How to Make Handmade Jewelry Boxes

Create a place to store your treasures.

Anyone who has ever collected more than two or three pieces of jewelry understands the importance of owning a jewelry box. A good jewelry box will not only help you to keep track of your jewelry, it will protect your precious items while holding them in an appropriately decorative setting. A basic jewelry box is also a good project for either a beginner or veteran wood working artisan, as it can be made in elegant simplicity or carved with elaborate decorations.

Things You'll Need

• Craft wood, 1/4 to 3/4 inches thick
• Scroll saw
• Ruler
• Wood glue
• Jewelry box hinges
• Jewelry box hook clasp
• Sand paper
• Wood stain
• Wood varnish
• Cosmetic mirror
• Epoxy

Instructions

1. Cut six rectangular pieces of wood on the scroll saw. Make two of them sized 6 inches by 10 (for the bottom and top), two sized 10 inches by 2 inches and two pieces sized 6 inches by 2 inches (for the sides of the box).

2. Wood glue the short pieces to the edges of one of the larger rectangles to form a box with an open top, lining up the side pieces with the edges of the same lengths on the bottom piece. Glue the side pieces to the outside edges of the bottom piece so that the side pieces overlap and cover the bottom when viewed from the sides. Use masking tape to secure the pieces until the glue dries.

3. Attach the lid using hinges. Lay the box lid over the top of the open box, then lay each hinge so that it folds over corner formed by the box top and the box on one side. Position each hinge 1/2 inch in from the outside edge. Fasten the hinges with the small screwdriver using the screws they came with.

4. Screw the clasp in place. Attach the eye piece to the front of the jewelry box, positioning it in the middle of the front panel and about 1/8 inch from the edge. Connect the upper hook piece of the clasp to the mounted bottom piece, then see where it lies on the lid while connected. Mark this point with a pencil, then remove the hook piece from the eye piece in order to screw it in place on the lid.

5. Sand the wood by hand with a medium-grain sand paper. Pay special attention to the inside of the box, especially the corners and any rough spots that might be hard on jewelry. If necessary, give these areas a second sanding with a finer grain of sandpaper to make them extra smooth.

6. Stain the wood according to the instructions on the can of stain.

7. Varnish the wood according to the manufacturer's instructions.

8. Add a mirror to the inside of the lid using quick-set epoxy. Hold the mirror in place until the epoxy sets.

References

• "Decorative Wood Crafts"; Jillybean; 1993