Brighten someone’s day with a cheerful Squeeze the Day Care Package, filled with lemon-themed treats, gifts, and sunshine-yellow decorations. This easy DIY care package is perfect for sending smiles year-round, whether you’re celebrating summer or chasing away winter blues.
Why you'll love this care package theme
- Lemon is a great year round theme celebrating summertime or adding sunshine to cold winter months.
- Cheerful yellow colors and fresh citrus flavors can lift spirits.
- Dollar stores and supermarkets have dozens of lemon flavored or yellow packaged items that fit this theme and making it easy to find great care package treats.
"Squeeze the day!" is a play on words that's meant to inspire a positive outlook while creating smiles. This lemon themed care package is filled with fun and tasty treats.
More care package themes using smile inducing plays on words, include "Seas the Day" care package and "Orange You Glad" care package.
Decorating supplies
- Scrap book paper: I used yellow scrapbook paper for the background on each box flap. Construction paper or yellow wrapping paper could also be used.
- Clipart: “Squeeze the Day” is a fun play on words. Print and cut out the graphics with lemon and "Squeeze the Day" clipart.
Instructions
- Decorate the box flap paper with clip art lemons and quotes.
- Glue the decorated papers onto the box flaps.
- Cover the flaps with clear packing tape to secure and weatherproof.
- Fill the box.
Care package contents
- Stuffed toy: I include a small stuffed toy in all of my care packages. To learn more about the benefits of including stuffed animals in military care packages, read this post from Operation Gratitude.
- Activity books: Activity books of all kinds provide something fun for service members during down time, especially when weather conditions make it preferable to stay inside. Crossword, Soduku, Find-a-word, and adult Coloring books are all appreciated and can be found at dollar stores.
- Drink powder: Is a frequently requested item that helps make water more palatable. In the hot weather months, electrolyte powder is especially helpful for staying hydrated.
- Snacks: Keep heat in mind when choosing candy or cookies (packaged or homemade) to include in care packages. Extreme summer temperatures causes melting and spoilage.
- Protein bars: Protein bars are an appreciated snack for an energy boost when needed.
Packaging tips
- Before sealing the box, close the flaps and shake the package. If there is any movement inside, use tissue paper or other packing material to fill any unused space.
- Use more packing tape than you think is necessary! Packing tape helps the box hold together despite rough handling. It also keeps sand out in desert locations and helps repel water in wet locations.
Lemon recipes for hot weather care packages
Hot weather care packages require special consideration to avoid melting and spoiling. Be sure to read the complete list of our hot weather safe recipes. These recipes can be safely mailed year round.
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Lemon Biscotti are a crunchy treat that stays fresh and delicious for a very long time. For hot weather shipping replace icing with colored sugar.
Lemon Peppermint Cooler Cookies provide a mouthful of cooling flavor in every bite.
Italian Lemon Cookies are soft, puffy cookies coated in sparkling yellow sugar.
Lemon Bars, Lemon Lime Bars, and Strawberry Lemonade Bars are all soft, chewy treats that are ideal for care packages.
Lemon recipes for cool weather care packages
These citrus treats are perfect for care packages when the weather is cooler. They all travel well and stay fresh a long time.
Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies have lots of fresh lemon flavor and poppy seeds for a nutty crunch.
Crisp, buttery Lemon Shrewsbury Biscuits have been popular British cookies for hundreds of years!
Cutout Lemon Stars are crunchy cookies with a sweet-tart lemon icing drizzle.
Lemon Butter Cookie Rosettes are beautiful piped butter cookies sandwiched with crunchy lemon filling.
More care package themes
Valentine Bear Care Package is filled with bear themed snacks and decorations to show how "beary much" you care.
Christmas Care Package (Santa Theme) spreads holiday joy with sweet treats and Santa themed goodies.
Dr. Seuss Care Package shares gifts and snacks inspired by classic Dr. Seuss books. This box is sure to make children and adults smile.
Easter Care Package is a fun way to sent Easter bunny fun to someone far away.
Be sure to read this helpful post with tips, resources, and ideas for creating themed Deployed Military Care Packages.
Ready to create? Join the free membership group to get new care package ideas, recipes and a newsletter delivered to your inbox! You can also stay in touch on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. I’d love to stay in touch!
Squeeze the Day Care Package (Lemon Theme)
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Equipment
- 1 pair of scissors
Materials
- "Squeeze the Day" graphics pdf
- 4 sheets yellow scrap book paper or construction paper cut to box flap size
- 1 large USPS flat rate box
- 1 heavy duty glue stick
- 1 roll clear packing tape
Instructions
- Print and cutout lemons and "Squeeze the Day" graphics.
- Cut 4 sheets of yellow scrap book or construction paper to 6" x 11 ¾" ,the size of the box flaps.
- Glue the lemon and "Squeeze the Day graphics" to each of the yellow box flap papers.
- Glue the decorated flap papers to the box flaps.
- Cover the flaps with clear packing tape to hold the decorations in place and provide some weatherproofing to the box.
- Fill the box. Shake the box gently to be sure there is no movement in the carton before sealing well with packing tape.
Notes
- Large flat rate boxes from the US Postal Service are expensive to mail (about $25), however you can fit quite a bit inside and don’t have to worry about weight (up to 50 pounds). Not only are the cartons themselves free, but you can order them online and the postal service will deliver them to your door.
- Covering the inside flaps is like wrapping a gift inside-out. The purpose is to make the box bright and cheerful. In addition to the computer paper and wrapping paper used on this box, flaps can be covered with scrap book paper, construction paper, contact paper, or plastic table cloths.
- When mailing short distances, taping over the flap decorations probably isn’t necessary. However, military care packages have to withstand rough treatment and temperature extremes. Taping thoroughly inside and out, helps keep the care package intact, and keeps out sand and water.
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