How to Make a Heart Locket

Place a beloved child's photograph in the locket for a thoughtful gift for a mother.

Heart lockets are often given as gifts. Heart lockets look like a regular pendant but open up to hold a picture. The locket holds a sentimental picture close to the heart of the person who wears it. A purchased locket can be a meaningful gift, but a handmade locket can be more meaningful because of the extra care that is put into it. Select a species of wood that has a distinct color, such as walnut, for the locket.

Things You'll Need

• 2 1/8-by-1 1/2-by-1 1/2-inch walnut strips
• Pencil
• Jig saw
• 1/16-by-1 1/2-by-1 1/2-inch walnut strip
• Craft knife
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Wood finish
• Wood glue
• Damp rag
• Hinge, with screws
• Screwdriver
• Threaded eyelet, small
• Clasp necklace

Instructions

1. Draw a heart on the two 1/8-by-1 1/2-by-1 1/2-inch walnut strips.

2. Cut out the heart shape using a jig saw. Feed the strip through the saw slowly as you follow along the pencil lines.

3. Draw the same heart shape on the 1/16-by-1 1/2-by-1 1/2-inch walnut strip. Draw an outline approximately 1/4-inch inside the heart shape.

4. Cut out outside heart shape with a craft knife. Cut along the inside heart shape to create a heart-shaped frame. This will go on the inside of the locket and hold the picture in place.

5. Place the heart shaped frame over the picture that is to be placed in the locket. Center frame so that the part of the picture you want in the locket is inside the center of the heart. Cut around the outside of the heart frame with a craft knife to cut the picture out.

6. Cut 1/16-inch off the outside edge of the picture with the craft knife.

7. Sand the locket parts with fine-grit sandpaper. Sand with the grain.

8. Apply wood finish to the locket parts. Allow the finish to dry before proceeding.

9. Apply wood glue to the bottom half of the heart on one edge of the heart frame. Align the frame on one of the heart cut-outs. Wipe off any excess glue that oozes out. Allow the glue to dry.

10. Slide the picture between the heart cut-out and the heart frame.

11. Place the remaining heart cut-out on top of the heart frame and cut-out assembly. This is the locket door. Align a hinge on the left side of the heart. Screw the hinge into place.

12. Screw a threaded eyelet into the top of the heart frame and cut-out assembly. Thread a necklace through the eye and close the clasp.

Tips & Warnings

• Carve an initial or other symbol into the front of the locket to personalize it.

• Wear eye protection when working with wood.

References

• The Cranitorium: Illusionist Locket Diagrams
• The Wood Box: Scroll Saw Techniques

Resources

• Photo Gems: Locket Photos