Ribbon Box With Candy Cane Striped Inlay

There are two parts to this project, building the box and making the inlays. They can be built in parallel, but for the sake of clarity, I'll describe them in sequence.

Step 1: Cut Strips for the Candy Cane Stripes

Pick contrasting colors for the strips. I used Red Cedar, Oak, and Walnut.

The thickness of the stock will determine the maximum height of the bows. I had 3/4 inch stock, so I glued two boards together to make 1 1/2 inch thick boards.

To ensure the strips are all the same width, make a simple jig from a piece of scrap wood. Cut a notch at one end of the scrap wood where the Cedar and Oak will rest when sawing it.

Step 2: Glue the Stripes to Make a New Board

After the Oak and Cedar strips are cut, stack them in an alternating pattern and glue them together. Clamp them and let them dry overnight.

When it dries, square up the new board.

Step 3: Cut the Strips at 45 Degree Angles

To cut the stripes I cut 45-degree angles into a couple pieces of scrap wood and clamped them to my table saw sled just like you'd normally clamp a stop block in a table saw sled. Sit the striped board snuggly against that stop block and rip the board into pieces about 1-1/2 inches thick. If you want your inlay to be thicker or thinner you can adjust this cut accordingly.

Step 4: Cut Veneer Strips to Accentuate the Inlay

To accentuate the inlay, cut some veneer strips on the bandsaw. I used Walnut and Oak.

Glue and clamp the veneer to the sides of the candy cane striped boards.

When those dry, square up the new boards and cut the inlay on the band saw.

Step 5: Cut the Bows for the Top of the Box

To cut the ribbon, tape the template provided to the sides of the candy cane striped blocks, and use a scroll saw to cut them out. I made six ribbons and chose the four best ones.

Cut 45-degree angles on the ends of the ribbons where they'll touch.

Step 6: Cut the Sides and Top of the Box

This is a pretty basic box, cut 5 pieces of 1/2 inch boards to size. The bottom will be made from 1/4 inch oak plywood.

The dimensions of the box I made are

• 7-1/2 inches long
• 5-1/2 inches wide
• 4-1/2 inches tall

Adjust those to whatever size you want.

Cut a 1/4 inch rabbet in the bottoms of the 4 pieces that make up the sides.

Step 7: Assemble the Box

Use a large chamfer bit in your router to cut miters on the edges of the sides and top.

Glue the edges of the sides and tops and use tape to clamp them together.

Measure the exact size of the bottom, cut the oak plywood to size, and glue it in place.

Step 8: Cut Grooves for the Inlays

Use a trim router with a flush cut bit to cut notches for the inlay.

Step 9: Cut the Lid and Add Hinges

Use a table saw to cut the top of the box off. Don't cut completely through the top because it's easy to damage a corner of the edge after the top is free. Instead, cut about 90 percent of the way through the lid and finish it with a hand saw.

Attach the hinges.

Step 10: Glue the Inlays in Place and Finish the Box

Glue and clamp the inlays in place.

Glue the ribbons on top.

Finish the box with oil to make the contrasting wood colors stand out.

Comments

[misterleclair]

How did you attach the router guide to the router to make the grooves?
It looks like a homemade guide...?

[D RyanM]

Great video and tutorial! I don't have a scroll saw so I had to use a coping saw. It took a while, but it was worth the effort. I turned a small ball for the center of the bow. I was afraid the center ribbon would break off.

[misterxp]

Great piece of work! Well done and thanks for sharing

[douglasroyal]

Thanks. Sharing is half the fun of making stuff like this :)

[Juanamac]

A total masterpiece. You make it seem so easy, which I’m sure it isn’t, such a sign of a great teacher. I hope you win the contest, it would be well deserved.

[douglasroyal]

Thanks. The first few boxes I made were pretty ugly. I'm glad you liked the project.

[MichaelT5]

Very impressive, both the instructions and the finished product. I have the type of tools you used, but think I'll hold off until my skills improve some.

[douglasroyal]

Thanks. I'm glad you liked the project. But, I don't really have any skills. I'm just making this up as I go along.

[agis68]

excellent job and pretty nice video....voted

[douglasroyal]

I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for the vote.

[austin.hall.129794]

Lovely.

[douglasroyal]

Thanks. I'm glad you liked.

[BevP10]

Well here's one beautiful piece of work that makes me want to take up woodwork! Great video and great work, well done Douglas!

[douglasroyal]

Thank you. I'm glad you liked it. Other people's projects inspire me, so I'm glad I'm able to "pay it forward" so to speak.

[barneseric83]

Im impressed. Very Clean, and great video!!!

[douglasroyal]

Thanks. I'm glad you liked it.

[DaveO4]

Great looking box! Thanks for sharing.

[douglasroyal]

No Problem. I'm glad you liked it.

[WyldStyl3]

Wow! This is pretty amazing.

[douglasroyal]

Thanks.