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I will show you how to make a treasure chest out of this box.
Take an elongated cardboard box. The base should not be square but rectangular.
Decide on the height you want for the long sides of the treasure chest
and then measure and draw a pencil line at that height all around the cardboard box.
Take a semicircle with a diameter equal to the width of the narrow sides of the box.
Place the semi-circle along the line drawn in the previous step
and draw a semicircle on each of the narrow sides of the box.
Using an x-acto knife, cut along the straight lines on the long sides of the box
and along the curves on the narrow sides.
Now you have the bottom part of the treasure chest with curved narrow sides
and straight long sides.
To create the lid of the treasure chest, start by measuring the length of the curve.
Use either a mathematical formula or a string.
Before cutting the cardboard for the lid of the treasure chest,
make sure to find the direction of the cardboard.
The cardboard used in the manufacture of boxes is composed of a sheet of corrugated
paper glued between two sheets of thick paper.
This makes the cardboard rigid.
For the lid of the treasure chest,
we have to turn this flat surface into a curved surface.
Through the layer of thick paper, you can see the direction of the corrugated paper.
Measure the width of the treasure chest
and make sure the corrugations are parallel to the long side of the chest.
The length of the lid should match the measured length of the string,
plus some extra material to attach a strip to the rear of the box
and some to close the front of the box.
Using a pencil, mark the sheet of cardboard at regular intervals
and then cut the cardboard slightly with the x-acto knife.
Cut along each line through the top layer of thick paper.
When you are finished cutting along the lines,
take the cardboard and fold it along each cut.
At this time, the flat surface becomes a curved surface!
Put white glue on the edge of one of the long sides of the box and glue one end of the
lid of the treasure chest. Let dry.
Paint all sides of the treasure chest in a colour of your choice.
If you wish, you can even paint the inside of the trunk.
For a nicer finish, add a coat of acrylic varnish.
For a nice finishing touch, glue a hasp on the front of the treasure chest.
I used an old fashioned trunk hasp.
After measuring the center of the lid,
I glued the moving part of the hasp on the inside of the lid.
Then I marked the spot where the staple should come out
and I cut a slot with an x-acto knife.
I passed the staple through the box to make it come out in front.
You can hide all kinds of treasures in your treasure chest,
like an eye patch or a pirate hat.
Why not place some chocolate coins or some gems in it!
Maybe you will find the treasure map or the hook of Captain Hook!
To print the free document with a detailed list of materials,
illustrated instructions and patterns, click on the link below the video.