Kids Woodworking Project: Keepsake Box

Keepsake Box Craft Project for Kids

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Are you looking for a fun gift that they will keep using a long time? The finished Treasure Chest is about 7 3/4" wide by 6" by 6" high. Do you want to have fun making it? This makes a great gift either made or as a kit. Kids can make these mini pirate treasure chest shaped desktop boxes from scratch, or you can cut the wood ahead of time for them to assemble. You can use hot-glue or small finishing nails to assemble your Treasure Chests. Most youth take around 30 minutes to assemble one from pre-cut pieces. The record time is 5 minutes using hot-glue. Turn scrap wood into a present they'll remember. Easy, simple, quick kit for an attractive, tabletop or desktop goodie box. Cut a bunch of kits for all your kids, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews to build.

Children love putting these treasure chests shaped keepsake boxes together, painting and decorating them to keep in their room. Kids can decorate their pirate boxes with art using paints, markers, stickers or whatever.

Parts List for one Treasure Chest Quantity Length Width Thickness Part Name 26 7 3/4" 3/4" 3/8" Slats 2 5 1/4" 2 1/2" 3/4" Rectangle sides 2 5 1/4" 2 1/2" 3/4" Half circle sides

Assembly Instructions

Step 1 For the bottom, hot-glue or nail the

ends of seven slats to the long edge of a rectangle side. If nailing, drill 1/16" diameter pilot holes, and use small 3/4" length finishing nails. Be very careful with hot glue and hammers and nails. Hot glue is much quicker and easier, and you can always drill and nail it after. Step 2 Attach the other rectangle side to the opposite end of the 7 bottom slats.
Step 3 Tip it up so that the front of the Treasure Chest is up. Attach 4 slats for the front, making sure that the top edge is flush with the edge of the rectangle sides. The last slat can overhang the bottom depending on the thickness of the bottom slats.
Step 4 Turn it over so that the back of the Treasure Chest is up. Attach 4 slats for the back, again make sure that the top edge is flush. There, the bottom half is finished.
Step 5 Attach slats to the half circles, starting

with the front & back, and evenly space them out as you work your way up to the top of the arch. The bottom edge of the lid must be flat, that is the lower two slats must be flush with the flat edge of the half circles. We do not cut any kind of angle on the slats to try to get them to fit snugly. Just space them evenly around the curve. Step 6 Place the lid on the box, and stick duct tape across the back to start making
the hinge. Step 7 Open the Treasure Chest, and put another piece of duct tape over the inside of the open joint, and press down the edges. If you like you can use mini hinges from the hardware store.