Have you ever longed for a place to store your office plunder? Maybe you need to hide your prized colored paper clips or your thumbtacks with kitty faces from sticky-fingered co-workers? Well, fret no longer. You just need a miniature pirate treasure chest to adorn your desk.
A few months ago, I spotted tiny treasure chests in the wood aisle at Michael’s. They were adorable with their little storage space and tiny latches. I knew, with a little love, they could be much cooler. Since they were just one dollar each, I grabbed a handful for aging experimentation.
I was right. Here’s how to turn a cute treasure box into one your co-workers will drool with envy over (or make fun of you for depending on your office.)
List of materials
One treasure chest
Razor blade
12” length of thick chain
Medium grit sandpaper
Wood stain, maple or darker
2 cloth rags
White acrylic paint
Black acrylic paint
1 – 2” paintbrush
Beat up the wood: You’re probably frustrated about something, so why not take it out on your new treasure chest? It needs some character. The best way to add this is by beating it up. Use a sharp razor blade to peel out chunks of wood in random places. Cut gashes into the planks. Get about a foot of thick chain and flog the heck out of the wood to create nicks. Use a little restraint though, the wood isn’t invincible and it’s easy to smash the whole thing to bits. The above photo shows a treasure chest that has been beaten into submission.
Sand away: After you’ve created an interesting mix of cuts and dents, sand away any rough edges. Break off any hanging pieces of wood first, then use a medium grit sandpaper (between 80 and 60) to gently sand the whole piece. Splinters are bad, so take your time to make sure everything is smooth.
Stain: This step is where you’ll really see why the aging process pays off. Open your wood stain and grab a cloth rag. I used General Finishes Oil Base Wipe-on in Maple. Whatever brand you are using, choose a darker finish. Dip the corner of your rag in the wood stain, and cover your treasure chest. Make sure you get the wood stain into every crack and nick. Don’t worry about whether you have put the stain on evenly, it will just add to the look. Stain the inside of the treasure chest, too. Wipe of the excess stain with a second cloth rag. Let the first coat of wood stain dry completely. Set outside in the sun, leave it sit overnight (in a ventilated room), or if you’re impatient, grab a blow dryer. After it is dry, repeat the above steps.
Finishing touches: After the stain is dry, you can add the finishing touches. Load your paintbrush with just a little white acrylic paint. Paint on a scrap piece of paper until you can barely see any paint coming from the brush. You want to add highlights to the treasure chest, not give it a whole new coat of paint. When barely any white paint is left on the brush, lightly brush the edges of your treasure chest. Get the corners, the top curve of the lid, and edges. You can see these highlights in the photo of the finished chest below.
Remember, less is more. Finally, the latch and hinges on the treasure chest are a little too shiny. Grab two paper towels and black acrylic paint. Put a small amount of paint on one corner of a paper towel and rub this onto the latch and hinges. Cover them entirely but be careful not to get paint on the finished chest. Take the clean paper towel and wipe off all the excess black paint before it dries. Repeat until it looks nice and old.
Look for miniature treasure chests in your local craft store in the unfinished wood area. You can also find them online. If you make a treasure chest, share your photos!
Amy Ratcliffe still has no idea what she wants to be when she grows up. But until then, she will keep playing D&D, reading comics, and perfecting the ultimate chic lightsaber. Strong female characters in the world of geek (movies, comics, & books) influence her attitude and costumes. Visit her blog Geek with Curves.
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Amy Ratcliffe still has no idea what she wants to be when she grows up. But until then, she will keep playing D&D, reading comics, and perfecting the ultimate chic lightsaber. Strong female characters in the world of geek (movies, comics, & books) influence her attitude and costumes. Visit her blog Geek with Curves or follow her on Twitter. 
