These delightful treasure boxes were decorated by my children at the beginning of the summer holidays. We used the technique of decoupage; lots of ripping and cutting and sticking of paper onto plain cardboard boxes. Then we covered everything in PVA glue to give a varnished hard-wearing exterior.
Over the holidays we filled the boxes with special things, items found when we were out and about. A wonderfully eclectic mix of treasure has accumulated, from shiny beads and broken crockery to finds straight from nature like acorns and crab apples (though these are looking rather wizened now).
Today, we investigated their boxes. Here's a display of some of their treasure - quite an insight into what a four and five year old consider worth collecting.
I am fascinated by the museological process of our summer's treasure box project, from the collecting itself to the storing, sorting and displaying of our finds - albeit in miniature form. And without any of a museum's responsibilities of long term storage and expensive care of artefacts, we were able to enjoy it in its most unhindered form. As Lola (of Lauren Child's Charlie and Lola) would have it, we've been collecting a collection, just for the fun of it.
