Hello journal,
Jeremy has many board games.
Storage can be sort of an issue, since most games come in bathtub sized boxes.
I made him a treasure chest to store Arkham Horror in. Given the game’s Lovecraftian themes, aquatic décor was the clear choice. It’s less about happy starfish, more wretched ancient octogod. I wanted to add actual seaweed and sand, but was dissuaded from this idea. Apparently sand all over the tables, floors, and game pieces is considered undesirable.
Technically Jeremy started this project. He was going to stain the chest, then put some sort of emblem on it. As his past project pattern would have it, he happily bought the supplies, got home and began to work, then five minutes of frustration later the chest was abandoned. So, like many a wayward project before it, I took over. However, I feel that it’s important for me to give him some credit here. Jeremy stained it before he raged away. He made it nice and brown. Onward.
It was one of these wooden craft fellas:
It was too smooth. I wanted the chest to look old and weathered. I had a cathartic time beating the hell out of it, verbally abusing it, then stabbing it with an assortment of knives while the neighbors pretended not to watch.
With love and care, clay tentacles were sculpted directly on top.
Materials were added--Paint in many layers. Ink washes, shiny paint, matte paint, dry brush over simulated weathered wood goop, 3 1/2 cups of chocolate chips, more paint, etc.
Varnish over the suction cups and tentacle ridge, for extra slimyness. I wanted it to look like it would stink of rotten fish.
Added smooth black river rocks. Made them fancy with varnish. Lots of gluing. Lots of fumes in a room that lacked the necessary ventilation. After awhile everything became surreal. My brain felt funny, and I’m pretty sure I tried to astral project myself to Dairy Queen.
(The pictures below are kind of blurry. The sheen against worn out wood makes this thing hard to photograph. I'm too lazy to take it somewhere with proper lighting)
