Bake the chocolate cake per directions on box in a 13X9 inch baking pan. Set cake aside and allow to cool.

Cover cardboard with aluminum foil.

Once cake is cooled, flip pan over onto aluminum foil positioning where you want the cake (don't forget to make room for the treasure map cupcakes). Cut into 3 rectangles. 2 at the top and one at the bottom.

Place 2 rectangles on top of each other.

Cut at an angle at one end so it looks like the front of a pirate ship.

Using the last rectangle, cut a small rectangle for the back of the boat and make a triangle shape for the front of the boat. Add them on top of the cake leaving an opening in the middle.

Add another rectangle on top of the back one but make it smaller. (can add a tad bit of frosting in between layers to hold them together)

Frost the entire cake with chocolate frosting.

Add the decor - sails (flags and toothpicks), railings (butter braided pretzels), cannons (lemonheads) and portholes (yellow lifesavers).

Make and bake the cupcakes per directions on the box. Set aside and allow to cool.

Once cupcakes are cooled, position them on the aluminum foil close to the pirate ship to look like a treasure map.

In a bowl, add vanilla frosting but leave some in the tub to make the water. Add some drop of light brown food color and stir. When you get the desired shade, frost the tops of the cupcakes.

Using the red icing, add a red "X" for where the treasure is buried. Then, make dashes to the red "X" using the black icing.

Finish decorating with a treasure chest and gold coins.

Add blue food coloring to the remaining frosting in tub and mix together. Spread all around the pirate ship and treasure map to create an ocean.

Crush graham crackers and spread around the cupcakes to create sand.

Add some fun things like palm trees on the island and populate the ocean with crocodiles, sharks or fish