Shoe Box Pirate’s Treasure Chest
Turn an ordinary shoe box into a pirate’s treasure chest that is perfect for pretend play, a pirate birthday party, or a fun afternoon craft. Kids will enjoy decorating their chest and then filling it with play coins, jewels, or tiny treasures they collect along the way. This easy craft for kids is a great way to spark imaginative play.
Supplies
- Shoe box with attached lid
- Black paint
- Paintbrush
- Embossing foil
- Paper fasteners
- Skull printable
- Glue
- Scissors
Instructions
- Paint the shoe box and attached lid black. Let it dry completely.
- Cut the embossing foil into strips and glue the strips onto the box to make it look like an old pirate treasure chest.
- Add paper fasteners around the box for extra decorative details.
- Print the skull template, cut it out, and glue it onto the front of the treasure chest.
- Let everything dry, then fill your pirate chest with pretend treasure and get ready for adventure.
Fun Facts
Pirates often used flags called Jolly Rogers to send a message to other ships. These flags warned sailors that pirates were nearby and told them to surrender quickly if they wanted mercy.
Patterns, Templates and Printables
Print the skull template and use it to decorate the front of your treasure chest. Printable templates like this make easy crafts for kids even more fun and simple to prepare.
Teacher Friendly Educational Extension
Turn this pirate craft into a fun learning activity by inviting kids to create a treasure hunt after they finish their chest. They can write simple clues, draw a treasure map, or count pretend coins to add a little writing, reading, or math practice. This also works well as a classroom activity during a pirate theme unit.
Supplies
Shoe Box with Attached Lid
Black Paint & Brush
Embossing Foil
Paper Fasteners
Skull Printable
Glue & Scissors
Instructions:
Instructions
Paint the box black. Let dry.
Cut strips of foil and glue on to box.
Poke fasteners into the box for more decorations.
Print skull. Cut out. Glue to box.
Yo Ho Ho you'll have hours of fun.
Patterns, Templates and Printables
Click on a pattern to open it in a new window
Contributor
These projects are created by Terri, Betty, Jamie or one of the talented staff members at MakingFriends.com. They have been created exclusively for publication on FreeKidsCrafts.com with supplies you'll be able to find around your house.
Never thought to use a shoe box for a pirates chest, this looks like a lot of fun!
This craft was amazing fun with the kiddos, they love everything pirates and making their own pirate chest was awesome, thanks!