Lunch Box Ideas

Lunch Box Ideas

I know….it’s summer! So why not get a jump on collecting ideas now when you have the time? You know in a few weeks children will be bugging you to get their school supplies, including lunch boxes. Hopefully after reading this post you will have some great lunch box ideas so it isn’t the boring lunch boxes from the store. You are only limited by your creativity.

Let’s start with a basic lunch box. I remember what I used when I was in school. My earliest memory of lunch boxes was the metal boxes with the latch to keep it closed. They sell them now as vintage collectibles! Of course they weren’t as plain as the photo below, they had pictures of my favorite TV shows, or super heroes. I remember Gilligan’s Island, H. R. Puff ‘n Stuff!  Go Figure!!!!!!!

Lunch Box Ideas #1

metal lunch boxes lunch box ideasIf I had this one now, Oh the things I would do. Consider your metal lunch box as a canvas. Painting is a great way to personalize them. To begin, use primer on the parts you are going to personalize. You may just want to do the big parts, or all of it. The primer is used to make adhering the acrylic paints easier. You may also want to use Paint Markers. This may be easier for smaller children. With this lunch box ideas post, I hope you are beginning to see the possibilities.

lunch box ideas

Lunch Box Ideas #2

Scrapbooking on a lunch box could also be a great way to decorate. You will need Mod Podge, from any arts and crafts store, sponge brush, decorative scrapbook papers, stickers, etc. Mod Podge on the surface you want to decorate. Premeasure the paper and then place on the Mod Podge. Place all your decorations, including letter stickers for the name, and them put several coats of Mod Podge over all. Let each coat dry before starting another coat.

download (17) images (21) images (22)This one is decoupaged. Looks great!

Lunch Box Ideas #3

If you don’t want to use the metal boxes, the cloth, insulated ones are great. Using a permanent marker, you can personalize them with their names. Duct Tape has come out with some colorful and printed tape you could apply to the cloth. How fun!

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Decorating lunch boxes could be a great summer activity. Let the creative juices flow. Here are a few others- beaded, shirt, map! Wow!

Decorating Insulated Lunch Bags

bag_beads2 bag_flag2 bag_glam2 bag_map2 bag_shirt2Directions at the link above.

Lunch Box Ideas #4

Recycled Milk Jug Lunch Box

I just found a great idea for children who are recycling conscious. You will need two plastic gallon milk jugs. Cut them both in half, and use the bottoms. They will be the top and bottom. Punch holes so string can be laced to hold the top and bottom together. For the front, you will also need a piece of string with a bead on both ends so you can lace it to be able to open the top when you need to take food out. This link will give you more directions. Great throw away lunch box for field trips.

lunch-box-milk-jugs

Decoration Trend

Lunch Box Ideas #5

1. Of course you always have the old standby- the Paper Bag! However, it doesn’t have to be plain! Your children can decorated them before they leave the house. Markers, crayons, pens, colored pencils, stickers, rubber stamps, anything you would use on regular paper. Although, chalk may not be such a good idea.images (25)images (28) images (30)

2. Write a riddle on the outside and put a note with the answer inside. Mom It Forwarddownload (19)

3. Add a marker along with their lunch so they can decorate at the lunch table when they are done eating.

4. Of course adding love you note adds a whole lot of interest in the plain bag. Here is a link for some free  printable lunch notes. The Peaceful Mom

5. Make a puppet out of the bag after lunch. 86 Lemons

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6. Make a turkey- Martha Stewart

images (32)Can you imagine the stir your child would create in the lunch room eating their lunch out of a paper bag turkey?

7. Turn the bag into something else- pumpkin, apple, shirt, etc.

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8. Use different kinds or ways to close the bag-

decorate-brown-paper-lunch-bags images (29) paper-bag-bowls_thumb

9. Take a hole punch to the paper bag:

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There are a plethora of other ideas that I am hoping you can share!