Upcycled Milk Box Santa Claus Candy Box

How cute is this Santa Claus candy box? So easy to make and so many ways to use it, this craft is exactly what you need this holiday season. Using materials you have around the house, is a great gift idea that can be loaded with candy, homemade goodies, money, or just used as a fun decoration on tables for your next holiday event. 

Santa Claus Candy Box

Santa Claus candy box is a fun craft that the whole family can enjoy this holiday season. I love getting the kids involved in making some holiday decorations and gifts and something like this is perfect for them to help create.  Plus, they can customize them and fill them with goodies to share with their friends! 

The best part of this candy box is that you are going to use things from around the house to make it. That means not only is it inexpensive to make, but you also don’t have to deal with the stores during the holidays. That is a win-win.  

Not sure what to put inside this once you make it?  Check out this list of fudge recipes for holiday gifting. Tons of delicious flavors and they fit perfectly into this little gift box idea!

What Can I Use for the Candy Box Base? 

You want to use something simple for the candy base so it can hold items and not fall apart.  I prefer reaching for something I know is also safe for use with foods, but even if you aren’t sure, you can always line the inside with parchment or waxed paper. Below are a few ideas of items that work well for the base to this. 

• Empty drink or milk boxes (that’s what I used).
• Cardboard cut and glued together to form a box.
• Cardstock or stiffened holiday paper.  Spray scrapbook paper with Mod Podge or spray starch to create a stiffer base. 
• Upcycled holiday gift boxes or old holiday cards with a thicker weight paper. 
• Cardboard envelope mailers like the ones often used for mailing photographs. 

There are tons of ways to create the base of this Santa Claus candy box.  Get creative and look for what you may already have on hand, then use it for building a base for your box. 

What Can I Make Santa’s Face With? 

Santa’s face can be made with a variety of things. One option is to use foam paper as I used. This is one of the easiest because it gives a 3D texture and is affordable in a variety of colors.  Below are some other options that work well for creating the face of your Santa or another holiday character. 

• Construction paper, scrapbook paper, craft paper, or a printed face that has been colored in by the kids. 
• Stickers or patches with a Santa face. 
• Vinyl cutouts from using your Cricut tool. 
• Paint using a stencil or freehand. 
• Markers or paint pens are other options using a stencil or freehand. 
• Felt pieces cut and glued together. 
• Fabric cutouts that already have Santa’s image on them or just solid pieces cut and glued together. 

What Can I Use For Santa’s Hat? 

Santa’s hat is an important part of this candy box. I found a bit of holiday wrapping paper can be added here easily with some scrap fake fur to make it a bit more festive.  A bit of ribbon pulled through the top gives it a gift bag style and makes it easy to seal in what you are gifting.  But, that’s not the only option for making this hat. 

You can use an old sweater that you have cut into shape or you can use a sock to create the hat. Old gloves will also work. You can also make the hat using leftover fabric.  Of course, you can always use a mini Santa hat that you already find in the craft store.  They are often found with miniature items or in kids’ toy sections with toy clothing items. 

If you do not have anything made from fabric you can also use paper, felt or foam to make the hat.  Just follow the directions used with the wrapping paper that I used and instead of adding a ribbon and pulling it together, fold it and seal or clip together if fragile and will tear easily. 

What Can I Use This For?

I love this Santa Clause Candy Box for so many things. You can make it and just use it as room decor. It would look adorable on a shelf or on the mantle. You can also place it under the tree or even added into the tree or hang it on a branch like an ornament.  Of course, it can also be a part of a winter village scene, used on a bookshelf, or as part of a centerpiece. 

The initial reason it was made was to use it as a candy box for gifting.  This is super easy to do and of course, the ideal option.  If you love to give candy or cookies as part of a Christmas gift, you can use this Santa Clause candy box to hold your homemade goodies. Once they are done with your treats, they can use the candy box as a candy dish for the future or just as a decoration of their own.

The Santa Claus can be used as a gift topper too. Whether you are looking to add a little bit of fun to the top of your present or want to be able to add something special to it, this candy box is a fun addition.  There truly is no limit to what you can do with this fun little homemade candy box idea. 

Supplies Needed

How to Make a Santa Claus Candy Box

If using a carton as shown, wash well and let air dry before beginning. 

Cut a carton in half or to around 6″ tall.  

Measure and cut a piece of red foam paper that will wrap around the carton. 

Carefully wrap and glue the red paper around the box and trim any excess off the edges. 

Measure a square of cream foam paper the width of the carton.  Cut out and set aside. 

Measure a piece of white foam paper to the same width as the cream paper, then cut around the edges to make a beard shape with a deep top. 

Glue the beard shape to the bottom half of the cream piece. 

Cut out a mustache-shaped piece of white foam paper and glue it onto the cream paper above the beard, leaving a small gap between it and the beard to add a mouth if desired. 

Add googly eyes to the top of the cream piece as eyes. 

Cut out a round of the cream paper and glue it on top of the mustache to create a nose. You can also add pink pieces as cheeks if wanted. 

Glue this onto the front of the carton so that the beard is at the bottom and the face toward the top open space, but leave at least 1/2 space above it on the carton. 

Cut a piece of holiday paper or fabric that is at least 8″ high and wide enough to wrap around the top of the carton. 

Glue this in place around the top edge of the carton leaving it open along the top. 

Cut a strip of fake fur or ribbon and glue over the bottom edge of the paper at the top of the carton. 

Hole punch 4 to 6 holes, 2 on each side, into the top edge of the paper. 

Thread the ribbon through the holes and tie it into place with a bow on the front. 

Fill the box with candy or gifts or simply use it as a decoration on your table. 

More Santa Claus Craft Ideas

If you are like ma and love Santa Claus, then you need more ideas for adding to your holiday creating a list.  Below are some fun options that are going to be a huge hit with your friends and family, as well as look great as your home decor.  Bookmark these tutorials, print them to use later, or pin them to a favorite Pinterest board!

Finished Project Gallery

Fill this box with candy, cookies, or trail mix to use as a fun food gift! 

You can even add this into a gift basket to hold even more surprise gifts!