Boxing Day

I promised a tutorial about making boxes from molding. They are really pretty simple, so here we go!

Pick out some baseboard molding and some 1/16"double bead molding. Then grab a scrap of 1/16"basswood for the base and the inner top. You will need some stain and white glue. If you want a nice finish you will need some varnish. I use Deft satin spray varnish.

I don't give exact measurements for this box because it can be made any size you want. All you have to do it get the two pieces of bass wood the same size. This one was about 1/2" x3/4". The box will be bigger because of the thickness of the baseboard. Then you have to get the side pieces the same length as the base edges. Have fun! Don't forget that you can poke the photo to see it better.

1. Cut two pieces of the 1/16" basswood the same size for a base and inner top. Cut 4 pieces of molding to fit around the edges with 45 degree mitered corners.

2.The inner side of the molding should be the same size as the board edge. The outer edges should meet at each corner if you did it right.

3. Stain the pieces with the color you want the box to be. If you want to paint it, wait until the box is put together. Glue the molding around the outer edge of the base and be sure to put glue on the mitered corners. I use a gluing jig. If you don't have one use clamps or some other means to hold the pieces together until it dries.

4. After it is dry, turn it over on a 1/16"scrap of basswood and trace around the top edge. Stain this piece. Take the inner lid piece that you cut earlier and sand it down around the edges. I left it unstained for the photo so that you could clearly see how to glue it to the stained piece. I usually put it on the box before it dries to make sure that the inner lid is in the right place. You can move the stained outer lid until it sits correctly on the box. Take it off carefully and let it dry.

5. Find a tiny picture that you like for the box lid and glue it on. Then stain and cut 45 degree mitered pieces of 1/16" double bead molding to glue around the top edge.

6 Varnish and sand a little if necessary.

Display wherever you want. It can be used in 1" scale as a jewelry box or tea caddy or whatever else you can think of. If you make it longer it can be a Victorian glove box. I have used them in 1/4" settings as hope chests at the end of a bed. Let your imagination run wild. I am sure that you will think of lots of other things to do with them.

I have also made the food and tea stand for the bookshop this morning. I have the first coat on each of these items. I have sanded and re varnished. I am waiting for varnish to dry right now. I will take a better photo of the little box tomorrow and tell you how I made the tea stand. Things are coming together. YAY!!!

See you tomorrow.