Find A Spot for Your Little Treasures - Fun at-home activities for Kids.

All Activities

Find A Spot for Your Little Treasures

Design and make a small treasure box from recycled materials, decorate it, and choose a secret, safe spot to keep your little treasures.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to Find A Spot for Your Little Treasures

What you need

Small recycled box or tin, scissors, tape, craft glue or glue stick, colouring materials, decorative items like stickers fabric scraps ribbon buttons, scrap paper or wrapping paper, tissue paper or soft fabric scrap, adult supervision required

Step 1

Gather all the Materials Needed and set them on a clean flat workspace.

Step 2

Choose which small recycled box or tin will become your treasure box.

Step 3

Ask an adult to help you remove any sharp edges labels or old tape from the box.

Step 4

Think about a design idea for your treasure box such as pirate chest garden box or space chest.

Step 5

Make a simple sketch of your chosen design on scrap paper to plan colors and decorations.

Step 6

Use scissors to cut scrap paper or fabric pieces to the sizes you need for the outside of the box.

Step 7

Glue the paper or fabric pieces onto the box to cover it and hold them down until the glue sets.

Step 8

Add stickers buttons ribbon or drawings with your colouring materials to decorate the box the way you planned.

Step 9

Reinforce the box edges and the lid with tape or extra glue so your box is sturdy for keeping treasures.

Step 10

Place a piece of tissue paper or a soft fabric scrap inside the box to protect your treasures.

Step 11

Choose a secret safe spot in your house where only you can find your treasure box.

Step 12

Put the treasure box in that secret spot and check that you can open and close it easily when you need to.

Step 13

Share a photo and a short description of your finished treasure box on DIY.org to show everyone your creation.

Help!?

What can I use if I don't have a small recycled box or tin for my treasure box?

If you don't have a small recycled box or tin, use a clean cardboard shoebox, a small plastic food container, or an empty cereal bar box and follow the step to remove labels and cover it with scrap paper or fabric.

What should I do if the glue won't set or the lid won't close after decorating?

If glue won't set or decorations make the lid hard to close, press glued pieces under a heavy book until dry, trim or relocate bulky buttons or ribbon from the lid, and reinforce edges and the lid with tape or extra glue as instructed.

How can I adapt this activity for different ages?

For younger children have an adult remove sharp edges and pre-cut paper or fabric for gluing, while older kids can sketch more detailed designs, add mixed-media elements like buttons and ribbon, or build a small compartment inside as a challenge.

What are some ways to extend or personalize the treasure box once it's finished?

Enhance your box by adding cardboard dividers glued inside for compartments, painting or using metallic paper for a themed finish, lining the inside with tissue or fabric for protection, and writing a secret code on the lid before sharing a photo on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to Find A Spot for Your Little Treasures

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

21 Places to Hide Stuff You’ve Never Thought Of

4 Videos

Facts about recycled crafts for kids

♻️ Upcycling turns trash into treasure — creative reuse reduces waste and sparks imagination.

📦 Boxes and chests have been used for storing valuables for thousands of years, from wooden trunks to tiny jewelry boxes.

🎁 Making your own treasure box makes ordinary objects feel extra special and helps you remember what matters.

🧭 Kids love secret spots — common hiding places include inside shoes, behind books, or taped under shelves for extra mystery!

🌱 Decorating with fabric scraps, bottle caps, and paper teaches eco-friendly habits and looks super cool.

How do I design and make a small treasure box and find a secret spot for it?

To do this activity, start by choosing a small recycled container like a cardboard box, mint tin, or plastic jar. Clean it, then cut or fold openings as needed, using child-safe scissors with supervision. Decorate with paint, stickers, fabric, or washi tape and add padding if you like. Talk with your child to pick a secret, safe spot—dry, accessible to the child, and out of plain sight (under a bed, on a high shelf, inside a closet). Label it if desired.

What materials do I need to make a recycled treasure box?

Materials you'll need: clean recycled container (small shoebox, mint tin, yogurt pot, or jar), child-safe scissors, glue or tape, paints or markers, stickers, washi tape, fabric scraps, cotton or felt for padding, and labels. Optional: ribbon, buttons, sequins, hole punch, elastic to close. Have adult tools like a craft knife or hot glue available only with supervision. Adjust materials to your child's age and household recycling.

What ages is this treasure box activity suitable for?

This activity suits ages 3–12 with varying levels of help. Ages 3–5 will need close adult help with cutting and small parts; focus on decorating and choosing a spot. Ages 6–8 can help build and personalize more independently. Ages 9–12 can design sturdier boxes and manage closures. Adapt complexity, tools, and safety rules to your child's fine motor skills and attention span.

What are the benefits and safety tips for making a secret treasure box?

Benefits include creativity, fine motor skill practice, problem-solving, and a sense of ownership. Safety tips: use child-safe scissors, supervise glue and small decorations, avoid sharp edges, and check that chosen hiding spots are safe and allowed (avoid appliances, vents, or high places where falls could occur). Encourage labeling and a secret code with a parent so treasures stay private but retrievable in emergencies.

Ready to create?