We created a birthday in 14 clues, with our ReTreeJoy tree!

We started with our birthday girl’s favorite things, but it can be anything really, a theme, a story, a movie, a memory even.

We went with 14 because it seemed like a good number, also it happened to be her 14th birthday! But probably at least 10 would be good, to keep things fun.

We started with 14 clues and then decorated the boxes to match the clues! We used 100% recycled printer paper, markers, biodegradable glitter, home made glue (yes it works! Gum arabic available here or here, glycerin from the local pharmacy, apply with a paint brush, and leave to dry), paper boxes, hemp twine.

Some other things we used for decorating: flowers from our local grocery store, kraft paper recycled from packages, Cream City compostable ribbon, small glass bottles (empty spice jars work). Also several doses of silliness! We had so much fun making silly doodles on the boxes and covering them with glitter!

But that made the clues so obvious on our trees! So we created 14 more similar boxes to obfuscate our clues. We filled these boxes with treats and treasures, and a note on a silly activity for the birthday girl to do.

If the clue was found first, the other box could be opened and the treasure kept!
If the other box was found first, the silly activity had to be done first, and then the treasure and clue could be retreived!

Our treasures included: candy, chocolates, more candy, earrings, did we mention chocolates, fruit gummies, IOUs for things to be picked out later, coupons for skipping chores! Some IOUs we had included:

Tickets to a music concert or show

One steel water bottle

Dinner at favorite restaurant

And here’s after the clues were done!

No boxes were wasted in this endeavor, you may see them in another blog or Instagram post!

Of course you don’t need our trees to create this birthday treasure hunt. We hope this inspires treasure hunts around the home or in your backyard.

Add multiple notes/wrappers for each clue in the same location, to confuse, and have more fun, and don’t forget to write down lots of silly activities to do, between clues! Some activities we had:

Do a Hula dance

Give your sister a hug

Solve a math equation

Its only costs some paper, a pen, and imagination! And it is so much fun!