Cool case: the DIY wooden jewellery box

A wooden jewellery box stands on a wall-mounted shelf, surrounded by Christmas decorations.
Whether as a gift or decorative piece, a wooden jewellery box always shines
  • Difficulty
    medium
  • Cost
    < 50 £
  • Duration
    3 - 8 h

Do you have a lot of jewellery and no place to put it all? Then just build the perfect jewellery box for yourself. We show you how you can build a beautiful wooden jewellery box with an attractive velvet lining in just a few steps. This stylish case also makes the perfect gift.

You need

Let's go - step by step

Step111

Cutting the boards

A person stands behind a work surface and saws a wooden board using the Nanoblade saw. The saw is set to a 45-degree angle.

First, you must make the mitre cuts on your boards

You need:
NanoBlade saw
,
ear protectors, safety glasses, ear protectors, wooden boards

As mentioned in the material list, you will need six hardwood boards to make your box. When you purchase the boards at the DIY store, make sure that they are slightly longer than is specified in the list.

To build the frame of your box, you first have to mitre-cut the edges of four boards (if you have never made mitre cuts before, click here to learn everything you need to know).

In this first step, start by cutting one side of each board. Before you begin sawing, make sure to secure the piece of wood to the work surface using a G-clamp. To make the mitre cut, set to the NanoBlade saw to a 45-degree angle.
Before you begin to saw, make sure you are wearing your protective goggles and ear protection.

Tip
TIP

Sawing in a straight line is easier when you use a second, thin piece of wood secured to the work surface as a guide.

Step211

Measuring the boards

A chid holds an angle measurer to the wooden board with their left hand. With their right hand, the child makes a mark with a pencil.
An adult holds a Zamo laser measure in their hand. WIth their right hand they use a measuring tape to measure a piece of wood. A child makes a mark on the same piece of wood using a pencil.
A chid holds an angle measurer to the wooden board with their left hand. With their right hand, the child makes a mark with a pencil.
An adult holds a Zamo laser measure in their hand. WIth their right hand they use a measuring tape to measure a piece of wood. A child makes a mark on the same piece of wood using a pencil.

An angle measurer can help you draw the cutting line in a right angle

Measure out the proper dimensions on the wooden boards and mark your measurements

An angle measurer can help you draw the cutting line in a right angle

Measure out the proper dimensions on the wooden boards and mark your measurements

Flip your four boards over so that the longer sides face upward. For the two longer boards, measure 21 cm from the edge. For the two shorter sides, measure 14 cm. Transfer the measurements to the wood using an angle measurer.

Step311

Cutting the boards

A person stands behind a work surface and saws a wooden board using the NanoBlade saw. The saw is set to a 45-degree angle.

Now make a 45-degree mitre cut on the other side of the boards

You need:
NanoBlade saw
,
g-clamps, ear protectors, safety glasses

Orient your boards as described in Step 2 and make a mitre cut on the other side of the boards at a 45-degree angle. Proceed as described in Step 1.

After you are finished with this step, you should have two boards measuring 21 x 11 cm on the long sides and two boards measuring 14 x 11 cm on the long sides.

Step411

Gluing the frame of the box

A child holds a frame made from wooden boards in both hands. An adult secures the frame using adhesive tape.
Four wooden boards lie next to one another on a work surface. A person tapes the boards together
Four wooden boards lie next to one another on a work surface. A child applies wood glue to the edges of the boards using a paintbrush.
A child and an adult assemble the four wooden boards to create a frame
A child holds a frame made from wooden boards in both hands. An adult secures the frame using adhesive tape.
Four wooden boards lie next to one another on a work surface. A person tapes the boards together

The glued box must now be left to dry completely

Join the ends of your boards using adhesive tape. This will make the box easier to assemble later

Wood glue is sufficient to ensure that the box is stable

Using adhesive tape and wood glue, you can now easily assemble the box

The glued box must now be left to dry completely

Join the ends of your boards using adhesive tape. This will make the box easier to assemble later

You need: paint brush, adhesive tape, wood glue

You have successfully completed the complicated mitre cuts. Now lay your four boards on the table with the longer sides facing upward. Line up the boards one after another so that the shorter ends touch. Join the ends of your boards using adhesive tape.

Now turn over your taped boards. Apply wood glue to the inside edges of the boards.

Finally, fold the boards upwards and glue each of the four corners together. Now secure both outside edges with adhesive tape. You should now have a rectangular frame for your box.

Step511

Measuring the bottom and lid, sawing and sanding

A child holds a piece of wood in their left hand and sands it using a sanding sponge.
An adult holds a wooden box in both hands. A child uses a Zamo laser measure to measure the long side of the box.
A person uses a NanoBlade saw to cut a piece of wood.
A child holds a piece of wood in their left hand and sands it using a sanding sponge.
An adult holds a wooden box in both hands. A child uses a Zamo laser measure to measure the long side of the box.

Sand the boards using a sanding sponge

Now take the measurements for the bottom and lid of the box

Saw the boards to the right sizes

Sand the boards using a sanding sponge

Now take the measurements for the bottom and lid of the box

Your jewellery box naturally needs a bottom and a lid. In order to build these pieces, you first need to measure the inner edges of the frame. Transfer the measurements to two boards and saw them to the correct size.

If the edges of the boards have been oiled or waxed, sand off this coating using a sanding sponge or sandpaper before gluing. Make sure to wear a mask while sanding.

Step611

Gluing and inserting the bottom and the lid

A person uses both hands to insert a piece of wood to serve as the bottom of a wooden box.
A child uses a paintbrush to apply glue to the edge of a wooden board.
A person uses both hands to insert a piece of wood to serve as the bottom of a wooden box.
A child uses a paintbrush to apply glue to the edge of a wooden board.

If you have measured properly, the bottom and the lid are easy to build

The lid and the bottom of the box are also simply assembled using glue

If you have measured properly, the bottom and the lid are easy to build

The lid and the bottom of the box are also simply assembled using glue

You need: wood glue

Now apply glue to all edges of the boards for the bottom and lid. Then you can insert both parts into the frame. Now allow the finished box to dry completely.

Step711

Sanding

A child uses a multi-sander to sand a wooden box.

Time to sand the box to make sure all sides are smooth

You need:
Multi-sander
,
Sanding sheet for multi-sander G120
,
g-clamps, face mask, safety glasses, ear protectors

When the box is dry, secure it using G-clamps and sand all of the sides until smooth. To do this, you can use a multi-sander with a grain size of 120.

Step811

Sawing the lid

A person uses a NanoBlade saw to saw off the top part of a wooden box.

You don’t have to build an extra lid – you can simply cut off the top of the box

You need:
NanoBlade saw
,
g-clamps, safety glasses, ear protectors

To build the lid of the box, you now have to saw it off from the main body. Measure the height of the lid (3 cm) from the upper edge of the box and draw the measurement along all sides of the wooden box. Use G-clamps to secure the box and saw off the lid using the NanoBlade saw. When sawing, begin by making an initial cut into the side of the box and then sawing around the box, one side after another.

After sawing off the lid, you can sand down the edges to ensure that all surfaces are smooth.

Step911

Attaching the piano hinge and the fastener

A person uses an IXO cordless screwdriver to attach a gold piano hinge to a wooden box.

Using a piano hinge, you re-attach the lid to the bottom part of the box

Attach the top edge of the box and the bottom edge of the lid to the piano hinge using a cordless screwdriver.

Step1011

Creating and inserting the lining

An adult holds the lid of a wooden box in both hands. A child places plywood boards with red velvet lining into the box.
A person uses a tacker to attach a red velvet lining to a piece of plywood.
An adult holds the lid of a wooden box in both hands. A child places plywood boards with red velvet lining into the box.
A person uses a tacker to attach a red velvet lining to a piece of plywood.

The individual parts of the lining are easy to insert

Red velvet will give your box a touch of sophistication

The individual parts of the lining are easy to insert

Red velvet will give your box a touch of sophistication

You need:
PTK 3,6 LI
,
scissors

Now you will put the finishing touches on the inside of the jewellery box. To make the lining, you first have to cut six pieces of plywood in the dimensions listed above.

Cut the velvet for all of the plywood pieces to roughly the right size and carefully staple each piece of fabric in place.

Now insert the six lined plywood pieces into the jewellery box.

Tip
TIP

You can also use a bit of glue to secure the lining.

Step1111

Decorating the box

A person uses a Dremel tool to decorate the lid of a wooden box.

For anyone with a creative streak: Feel free create your own unique designs

You need:
Dremel Stylo+

If you like, and if the inspiration strikes, you can decorate your jewellery box with your own unique patterns. The Dremel Stylo+ is the perfect tool for the job. The small, multi-functional tool is designed to handle just like a normal pen and covers a range of applications, such as etching, engraving or polishing.

To give your box a sophisticated gloss, you can oil the wood using wood oil.

Now, you just have to fill up your treasure chest with jewellery or other small valuables - that part is all up to you.