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Craft Corner: DIY Buried Treasure

By Tracy Gallagher, Macaroni Kid July 24, 2013

This is a cute craft my father-in-law did with the kids this summer. All the kids (ages 3 to 12) enjoyed it. The littlest one needed some help from the adults but they all had tons of fun digging for treats and surprises!

What You Need:

  • Plaster of Paris (mixed to package directions in small batches)
  • Plastic box (shoe box size)
  • Surprises to hide inside (think large gems, coins, small action figures, plastic jewelry, etc.)
  • Vegetable spray
  • Hammer
  • Large sturdy nails
  • Safety goggles

What You Do:

  1. Spray the inside of the plastic box with vegetable spray to prevent the plaster of paris from sticking.
  2. Mix a small batch of the plaster and pour into the container.
  3. Place a few small object to be found, pressing gently into plaster, allow to dry a bit (until you touch it and you have a little resistance.
  4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the container is filled

Once the plaster has set, which takes about 30-45 minutes, flip over onto a hard surface and tap until the block comes out. Put safety goggles on the kids and use the hammer and large nail to chip away at the plaster to reveal the surprises hidden inside.