-cut scissors
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: All you need is a simple pack of assorted red, white, and blue construction paper to create bushels of this fun, protective filler.
Image-8: A care package being filled, with hands sprinkling handfuls of the colorful, homemade crinkle paper around the items.
Patriotic Fabric Scrap Wrapping 🇺🇸
This simple touch makes every item in the box feel like its own special gift. This is an amazing way to use up leftover craft supplies, and it’s much more durable than regular wrapping paper during shipping! The rustic charm of fabric and twine adds a lovely, homey feel.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~20 mins
Best For: Making each individual item feel like a special, hand-wrapped gift.
Key Materials: Patriotic fabric quarters or scraps, Twine or ribbon, Pinking shears (optional)
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: I love finding a bundle of assorted patriotic fabric fat quarters online; it gives you a wonderful variety of patterns to work with.
Image-9: A few items from the care package sitting on a table, each neatly wrapped in different star-and-stripe patterned fabrics.
“A Salute To You” Themed Interior 🇺🇸
Choosing a theme can make your care package feel incredibly special and well-planned. Having a cohesive design makes the whole package feel professional and thoughtfully organized. A simple theme like “We Salute You!” is easy to create with some colored paper and star stickers, but it makes a world of difference.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~15 mins
Best For: Giving the entire care package a cohesive and polished look.
Key Materials: Colored craft paper (blue), Star stickers (silver or gold), Markers
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: Using a multi-pack of holographic star stickers is a super easy way to add that ‘wow’ factor and make the theme shine.
Image-10: The interior of an empty, fully decorated care package with the “A Salute To You” theme clearly visible on the flaps and liner.
Quick Tips for Decorating Your Care Package
- Secure Everything: Use strong double-sided tape or a good glue stick for photos and notes inside the box. This prevents them from getting damaged during transit.
- Skip the Glitter: Avoid using glitter! It can create a huge mess for the recipient. For a similar sparkle, try using metallic markers or shiny star stickers instead.
- Laminate Treasures: If you’re including a special kid’s drawing or a heartfelt note, consider laminating it. This protects it from moisture and turns it into a durable keepsake.
- Use Permanent Markers: Always use permanent markers (like Sharpies) for writing on box flaps or liners. Water-based markers can easily smudge if they get damp.
The Meaning of the Yellow Ribbon
Have you ever wondered why yellow ribbons are associated with supporting our troops? The tradition became widely popular in the U.S. during the 1970s as a symbol of hope and solidarity, signifying that people were waiting for their loved ones to return home safely. Including a yellow ribbon in your care package is a powerful, non-verbal way to say, “We support you, we are thinking of you, and we are waiting for your safe return.”
Creating something with your own hands is a special way to express the gratitude that’s in your heart. Each of these projects is more than just a craft; it’s a message of support, a connection to home, and a heartfelt “thank you” to our nation’s heroes. I hope these ideas inspire you and your family to make your next care package a true gift of love and appreciation.
Which of these ideas will you and your family try for your Veterans Day care package? Let me know in the comments below
