Make a Three Dimensional Pirate Play Treasure Map Display by Upcycling Boxes - Crafting Demo

The following is a detailed tutorial outlining the steps to make a three dimensional pirate map display. Follow along to see it being built. It was a relatively simple project.

While there are several things I like about it, one of the main ones is that it cost me almost nothing. It's made out of scraps and materials I had on hand. Then again, I am a bit of a hoarder when it comes to crafting supplies. I buy on sale and stock pile.

Check out the photo gallery to see how a cardboard box, some paper, temporary tattoos and ribbon came together for a good cause.

Ah, now there is the real story. Most such tales begin with it was a dark and dreary night or some other such similar introductions. This one began on a normal day just like any other blazing hot, July day in Texas, with me running late!

The mornings events had conspired against me. It was looking like it would be one of those everything that can go wrong will kind of days.

When I let Elwood out to do his doggy duty, he wouldn't come back and made me chase him as he proceeded to have a grand time chasing squirrels, one of his dedicated passions in life.

When I went to grab my coffee, nadda. Someone, (Mr. Vix) had unplugged it after I went to bed. The horror!

Such an omen should have forewarned me that I was in for some nasty karma. Fast forward past one "accidentally" broken dish, two stubbed toes, and seriously bruised knee later, I'm limping to the bath room in fear of the next accident to cross my path.

He's hanging out on the dining room table here with me as I construct this thing, "supervising" shall we say. At his insistence, I might add.

Kids love dragons right up there with dinosaurs.

Boys, girls, even us big kids get a huge kick out of these mythological creatures.

Here are some of my favorite glitter type stickers of dragons to spark little imaginations.

They would be great for this project or many others.

Every since we met one Christmas, years ago, Varion has lived on one of my too many bookcases. He has taken on the not small task he deemed "keeper of the scrolls." Basically, he guards over all of my writings. Many a midnight musing has been penned with Varion looking over my shoulder.

Well, as stated, I'm headed for the bathroom in fear and next thing I know Varion flies off the bookcase and lands right at my feet. What the heck? Am I to be plagued by poltergeists as well as accidents on this day?

After a quick look over to be sure he is undamaged, I put him back and go about my business.

Fifteen or twenty minutes later I'm tooling by the bookcase again headed for the hairspray, since it's a bad hair day too, and here we go again! This time, he lands on my foot. Seriously, am I cursed?

That's it. No more. Time for a change of plan. I'm not going anywhere. With the kind of luck I'm having today I would most likely wind up in a wreck and who wants to go to the mall anyway? It can wait.

Why now? What's up? What's changed?

Bingo!

My work habits have changed. I have been working on the lap top in the dining room for the last few months since I'm crafting on the table. I just park the laptop here, too.

But, Varian got left all alone on the shelf in another room. That's it!

Well, I can fix that right now. My bestest dragon bud shall look over my shoulder as I work once more, as it should be.

1.) Find a box like the one shown in the photo gallery, one that has a cellophane covering in the front.

I like that mine had an irregular shape on the front.

2.) Carefully, so as to not tear the sides, unfold it.

3.) Cover the inside with the background papers, ribbons, stickers, bling, whatever of your choice.

I used three coordinating sheets of scrapbook paper that came in the box I used to make this. How sweet is that?

I used temporary tattoos here for the scorpion, moon and flying dragon.

This was my first time to ever use them and I learned something.

Apply them before applying the Mod Podge.

I didn't and had to transfer them to scrap and then glue those onto the display.

Tip: Use a small paintbrush when applying the water to the temporary tattoo to keep from over soaking the papers underneath.

That's what caught my eye, four for a dollar. What I thought would be a real score on stickers turned out to be not. But, I just couldn't pass up the deal. I got a few bucks worth thinking if they stick to skin, they have to stick to other stuff as well. At this price, I could afford to experiment.

The compass is a few years old and actually a child's toy. It was another bargain bin find. It came in a value pack of 12 just like it for a buck or so. I got them at the time to trim out a bulletin board when teaching my class map skills. I must have used this thing on at least 10 boards since then.

4.) Cut off any outside part of the box that sticks up. Duct tape the entire exterior rim. Camouflage the tape with ribbon or what have you.

5.) Decorate the front outside face of the box as you will. Gold star studs were used on the corners here to add some texture and define the space more. Everything is hot glued or glued down with a glue stick. The entire thing was Mod Podged, and Varion moved in.

These directions would work for any theme you want. What makes this one a pirate map is the map paper, and the bling selected.

6.) To make the hanger, simply glue each end of a piece of chain down the sides of the finished display.

This is mostly layering and gluing. Once you decide on the look you want, it's really simple.