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How to Make a Treasure Island Map

"Treasure Island," the classic by Robert Louis Stevenson, was first published in 1881. This children's pirate adventure is still very popular today. The tale introduces us to the story told by young Jim Hawkins, son of an inn keeper on the coast in England. He tells of a sailor who arrives at the Inn who calls himself "the Captain." This sailor is Billy Bones. Pirates come looking for Billy. Billy dies, and Jim finds himself digging through a sailor's chest with his mother to find things to pay for the bill that Billy can no longer pay. Jim finds a map and a journal. This map is believed to be the directions to find the treasure of the "bloodthirstiest buccaneer, Pirate Flint, father of Blackbeard" on an island. Treasure maps are intriguing for young and old. You can make a Treasure Island map of Skeleton island like the one that Stevenson created and drew for his book.

Things You'll Need

  • 12 x 12 tan or parchment look paper Waterproof black ink pen fine tip Shoe string or 8 inches of twine Cup Tea bag (regular black) Elastic Paper towels Waterproof red ink marker fine tip
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut the tan or parchment-like sheet of paper to measure 8 1/2 by 11 inches. That ensures that it fits your printer.

    • 2

      Find the treasure map at the "Dead Men Tell No Tales" Website listed in the Resources section. The link is set at a direct view of the map for printing. Run a test copy of it through your printer on copy paper to see if it is the correct size.

    • 3

      Adjust the print size on your computer to the size you want. Print the map on to the tan or parchment paper.

    • 4

      Use a fine tip black ink marker pen to trace over all of the markings on the map--including the name, Skeleton Island. Trace over the words "The Spy Glass," the name of the hill in the center of the map. Take the red ink marker. Draw over the two red crosses on the northern part of the Island to better emphasize the ones on the map print out. Trace over the third cross which is in the south east part of the island. Trace over the words with red ink, "Bulk of treasure here." It's next to the third cross. Set aside to make sure all of the ink is dry.

    • 5

      Heat water in a 6-ounce cup in the microwave for 2 minutes. Place a regular black tea bag in the cup. Dunk the tea bag up and down several times. Let it sit until the water turns a dark brown. It should sit for at least 10 minutes.

    • 6

      Roll the paper map into a tube shape. Place an elastic band over one end to hold it secure in the middle. Place one end of the map into the tea cup. Let sit for 5 minutes. Pull out of the cup. Place the other end into the tea for 5 minutes.

    • 7

      Carefully unroll the paper. Make sure it lies flat. Place it on paper towels. Place the whole tea bag on a portion of the map; let it sit for 30 minutes. If you have a white shoe string or twine, place it into the tea water to stain it. Let sit for a few hours. Let all dry for at least 12 hours, preferably near a window or in the sun.

    • 8

      Pinch a few fragments of the map off with your finger tips to give the edges a worn look. Let the edges dry. Remove tea bag; discard it.

    • 9

      Fold the completely dried paper in half. Fold the half in quarters. Unfold. Refold two more times.

    • 10

      Crumple the Treasure Island map in your two hands. Smooth out the paper and crumple it up once more. This all to give it a more worn look.

    • 11

      Lightly smooth out the map. Roll it up. Tie the piece of string around it.

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