With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, nothing screams February 14th quite like conversation hearts. They’re colorful, iconic, and say something sweet in just a few characters. But let’s be honest: those candies taste pretty terrible. So this year, combine the nostalgic charm of conversation hearts with something everyone actually wants to eat—Valentine’s Day chocolates!
These DIY Valentine chocolate boxes look like giant conversation hearts but are filled with delicious treats.
This budget-friendly project is easy to customize for anyone on your list, whether you’re making them for your partner, best friend, kids’ classmates, or coworkers. Choose sweet or funny messages, and your Valentine will appreciate both the thoughtfulness and the chocolate inside.
Why Valentine Chocolate Boxes Make the Perfect Gift
These conversation heart Valentine chocolate boxes are affordable to make, especially when creating several for friends or a classroom.
They’re endlessly customizable, and you can tailor each message to the recipient’s personality, use inside jokes, or keep things classically romantic.
You’re combining nostalgic conversation hearts with something people genuinely want: good chocolate. These boxes work for romantic love, friendship, appreciation, or family, making them versatile for every relationship in your life.
Materials You’ll Need
- Large heart-shaped chocolate boxes (about 5 inches)
- 1-2 pieces of 12-inch pastel colored cardstock
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Glue stick or craft glue
- Large red alphabet stickers (all caps)
Trace the Heart Shapes
Remove the lid from your heart-shaped chocolate box, place it face-down on pastel cardstock, and trace around it with a pencil. Don’t worry about being perfectly precise—you’ll be cutting outside the lines anyway.
Repeat with a second piece of cardstock so you have hearts for both the top and bottom of the box. If you’re making multiple Valentine chocolate boxes for friends or classmates, trace several at once to save time. You can even stack two or three pieces of cardstock in an assortment of colors and cut them simultaneously.
Cut Out the Hearts
Cut out your traced hearts, leaving about 1/8 to 1/4 inch of extra paper beyond the pencil line. This buffer ensures your cardstock will completely cover the original chocolate box, hiding any branding or patterns. Don’t worry if your hearts aren’t perfectly identical—slight variations add handmade charm!
Glue Paper to Box
Apply glue evenly across the top surface of your chocolate box lid. A glue stick works great for minimal mess, but craft glue works fine too. Press your first paper heart firmly onto the glued lid, starting from the center and smoothing outward to prevent air bubbles.
Repeat with the bottom of the box and your second heart. Let everything dry completely (15-20 minutes). If paper edges curl while drying, place a heavy book on top for a professional-looking finish.
Add Your Message
Time to add your conversation heart message! Here’s the key tip: start with the middle letters of your phrase and work outward toward the edges. This ensures your message stays perfectly centered on your Valentine chocolate boxes.
Classic phrases like “BE MINE,” “KISS ME,” or “LOVE U” work beautifully, but modern takes like “BAE MINE,” “SWIPE RIGHT,” or “TACO BOUT LOVE” add fun contemporary flair. Don’t be afraid to use inside jokes, nicknames, or phrases special to you and your Valentine.
Personalize and Gift
Customize these Valentine chocolate boxes for different people in your life. Making a box for your partner? Go romantic with “FOREVER” or playful with “YOU + ME.” For kids’ classrooms, use their names or fun phrases like “COOL KID.” Surprising your best friend? Try inside jokes or “BFF 4EVR.”
Get creative beyond words by adding tiny heart stickers around the message, emoji stickers, or small decorative elements. The only limit is your imagination!
Creative Message Ideas
Not sure what to write on your Valentine chocolate boxes? Here are some ideas sorted by style:
Classic Romantic Affection: “BE MINE,” “KISS ME,” “LOVE U,” “XOXO,” “FOREVER,” “CUTIE PIE,” “SWEET LOVE,” “MY DEAR”
Modern and Playful: “BAE MINE,” “SWIPE RIGHT,” “TACO BOUT LOVE,” “NETFLIX?,” “YOU + ME,” “SQUAD,” “VIBES”
Funny Options: “SNACK TIME,” “GIMME CHOC,” “YUM YUM,” “SUGAR RUSH,” “TREAT YO SELF,” “NOM NOM”
For Friends: “BFF 4EVR,” “SQUAD GOALS,” “BESTIE,” “YOU ROCK,” “FRIEND ZONE,” “LOVE YA”
For Kids: Use their name, “SUPER KID,” “BE SWEET,” “COOL KID,” “AWESOME,” “STAR STUDENT”
Food Puns: “OLIVE U,” “DONUT LEAVE,” “YOU’RE GRAPE,” “SOY INTO YOU,” “MEANT TO BEE”
Custom Ideas: Nicknames, special dates (like “EST. 2020” for when you met), or references only the two of you understand
Your Valentine’s Day chocolate delivery is ready to go!
Tips for Success
Buy the heart-shaped box of chocolates in bulk for better pricing on multi-packs. Stick with classic conversation heart colors (pale pink, lavender, mint green, yellow, baby blue) for an authentic look, or use bold colors for a modern vibe.
Use uppercase alphabet stickers only for that authentic conversation heart appearance. Red is traditional, but hot pink, purple, or black work great too. If you can’t find stickers, hand-letter with paint pens or markers.
This project is perfect for kids! They can help trace, cut (with supervision), and love placing letter stickers. Consider making this a Valentine’s Day party activity where everyone creates their own custom boxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find heart-shaped chocolate boxes?
Most craft stores, drugstores, grocery stores, and big box retailers stock heart-shaped chocolate boxes from January through Valentine’s Day. Look for simple, plain boxes (usually red or pink) since you’ll be covering them with paper. They typically cost $3-7 for single boxes, with better deals on multi-packs.
What if I can’t find alphabet stickers?
Hand-letter your messages with paint pens or permanent markers, use vinyl letter stickers from the scrapbooking section, print out letters on cardstock and glue them individually, or use letter stamps with ink pads. Stickers are easiest, but any option works great!
Can I use different colors of cardstock?
Absolutely! Traditional conversation heart pastels (pink, lavender, mint, yellow, blue) create an authentic nostalgic look, but any colors work. Bright colors look modern, metallics add glamour, and white or cream creates elegance. Match your Valentine’s favorite color or your own style.
How far in advance can I make these?
You can make these Valentine chocolate boxes 1-2 weeks before Valentine’s Day. Store them in a cool, dry place away from humidity. If making them for a classroom or large group, spreading the work over a week makes the project more manageable.
What size chocolate box works best?
The 5-inch boxes are ideal—large enough to make an impact and hold plenty of chocolate. Smaller 3-4 inch boxes work great for kids’ classroom valentines and cost less. Larger 6-8 inch boxes make spectacular statement gifts. Choose based on your budget and occasion.
Can kids help with this project?
Definitely! This is very kid-friendly. Younger children can help trace hearts and love adding letter stickers. Older kids can handle cutting independently with safety scissors. It’s perfect for making personalized valentines for their classroom and teaches that handmade gifts can be more meaningful than store-bought ones.
Make It: Conversation Heart Chocolate Boxes for Your Valentine
Make one of these fun, large DIY conversation heart chocolate boxes for Valentine's Day!
Materials
- Large heart-shaped chocolate boxes (about 5 inches)
- 1-2 pieces of 12-inch pastel colored cardstock
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Glue stick or craft glue
- Large red alphabet stickers (all caps)
Instructions
Show Your Love with Handmade Valentine Chocolate Boxes
These conversation heart Valentine chocolate boxes combine nostalgia, creativity, and delicious chocolate.
They’re beginner-friendly, budget-conscious, and customizable for anyone’s personality. Whether you spell out “BE MINE” or get creative with “TACO BOUT LOVE,” you’re creating a thoughtful gift that shows genuine care.
Unlike chalky conversation hearts, these boxes contain treats people actually want to eat. You get charming Valentine’s Day aesthetics without disappointing taste—perfect for romantic partners, friends, family, classmates, or anyone deserving a sweet surprise.
Ready to spread some love? Gather your materials, pick your messages, and create these adorable Valentine chocolate boxes this weekend!
