Pirate's Treasure! Costume

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Every year for the past 28 years, my Aunt Helen has held a 4-day Labor Day extravaganza! For the past few years, it has been themed. This year's theme was PIRATES! So, I decided to be pirate's treasure. The costume is a treasure chest that's made out of a cardboard box, covered in wood-grain shelf lining paper, black duct tape, overflowing with jewels, chocolate coins and it has a large lock in the front. The size of the box is 24x15x18 and covers my body from my shoulders to my hips. There is also a hinged cover which lies against my head.

Prep Time: It took me 4 weeks to create.

• 1 rectangular, cardboard box (L)24x(W)15(H)18. (This is for a 5'1 person. The box should be proportionate to the costume wearer's size.)
• 15 feet of wood-grain shelf lining paper (This can be purchased at most hardware stores)
• 3 medium size bags of plastic, gold buttons, colorful jewels, beads (These may be purchased at a craft store)
• small plastic skulls (optional)
• 1 large roll of 2 inch, black duct tape
• hot glue and glue gun
• gold paint
• paint brush
• oak tag
• stapler
• box cutter
• chocolate coin candy and candy necklaces
• plastic chain or rope
• patience :]

1. Find a rectangular, cardboard shipping box which is proportionate to the costume wearer's size.
2. Push down the side flaps of the box and then push down the longer flaps so they fall on top.(Basically, don't close the box the way you normally would to store or ship it.)
3. Using the box cutter, cut a square hole which is big enough for the person's head to fit through but not too big that their shoulders could fit through.
4. Using the hot glue gun, fasten the longer flaps on top of the side flaps. Then cut off the flaps on the bottom of the box.
5. Now to cover the box with the wood-grain liner paper (this may be done several ways): measure and cut the liner paper to fit each side of the cardboard box. Peel the paper from its backing and carfully smooth out onto the corresponding side of the box so as to not create any bubbles. This might need two people. *tip: You may want to cut the paper in strips and place them so the grain is not lined up. This will give it a more genuine wood appearance. Leave the top(where you cut the hole) and bottom of the box uncovered.
6. Aesthetically, this part is up to the creator. Using the black duct tape, cover the entire top edge of the box, going horizontally all the way around with one long strip of tape. Do the same to the bottom of the box. Then on the front and back of the box, place two strips of black duct tape vertically (the width apart depends on the size of the box).
7. The fun part! For this you should use large round jewels that have a flat back and a hot glue gun. Glue the jewels, evenly spaced apart, onto the black duct tape, front and back, so that they look like rivets. You can use as many or as little as you like.
8. Paint the top of the box (the part with the square hole) with the gold paint. After drying, glue on, in any way possible, all the other jewels, beads and skulls you want. Leave spaces here and there to cut slits in the cardboard. These slits will be used to hold the (optional) chocolate coins. *Tip: glue on some mardi gras necklaces and let them hang off the side. This gives a more overflowing look.
9. Making the top: This part is a little more work, but it's just cardboard so it goes together pretty easily. You'll need 2 strips the length of the box and 2 strips the depth of the sides of the box (from front to back). You can make the top flat, which is easy. Basically it's like the box itself, only shorter. I made mine with an arch on the top, which requires that the side pieces be cut with a curve on the top edge. A large piece of cardboard can be used for the top itself, but with the curved top I decided on using oak tag, which I supported underneath with some rigid foam braces that I attached with hot melt glue.
10. After the top is formed, just cover it, all around and underneath, with the contact paper. I used black duct tape for the hinge, and for the decorative 'metal' strips as well. These were finished with plastic jewels which were hot-melt glued to the tape.
11. On the sides of the box (on the duct taped part), cut two horizontal slits a few inches apart. Take your plastic chain or rope and pull it through and secure on the inside of the box. These will be the chest's handles.
12. Using the box cutter, carefully cut a hole on each side of the box but leave a flap. This is where the arms will go through.
13. Make the lock out of whatever you can find that's light weight and attach it to the front of the treasure chest.
14. Lastly, try it on! And add any details that fit your style. You could even paint a white skull on the front or the top. Oh and the candy should be added last. Bring extra!