Decorative Heart Shaped Box

Preface

Make your loved one a decorative wooden box. Based on your inspiration and creativity the shape of the box could store precious jewels, scents and perfumes, family treasures, or several other items. For the project shown here, the inspiration was my girlfriend’s need for a jewelry case which was functional and elegant. My intention was to blend functionality with character by utilizing some simple woodworking skills and imagination.

List of Supplies
1 x 12 x 4 sheet of pine wood ($18 from Lowes)
Clamps
Drill
Jig Saw
Wood Screws
Band Saw
Router
Pencil
Scissors
Razor Blade
Wood Burner ($10 from Hobby Lobby)
8 ½  x 11 sheets of felt ($3.00 from Wal-Mart)
Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner
Minwax Golden Oak Stain ($6.78 at Wal-Mart)
Valspar Premium Enamel Clear Coat for protection ($3.99)
Scrap wood for stir sticks
Scrap rags for stain application
Elmer’s Wood Glue ($3.99)

Not Necessary but Helpful
Disk/Belt Sander
Palm Sander
Chisel
File
Computer/Printer

Step 1 Design Top and Bottom Lid Template

This is a very flexible project which permits the use of any design, shape, creation that will fit within your band saw. Additionally, I chose pine because it was soft and easiest to wood burn. Other hard woods are much more difficult to wood burn with any consistency, especially when crossing the grain.  I perused several pages for what I thought would make an interesting yet romantic look for my girlfriend and still be a feasible cut. This odd-shape heart is what I settled upon and the second image displays a decorative flower image for wood burn. There was much difficulty finding a decorative  image which meshed appropriately with the oblong shape of the heart. Thus, I found the key to be "less is more" especially since the box was going to be stained and finished.

Comments

[skiedra]

Beautifull box indeed!

[FearthePenguin]

I must say that this was extremely well written and documented. I have a serious itch to go build one myself now. Your work looks beautiful. Great job.

[zlammers1]

Thank you very much. I think you should, it was a difficult but rewarding process.