HGTV Dream Home 2012: Make a Birch Bark Box

Follow the lead of HGTV Dream Home interior designer Linda Woodrum and display your favorite decorative home accessories atop handcrafted wooden boxes.

By David Brown
Filed under: How To, Boxes

Materials Needed:

3/4" plywood
Tape measure
Circular or table saw
Wood glue
Finish nails or nail gun

Hammer
Filler
150-grit sandpaper or electric sander
Primer
Paint, wood stain, gold leaf or silver leaf (optional)

Cut Box Sides

Using a saw and plywood, cut out four 8-inch squares. You can cut sides at 45-degree angles or cut straight edges and putty and sand corners smooth.

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Assemble the Box

Apply glue to the edge of the first square. Press glued edge to the edge of the second square. Secure this joint with nails. Continue until all sides are joined. Measure the inside dimension of the box. Cut out an appropriately sized square (approximately 6 ½ by 6 ½ inches). Apply glue to the edges of the smaller square and gently slide it into the box’s top opening. Use a hammer to tamp top down. Turn the box right-side up and tamp square again to ensure that edges are flush. Nail top into place. If glue oozes, wipe down with a damp cloth.

Finish the Box

Apply filler liberally to box’s top seams. Let filler dry completely. Sand surface smooth. Stain the box, prime and paint, or silver- or gold-leaf the surface.