How to Make a Wooden Jewelry Box

A good jewelry box is priceless, because it's just as beautiful as the treasures inside. Sometimes buying a box is the only option, and any woman who has jewelry knows the importance of a place to keep it. However, a jewelry box made by someone for a loved one is a precious gift and a true work of art. So, whether you're making it for someone else or for yourself, you know that this treasure will be valued. If you're a novice and need a little help, here are some guidelines.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• wood
• velvet fabric
• brass drawer handles
• sander/sand paper
• stain

How to Make a Wooden Jewelry Box

1. Decide What You Want in a Jewelry BoxBegin by deciding how big you want your jewelry box to be, how you want it to open - up like a chest, or with doors like an armoire and if you want compartments or drawers. Deciding what you want the jewelry box to look like is the best way to start out planning the box, because that'll give you a basis for the rest of the job. Once you're done, you can start looking for finding a pattern that matches with your plans for your box

2. Find a Pattern (If You Need One)Remembering what you want in your jewelry box, find a pattern that goes with it and matches everything you want. Although some people are gifted with being able to create their own patterns or to just know how to make things, for most of us, guidelines are necessary. The plans should tell you the type of wood and fabric you'll need as well as anything else that will be helpful to you. Guidelines like the ones pictured in the references , are very useful and can be found online or at craft stores.

3. Choose Fabric and WoodChoose the wood you want to make your jewelry box from - since you'll have it for a long time, you choose something you like. Cherry is undeniably the best possible wood for building, but, it's expensive and there might be something else you like more. Oak, mahogany, maple, walnut, birch and white ash are also wood alternatives that make for beautiful wood products – including jewelry boxes. Once you've selected your wood, select the velvet fabric you would like to go inside. Velvet will provide protection for your jewelry as well as a beautiful backdrop, so simply choose a color you like.

4. Following the Instructions, Cut the Pieces You NeedLook at the instructions on the pattern you chose and cut the pieces from the wood you selected as indicated by the pattern. Then, carefully following the instructions, carefully put them together and keep them in place with the jointer and glue.

5. Sand EverythingSand everything with a small sander that you can't sand with the orbital sander. This will ensure that the wood is nice and smooth so no one suffers a paper cut. Stain the pieces that need it and burnish the velvet so it's ready to be laid. Now, put the pieces together and attach the handles.

6. Let Everything SetMake sure the job is complete. Look for flaws in the wood and fill them. Make sure everything was stained properly, that all the drawers and doors work and that nothings loose. Then, let everything dry for 24 hours.

7. Insert Your JewelryFind a place for your jewelry in the box. You've worked hard an can sit and admire the finished product.

Resources

• Making a Jewelry Box
• Lee's Wood Projects
• Sample Jewelry Box Plans