Story Treasure Chest

by Jewellmartin

2 Materials

1 Hour

Easy

I recycled an empty baby wipes box into an interactive game for my grandchildren. It's was easy and free, since I just used what I had at home

The name brand stickers are off.

Just a simple empty wipes box gets a makeover. I am using several of these boxes for storing tidbits around the house. One holds the cosmetics the girls, ages 5 and 7, get to play with before their baths at my house.

Apple Barrel Brown made a perfect base color.

I used a foam brush for everything. (I have arthritis and the handles are easier to hold.) It took three coats to get what I wanted. The strokes across the top look like wood.

Treasures or treats?

I gathered a few small trinkets to go in the box, and kept a very few for decorating. I have used variations of this activity with adults for pre-marital counseling, with high school students to organize their writing, and as a child's game with visiting children.

STORY TREASURE CHEST: You pop the little lid with the white button. Using two fingers only, take out a trinket from inside the box. (My grands decided they needed three trinkets). Tell a short story in which the trinket/s are used in the story. My girls caught on immediately and started pulling trinkets. Out came their imaginations and we got to laugh and be wowed with their cute, sometimes convoluted, stories. Success!

Coins and doodads on top.

To finish the box and add the "treasure" part of the box, I painted some Apple Barrel Spring Green on to add some color. Then I glued on a few coins and a tiny gem and a cross. I'll probably coat it with spray poly when I can. We have other boxes with glitter and other decorations, but I wanted this one simple since it would be handled a lot.

Have fun with your own ideas and best wishes 😇