How to Make a Graduation Card Box for a Party

This post, How to Make a Graduation Card Box for a Party, has been updated for 2026.

A graduation card box is one of the easiest ways to collect cards, gift cards, and well-wishes during a graduation party while also adding a personalized decoration to the celebration. Instead of buying an expensive premade box, you can create a custom graduation card box using simple craft supplies and your graduate’s school colors.

When my nephew graduated from high school back in 2018, his mom asked me to make his graduation card box for his graduation party. Since then, I’ve made a few card boxes for his siblings, and one more for him when he graduated from college at the University of Michigan. Scroll to the end to see them all!

This DIY graduation card box is made from papier-mache boxes and can be customized with ribbon, stickers, photos, graduation year numbers, and other decorations. Whether you’re planning a high school graduation party or a college graduation celebration, this project is an affordable way to create something both practical and memorable.

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Graduation Card Box Supplies

• Paper Mache Boxes of different sizes that can be stacked together.
• 1 1/2″ ribbon, enough to go around all 3 boxes. The one I bought was 21 ft.
• 3/8 in. black ribbon
• 3/8 in. ribbon (same color as the 1 1/2″ ribbon)
• Paint and brushes
• Pocket Knife
• Hot glue gun and glue
• White sticker letters (or any color you choose)
• A small graduation decoration

How to Make a Graduation Card Box

• Paint all the boxes. I chose to paint the 3 larger boxes black, the bigger or the two smaller boxes red, and the smallest box black. You can do whatever is best for your theme or colors.
• Stack the boxes and use a pencil to mark where the next box will sit. On the next step, you’re going to need to know how much space to leave for gluing.
  
  

  

• Using a pocket knife, cut holes in the top/bottom of the bigger boxes. This is so that the cards can fall all the way through to the bottom. The bottom box should only have a hole in the top (and not the entire thing! You still need part of the box there for stacking and gluing). The middle box has to have the bottom AND the top of the box cut out (leave enough space for glue and stacking). The top box should only have the bottom cut out. I used a pocket knife because the boxes were too thick for a box cutter to cut through. Make sure to use the pocket knife as directed so you don’t hurt yourself.
  
  

  

  
  

• Hot glue the boxes together, stacking them like a pyramid.
• Wrap the thicker ribbon around the 3 big boxes and hot glue it on the back of the box. I chose to put mine a little closer to the bottom instead of the center of each box, but you can do it however you want. I hot glued on the back because when I noticed that you could see the hot glue through the ribbon.
• Wrap the thin ribbon around the smaller boxes, gift wrap style. I used black ribbon on the red box and red ribbon on the black box. I hot-glued it to the bottom of the box.
• If you choose to use one, glue or tape a tassel to the top of the box. If you don’t have one, you can make your own from the leftover thin ribbon. Make sure the smaller boxes will cover where it has been glued or taped.
• Hot glue the 2 smaller boxes to the back left-hand corner of the top. I did mine a little crooked to change up the shape a bit. This is totally up to you, though. Do it however you like it best!
• Add graduation decoration next to the 2 small boxes. I couldn’t get the decoration to stand up on its own, so I put a small dab of hot glue and put the decoration toward the front of the dab so the glue wouldn’t show.
• Cut a slit in the top of the box. Make sure it’s big enough to fit cards into. I used a birthday card of my son’s to make sure it was the right size, then I made it a little bigger just in case. I used the pocket knife for this, too. Be careful!!
• Add the letters. My nephew’s mom wanted his first and last name on the box, so I did his first name on the top box and his last name on the bottom box. On the very top of the card box, I put the abbreviation of the school he graduated from.
• Add any other embellishments. The middle box definitely needed some embellishment, so I used a sticker that our local school district passes out and stuck it to cardstock to make it thicker and more durable. I cut around the sticker so the cardstock wouldn’t show, then I hot-glued it onto the box.
• Touch up any paint. Throughout the process, I dinged the boxes up a little. When I was completely finished, I went back and used a small brush to touch it up.

FAQs on How to Make a Graduation Card Box

• What can I use for a graduation card box?

You can use a variety of materials to make a graduation card box, including paper mache boxes, cardboard boxes, wooden crates, gift boxes, or even a decorative basket. Paper mache boxes are a popular option because they’re lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to paint and decorate.

• How big should a graduation card box be?

The size of your graduation card box depends on the number of guests attending the party. For smaller gatherings, a single medium-sized box may be enough. For larger parties, consider using multiple boxes or a larger container to ensure there is plenty of room for cards, gift cards, and notes from guests.

• Can I make a graduation card box without cutting holes between boxes?

Yes. If you’re stacking multiple boxes, you can leave them separate and only use the top box to collect cards. However, cutting holes between the boxes allows cards to fall into the lower compartments, creating more storage space and reducing the chance of the top box becoming full during the party.

• What should I put on a graduation card box?

You can decorate a graduation card box with the graduate’s name, graduation year, school colors, photos, ribbon, stickers, tassels, graduation-themed cutouts, or inspirational quotes. Personalizing the box helps it match your party decorations and creates a keepsake that can be saved after the celebration.

Final Thoughts: How to Make a Graduation Card Box

Making your own graduation card box is an easy and affordable way to add a personal touch to a graduation party. With a few basic supplies and some creativity, you can create a graduation card box that matches your party theme, school colors, and graduate’s personality. Best of all, it serves as both a functional place for guests to leave cards and a memorable keepsake that can be saved long after the celebration is over.