Almost Empty Nest logo
More Halloween Care Package Ideas and Printables

More Halloween Care Package Ideas and Printables

by | Aug 11, 2022 | Care Packages

More Halloween Care Package Ideas and Printables

 

 

The Halloween care package is my favorite care package of the year. There are endless possibilities for decorations and SO MANY fun items are available to put in them. Halloween also falls around mid-terms, so it is perfect timing for a surprise from home. Keep reading for More Halloween Care Package Ideas and Printables.

For even MORE Ideas:

Treat Yo Self Halloween Care Package

Squad Ghouls Care Package

Halloween Care Package Party

Halloween Care Package

Care Package Ideas

life is gourd, finger licken good and halloween care package printables

More Halloween Care Package Ideas and Printables

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see the full disclosure in the foot bar. 

 

An awesome care package starts with fun decorations. Just opening the box should give your college kiddo a lift. The box decorations are sized for Medium Priority Mail boxes. The boxes are free and are available at the post office. All of the box decorations and item tags needed to make this care package are available for download as part of A Year of Care Package Printables. Sign up below to receive the FREE download.

 

 

 

More Halloween Care Package Ideas and Printables 1

Box Decorations

In addition to the decorations on the box flaps, I ordered some window clings to put in the bottom of the box. What college student does not need these clings on their window to inform the world that there is a bloodied and bruised college student inside studying for mid-terms?

More Halloween Care Package Ideas and Printables 2

Window Clings

The window clings came in a HUGE package and there were TONS of them, so I cut them apart to put in the bottom of the box. One order would probably do it for a care package party. There are a LOT of them in the package.

More Halloween Care Package Ideas and Printables 3

Life Is Gourd

Life IS Gourd when you have cute ribbon, candy pumpkins, and a cute tag. This tag and the others on this page are part of the Year of Care Package Printables available in the Member's Library. You can sign up below this post.

More Halloween Care Package Ideas and Printables 4

Finger Lickin' Good

Stuff candy into the fingers of medical gloves for a Finger Lickin' Good treat.

More Halloween Care Package Ideas and Printables 5

Creepin' It Real

They need some real food also, so throw in some soup to keep them warm and fed as the weather turns cooler.

More Halloween Care Package Ideas and Printables 6

Beware of the Momster

College kids love paper products. I know it is hard to believe, but they don't like washing dishes (especially in a dorm bathroom sink). Be sure to buy some that fit in your box.

More Halloween Care Package Ideas and Printables 7

Eat Your Heart Out

Popcorn, or any food, tied together with this tag is a treat and they will Eat Their Hearts Out.

Other Ideas to Include:

Quarters for laundry machines

Coffee K-cups

Items to remind them of home or a favorite product they can not get in their college town.

See College Care Package Ideas for more items to include.

 

 

I hope these Halloween care package ideas and printables have been super helpful. Download the printables below. Enjoy making your care package!

 

Galentine’s Day Ideas – DIY Charcuterie Board

Galentine’s Day Ideas – DIY Charcuterie Board

by | Feb 3, 2022 | Care Packages, Gift Guides

Galentine's Day Ideas – DIY Charcuterie Board

 

 

Galentine's Day is February 13 – the day when girlfriends celebrate each other and their relationships. I am sending my daughter a DIY Charcuterie Board. I think it is one of the best Galentine's Day Ideas. I have packaged up some slate boards, and tons of beautiful red and pink items for her and her friends to snack on.

For more Valentine and Galentine care package ideas: 

College Care Package Ideas for Every Occasion

Valentine's Day Care Package

Galentine's Day Care Package

 

Galentine's Day Ideas DIY Charcuterie Board

Galentine's Day Ideas – DIY Charcuterie Board

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see the full disclosure in the foot bar.  

Slate boards

I started with 2 slate cheese boards. I purchased a package of 6 on Amazon. I liked the idea of putting two together instead of using one larger board because it would be much easier to mail. I was surprised at how inexpensive the boards were. They came with chalk. I mailed 2 to my daughter and kept the rest. I could easily put 4 together for an even larger display or use them for small chalkboards. They are 8″ x 12″ each.

Slate boards

Ok. Here is the fun part.

  1. Buy 2 of each of your ingredients – one set to send and one set to keep. I used my set to make the model. You can take a picture of the model and send it with your box as your “DIY Charcuterie Board” Instructions.
  2. I found the adorable heart shaped ramekins at a local kitchen shop. Amazon has heart ramekins also.
  3. Include some festive paper products  and other fun Valentine/Galentine items like a dish towel. Mine came from the kitchen shop, but check out Amazon for some cute ideas. The dishtowel also helped with the packing of the slate boards.
  4. Food items: I mailed the non-perishible items to my daughter and gave her a gift card to her local grocery store so she can pick up the perishibles like the brie and strawberries.

Food ideas: Conversation hearts, M and M's, Dove heart-shaped chocolates in dark and milk chocolate, crackers, almonds, licorice, and Starburst candies.

 

Galentine's Day Ideas Decorated Care Package

Pack it all up in a box. I normally use the Medium Flat Rate Priority boxes from USPS, but had to upgrade to the large size this time to accomodate the slate cheese boards.

Use the candy, dish towel, paper products, and decorative package stuffing to pad the ramekins and slate boards. I also wrapped those in bubble wrap to keep them from breaking.

I had some pretty pink ombre paper that I used to decorate the box. Amazon has lots of good choices.

More Galentine's Day Ideas

galentine's day ideas sugarwish

No time to make a DIY Charcuterie Board for your Galentine? Send them a Sugarwish instead. You pick candy, cookies, popcorn, or many other treat choices. They get to pick their favorites.

Galentine's Day ideas etsy

You can also buy a complete Galentine's Day Charcuterie board like this one from Tastybagla on Etsy. It includes the board, sweets, and plastic bowls!

Football Care Package Ideas

Football Care Package Ideas

by | Aug 30, 2021 | Care Packages

Football Care Package Ideas

 

 

Are you ready for some football? If your college student's school has football, you can bet they are. Use these football care package ideas to help them get ready with a fun care package.

For more care package ideas:  College Care Package Ideas for Every Occasion.

and my 2023 Fall Hey, Pumpkin Care Package Printables on Next Phase Parenting

football care package ideas

Football Care Package Ideas

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see the full disclosure in the foot bar. 

I had a fun time creating football care packages for my daughter who attends Baylor University and one of my son's who is a recent graduate of the University of Texas. I live in Oklahoma, so there is not a lot of Texas or Baylor spirit gear available here. If you live in the same state as your student's school, collecting items may be as easy as running in any store. I had to get a little more creative. 

University of Texas napkins and plates

I ordered the University of Texas napkins from the UT Co-Op. I noticed that both the Baylor bookstore and UT Co-Op were low on paper goods right now. They may be more in stock later. The orange plates came from Amazon. Amazon has pretty much every color possible. They can use the paper products for snacking while watching the away games on tv.

University of texas yard flag and austin puzzle

My son and his UT alum apartment mates now live in California. I thought the flag would be great outside their apartment and show the other residents their football spirit. The puzzle is to remind them of their fun times in Austin. These items came from the UT Co-Op. I purchased a stand for the flag from Amazon.

football care package snacks

Don't forget the snacks. A salty snack and a sweet snack. Our family has a contest to see who can be the first one to find the packages of “Autumn Mix” in the stores. As we are not all together anymore I like to send them to the kids to let them know “I found it!”

Green and yellow party supplies

I was walking through Target and happened to see a lemon/lime party supplies display. I grabbed the ombre napkins which are half green and half yellow and a doorway streamer decoration. These will be fun for my daughter and her housemates.

Starbucks gift cards, coffee pods, and ground coffee

It's not a care package unless it has some type of coffee. It may seem that coffee has nothing to do with football, but if my UT alum plans to wake up in time for ESPN Game Day on the west coast it is going to take some coffee.

cricut joy cutting orange vinyl

Let's decorate those boxes! You can download the “Are You Ready for Some Football?” decoration from the Almost Empty Nest Subscriber's Library along with care package box decorations for the entire year. (Sign up below.)

Scrapbook paper can be your best friend when making care packages. I found the paper on the UT box on Amazon. I had the paper on the Baylor box already in my supplies. I believe it came from this set of scrapbook paper, but it does not show in the sample picture. In any case it is a great set of papers because it covers the entire year! I found the BU logo and Bevo logo and printed them on vinyl with my Cricut Joy.

I have a bigger Cricut, but the Joy is great for small projects.

How to Mail Your Care Packages:

I recommend Medium Flat Rate boxes from the post office. The boxes are free. You can pick them up at the post office before you make your boxes. They currently cost $15.50 to mail regardless of the weight. All of my care package printables are designed to fit this size box.

No time to make a care package?

Check out Etsy for fun football care packages like this one.

football care package ideas

Galentine’s Care Package Ideas

Galentine’s Care Package Ideas

by | Jan 9, 2021 | Care Packages

Galentine's Care Package Ideas

 

Galentine's Day may have been started by a television character, but it is here to stay. And if you have a special gal in your life, you may want to send her a Galentine's Day Care Package.

A Galentine's Day Care Package will give her some fun items to use to celebrate the day whether she is alone or with her friends.

For more Valentine's Day Care Package Ideas:

Valentine's Day Care Package with FREE printables

Galentine's Day Ideas: A DIY Charcuterie Board

Galentine's Care Package Ideas 8

Galentine's Day Care Package Ideas

 This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see the full disclosure in the foot bar.    

I have included some ideas for what to include in your Galentine's Day Care Package below as well as links to purchase the Galentine's Day box decorations and Galentine's Photo Booth props.

 

Galentine's Care Package Ideas 9

These fun Bombas Socks in Valentine colors would make an awesome addition to a Galentine's Care Package.

Galentine's Care Package Ideas 10

A dorm Galentine's Day party would not be complete without nail polish in Valentine's colors.

Galentine's Care Package Ideas 11

I found these cute Valentine clings at Hobby Lobby. They are great for a mirror to give any room a seasonal flare. Amazon also has Valentine window clings.

Galentine's Care Package Ideas 12

Heart and striped hand towels are great in the dorm or anywhere. I found these at Target. Here are some cute Valentine dish towels from Amazon.

Galentine's Care Package Ideas 13

You absolutely have to decorate the box. Presentation is everything, you know! These box decorations were created with a Cricut, are multi-layer and are available for purchase.

*FREE SHIPPING

 

Purchase Galentine's Day Box Decorations
Galentine's Care Package Ideas 14

And ya gotta take pictures with these Galentine's Day Photo Booth Props.  

Purchase Galentine's Day Photo Props
Galentine's Care Package Ideas 15

Birthday Care Package

Birthday Care Package

by | May 11, 2020 | Care Packages

Birthday Care Package

 

 

It can kinda stink to be away at college for your birthday (or to be the mom who can't see her baby on the special day)! Sending them a Birthday Care Package can cheer everyone up. Print out the Birthday care package printables, tuck in some favorite treats and gifts, and their Birthday Party in a Box is on it's way!

You The Birthday Care Package Printables are available in the Printables Library. You may sign up below the post for access.

For more care package ideas:  College Care Package Ideas for Every Occasion.

 

Birthday Care Package 16

Birthday Care Package

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I will receive (at no additional cost to you) a small commission, which helps pay for this blog. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Birthday Care Package 17

I went a little girly with my care package items this time and I thought these Godiva Limited Edition Cake Inspired Chocolates were perfect for a birthday care package.

Birthday Care Package 18

I also could not resist these Rainbow Chip Mug Cakes – icing included!

Birthday Care Package 19

Be sure to include candles, party plates and napkins, and decorations. I am all about these adorable llama plates and napkins!

Birthday Care Package 20

Add a present or gift cards in the box as well! Anything the birthday kid will make their day special and fun. 

How to Mail Your Care Packages:

I recommend Medium Flat Rate boxes from the post office. The boxes are free. You can pick them up at the post office before you make your boxes. They cost $14.35 to mail regardless of the weight. All of my care package printables are designed to fit this size box.

No time to make a birthday care package?

Packed Party has some super cute care packages for her. Also check out CrateJoy and Etsy for birthday care packges for both the guys and gals.

birthday care package

Gluten Free and Vegan Care Packages

Gluten Free and Vegan Care Packages

by | Feb 13, 2020 | Care Packages

Gluten Free and Vegan Care Packages

Many people need to eat gluten free or prefer vegan food and products. Shopping for and finding these specialty products can be difficult especially if you are not sure if a product meets the requirements. Fortunately, several companies make gluten free and vegan care packages that you can send to your college student.

gluten free and vegan care packages and ideas

Gluten Free and Vegan Care Packages and Ideas

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. For more information, see the full disclosure in the foot bar. Thank you for supporting Almost Empty Nest.

Gluten Free and Vegan Care Packages 21

LOVE GOODLY CARE PACKAGES

Love Goodly carries eco-friendly, non-toxic, organic, cruelty-fee, non-gmo and vegan products. Whether you are looking for a few items or would like to order a pre-made subscription box, Love Goodly delivers boxes with full-size premium products dedicated to nontoxic beauty, eco lifestyle and wellness. You can order one box or a series of boxes to cheer up your college student who may be feeling neglected in the school cafeteria and stores surrounding her school.

Gluten Free and Vegan Care Packages 22

LOVE WITH FOOD GLUTEN-FREE GIFT BOX

Love With Food helps you discover new organic, all-natural, or gluten-free snacks. Their snacks do not contain flavoring, coloring, trans fats, hydrogenated oils, or high fructose corn syrup. You can send a one-time box or a monthly membership, which starts as low as $7.99/month. They donate a portion of their proceeds to help fight childhood hunger.

Gluten Free and Vegan Care Packages 23

SNACK SACK

Snack sack is a Crate Joy “Best of 2019” Favorite. Each Snack Sack includes 11-15 Gluten Free certified snacks. You can also choose the Classic, Vegan, or Workplace snack sacks. The reviews are great. Prices start at $22.67/mo. They have awesome gluten free and vegan care packages!

Gluten Free and Vegan Care Packages 24

TEN THOUSAND COOKIES

Can you believe these gorgeous cookies are gluten free? Each month receive 12 gorgeous, yummy, and gluten free cookies for as low as $28.50! They also have cookie decorating kits. All of the profits go toward adoption fees.

Sugar wish cookie care package

SUGARWISH

Sugarwish also carries gluten-free and vegan cookie selections for their care packages. I have tasted the Double Chocolate Gluten Free/Vegan cookie and it was Mmmmm……..

 

Gluten Free and Vegan Care Packages 25

KERNAL CRATE

Kernal Crate boxes are tree nut free, peanut free, and gluten free. They include 3 unique flavors every month.

Gluten Free and Vegan Care Packages 26

PIGASUS PIZZA

A monthly gluten free pizza subscription would be the perfect treat for any college student and way better than the gluten free options available in the cafeteria. Each month receive 4 frozen pizzas from Roberto's Pizza.

Gluten Free and Vegan Care Packages 27

KARMA BAKER

Karma Baker, a long time gluten free and vegan bakery in Los Angeles, will send a gift box of their most sought-after favorites including a cake pop, donuts, and cookies. Yum!

Gluten Free and Vegan Care Packages 28

ELEVATE SNACK BOX

Elevate Snack Boxes are gluten free, vegan, and dairy free. They include 20 plant based items.

Gluten Free and Vegan Care Packages 29

BUNNY JAMES GLUTEN FREE CARE PACKAGE

Add Gluten free packages to the list of things of things you can get on Amazon. This care package from Bunny James has amazing reviews.

Gluten Free and Vegan Care Packages 30

BUNNY JAMES VEGAN CARE PACKAGE

 Amazon care will ship a Bunny James Vegan Care Packages right to your college student's door!

 

There are also many non-food items that will be appreciated in a care package for those with unique dietary needs. Ideas include:

  • School supplies like pencils, pens, highlighters, notepads
  • Socks
  • Seasonal paper or non-disposable goods (napkins, plates, cups)
  • Seasonal room decorations
  • Lip balm
  • Stress Balls – these emoji stress balls are my favorite!!
  • Toiletries

Care Packages are one of the best ways to show your college student that you love them and are thinking about them. If they are gluten free or vegan or have any special diet, a box filled with items they can eat without worry is an exceptional treat. Being able to purchase Gluten Free and Vegan care Packages is also a treat for the gift giver!

 

For more care package ideas:

Fun College Care Package Ideas

Finals Care Package Ideas