Coffee Painting Treasure Map Craft

Ahoy there! Prepare yourself for making your own authentic-looking treasure map using coffee paint.

The coffee paint will give your ancient treasure map a perfect aged look. Have fun using your imagination as you dream up the details of your pirate treasure map.

Only your imagination is the limit to what can be included—just don’t forget that X marks the spot!

Why not use your treasure map as a prompt for starting your own pirate adventure!

Make a Treasure Map

Let’s go through step by step how to make a treasure map, perfect for a pirate. And if you want to make a pirate hat too then use this pirate hat template.

Supplies to make a Pirate Treasure Map

Instant or regular coffee

Hot water

3 mugs

Teaspoon 

Thick paintbrush

1 sheet white mixed-media paper

Thin paintbrush

Ribbon (optional)

How to Make a Pirate Treasure Map Art Project

Step 1: Mix up your coffee paint

You will need three shades of coffee paint to make your treasure map. To make coffee paint, simply add coffee and hot water to a mug and mix them together. Follow the ratios below to make each of the three shades.

•Lightest shade: Mix 1 heaping teaspoon of coffee with 1 cup (240 ml) of hot water

•Medium shade: Mix 1 heaping teaspoon of coffee with ¼ cup (60 ml) of hot water

•Darkest shade: Mix 1 heaping teaspoon of coffee with 1 teaspoon of hot water

Step 2: Paint the sea

Apply the lightest shade of coffee paint to your piece of paper. This will become the sea. I recommend using a thick paintbrush to paint this area. Try not to get your paper too wet, or it will take a long time to dry.

Step 3: Paint the land

Once the sea has dried, use the medium shade of coffee paint to create the land.

Paint the outline of land in the center of your paper and think carefully about the shape you would like it to be.

Once you are happy with your outline, fill it in with the medium shade of coffee paint.

You can also use your medium shade of coffee paint to add a few waves in your sea. Allow it to dry.

Step 4: Paint the details

Make sure your treasure map is completely dry before beginning this step.

You are now going to use your darkest shade of coffee paint and a thin paintbrush to add all the details.

On the land you could paint trees, mountains, swamps, rocksand a skull and crossbones, and in the sea you could add sharks and a pirate ship.

Use your imagination, and add all the things that you think are important to have on a treasure map. And don’t forget—X marks the spot!

Step 5: Add a ribbon (optional)

Once your treasure map has dried, roll it up into a scroll and tie a piece of ribbon around it. You are now ready to head off on a pirate adventure!

Top Tip

Design your treasure map on a spare piece of paper before you start painting.

Credit: Reprinted with permission from Fun Painting Projects for Kids by Louise McMullen. Page Street Publishing Co. 2022. Photo credit: Jen Allan Photography.

Fun Painting Projects for Kids

Fun Painting Projects for Kids is a fun new kids activity book from Louise McMullen, blogger over at Messy Little Monster

This book has 60 ideas to make with the kids, and once you start browsing through the book you are going to want to make all of them!

We really love all of the painting projects inside, it has a great variety from active outdoor painting fun, to projects inspired by great artists.

You can buy this book on Amazon, available now! (affiliate)

This will definitely be a great buy to keep the kids busy over the summer break! My 5 year old, N, can’t wait to try out all of the activities.

More Pirate Activities for Kids

You might also like these fun Pirate themed ideas…

• 13 Fun & Easy Pirate Crafts for Kids (and 10 Free Pirate Printables too!)
• Pirate Colouring Pages for Kids
• 15 Fun Pirate Cake Ideas
• Pirate Costumes For Kids

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Why not add the book to your Amazon Wish list?