Yo-Ho-Ho!
In the heart of Illinois, a group of spirited Shriners, known as the Medinah Shriners Club, parades through the streets in true pirate fashion. Their vessel of choice? A magnificent pirate ship that sails through the cheers and applause of the onlookers. But what’s a pirate ship without a treasure chest to hold its prized possessions?
That’s where I came into the picture, tasked with turning an ordinary toybox into a fantastical Pirate Treasure Chest to grace the bow of their ship.
Before embarking on this creative endeavor, the toybox underwent a transformation. After a thorough cleaning, prepping, and priming, I applied a blend of chalk paints in black, plum, and brown. The result was a weathered and aged appearance.
To further elevate the chest and stand, I added a touch of eerie charm. Ten small dollar store skulls came to the rescue, ready to become a part of this nautical prop. With a hot wood burning tool, I carved holes in.
The top and bottom of each skull and connected them with a channel to slide them onto the spindles of the stand. Some skulls had their jaws and teeth removed to give them unique character.
Securing the skulls to the spindles required a sturdy adhesive. I filled the skulls with Great Stuff, a versatile sprayable foam, and positioned them at various angles, each facing a different direction. They guarded the approach to the treasure chest from every angle.
For an added touch of real-
ism, I employed a silicone mold of skulls made by Evil
Ted. Though this specific mold may no longer be available at Michaels, you can find similar options on Etsy. Using this mold, I cast resin skulls in various sizes and strategically adhered them to the chest.
To breathe life into the skulls, I brushed them with copper paint from Finnabair. Their eyes and the engraved details of the wooden chest were adorned with “Blue/Violet Opal” paint from the same brand. As the finishing touch, I painted the chest’s interior black and applied a durable clear coat to protect the toybox-turned-treasure chest for years to come.
Next came all the hardware, including handles, hinges, and
a latch. A collection of 1-inch wide copper bands, procured from an estate sale, graced the chest’s edges, each hammered in place with copper nails. I look forward to seeing how these copper ac-
cents develop a beautiful patina over time.
The moment of truth arrived when I presented the Medinah Shriners pirates with their new treasure chest. Their love and appreciation for the creation were overwhelming. In fact, they were so enamored that they deemed it too precious to expose to the elements on a parade float.
This heartfelt gesture touched my soul deeply; there’s no greater feeling than knowing your work is cherished.
This project was not just about craftsmanship; it was about giving back. I donated my services to the Shriners, an honor in itself. But what if I were to undertake a similar project for a private citizen?
Considering the cost of materials (hardware, resin, paint, leather, copper, tacks, and nails) and the hours spent on preparation, painting, casting, attaching hardware, adding paint details, and applying the clear coat, the total cost would be in the range of $450 to $550. Crafting this treasure chest was a passion project, and the freedom of creative expression it allowed was truly unique.
