Ocean Keepsake Box

crayola supplies

Paint Brush
Markers
Washable Kid's Paint
Glitter Glue
Pointed Tip Scissors
Tempera Mixing Mediums
Squeezables Glitter
Squeezables Bold
Model Magic® Fusion™

household supplies

recycled newspaper
toothpicks - wooden
paper towels
container(s) of water
plastic dinnerware
garlic press (works great to make hair and grass with Fusion)
wooden box

Why

What to do with the shells, postcards, and other beach-related trinkets? Keep vacation memories safe inside this keepsake container.

Steps

1. Decorate a wooden craft box (or recycled cardboard box with a lid) however you like to hold mementos from any occasion. Here’s how this box was made. Use your imagination and any theme to decorate your container.
2. Cover your craft area with newspaper. Paint the box inside and out with Crayola Washable Kid’s Paints. Mix at least two colors for realistic ocean hues. Add a coat or two of Crayola Texture It! Tempera Mixing Medium for a sandy look, either before or after you paint. Use swirling brush strokes to achieve a wave look. Air-dry the paint.
3. Decorate the box with anything you like--fish, seaweed, starfish, seahorses, mermaids—made with Crayola Model Magic® Fusion™ modeling compound. Fusion compound sticks to almost any surface, including itself. If you work on your box over several days, just store the pieces in a plastic container with a lid until you are ready to assemble everything.
4. To make fish, flatten ovals with your finger for the bodies. For tails and fins, attach little triangles.
5. Roll Fusion into long and short worm-like shapes for seaweed.
6. Roll Fusion compound flat with a marker barrel. Cut out starfish with Crayola Scissors or a plastic knife. Poke a toothpick into the surface for a textured look.
7. Sculpt mermaids and other sea creatures piece by piece (arms, head, and hair). A garlic press is perfect for making long hair!
8. When all of your pieces are ready, attach them to the box and/or to each other. Model Magic® Fusion™ dries to the touch overnight and dries completely in 2 to 3 days.
9. Add details, such as tiny fish eyes and mouths, with Crayola Squeezables™ 3-D Paints. For glittery effects, use a coating of Glitter Glue. Air-dry the box before you use it to store your precious memories!

When & Where

"In anticipation of our annual trek to the beach, we created this box to take with us. It kept the number and size of our mementoes reasonable!"
- Bret and Kaylene R., parents of ages 10 and 13.

"Our teens held a mid-winter beach party in the basement. Everyone made keepsake boxes to hold pictures of the fun they had!"
- Ariel and Francisco D., parents of ages 12 and 14.

Interesting Info

The world’s oceans are filled with more than 200,000 different kinds of shells. The largest clam in the world measures about 55 inches in length. That’s almost 6 feet (1.8 m) long!

Safety Guidelines

Glitter Glue— WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years. Not for use on skin.

Squeezables® 3-D Paint— WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years. Not for use on skin.

Crayola Modeling Materials including Crayola Model Magic®, and Model Magic Fusion™, Crayola Air-Dry Clay, and Crayola Dough—

Keep away from open flames. Do not use to make candleholders, hot plates, trivets, or other similar objects that will be used or placed near fire and other heat sources.
Do not put in an oven, microwave, or kiln.
Do not make into vessels/containers that will hold unpackaged food.
The use of modeling material to make items that look like food is discouraged for children younger than age 5 to avoid their confusion with real food.
Unless sealed with a water-resistant glaze, do not make projects exposed to or immersed in water, such as boats or outdoor bird feeders. They would disintegrate when exposed to moisture.
Crayola Dough—contains gluten (wheat flour) as an ingredient.
Crayola Air-Dry Clay, Crayola Model Magic and Model Magic Fusion are gluten-free. However, they are produced on the same machinery as Crayola Dough which does contain gluten. Although the machines are cleaned prior to the start of each production run, there is a slight possibility that trace amounts of gluten from Crayola Dough may be present in the other modeling compound products. For information regarding specific ingredients or allergic concerns, please call our Consumer Affairs department at 1-800-272-9652 weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Crayola Washable Paints—Not for use as body/face paint.

Modeling Tools—Use the least dangerous point or edge sufficient to do the job. For example, craft sticks, plastic knives and forks, and cookie cutters can cut or carve modeling materials.

Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.

Wood—By its nature, wood is rough and may contain splinters or sharp points