• A simple wood box is a personal and intimate gift.nice box image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com
  
  Homemade crafts make terrific gifts because they are one-of-a-kind and from the heart. Crafting allows you to personalize a gift according to the tastes of the recipient, ensuring they will love and treasure the item. If you are partial to woodcrafts, several gift ideas are easy to make for any beginning woodworker.
  
  

Wood Frames

• To make a basic wood frame, all you need is a miter saw for cutting the corner joints. If desired, make a frame with a profile using a router. Unfinished frames are also available from craft suppliers if you do not have the resources to build one. Use a fine wood sealed with wood sealer if you want a frame with a natural look. Use a more standard type of wood if you plan on painting the frame or adding a finish. Interesting finishes for wood frames include antique crackle paint, brushed metal paint and suede texture paint. A wood frame can also be gilded with gold leaf. It is possible to also create decorative borders either by hand painting or with stencils. Another unique possibility is to make frames out of reclaimed wood, such as barn boards. Include a photo of the recipient's loved ones or leave the frame empty so they can insert the image of their choice.
  
  

House Sign

• Make an oval or square wooden plaque with routed edges in order to create a customized house sign. Unfinished wooden plaques are also available. Include the recipient’s last name or house number on the sign. Also include a small, simple image of something that is indicative of the recipient. For example if the recipient is a gardener, include the image of a vegetable or a flower. If the recipient is a hot rod enthusiast, include the image of a classic car. Add the text and image either with paint and stencils, tile mosaic or with wood burning tools. Transfer outlines for wood burning first with transfer tracing paper. Make sure there is a way for the recipient to hang the sign such as screw holes, hanging wire or picture hangers. Seal the wood with outdoor wood sealer.
  
  

Keepsakes Box

• Give the recipient her own private treasure chest for keeping jewelry, trinkets, mementos, tokens, charms and souvenirs. Make the box with a fine-wood such as cherry or walnut and create professional corners with finger joints. Finger joints are cut on a table saw with a dado blade or on a router table. Use decorative hinges and a decorative knob for opening and closing the lid. Hook and latch knobs are also available for keeping the lid secure when closed. Line the inside of the box with plush fabric or leave it as plain wood. Paint the wood with a clear coat such as lacquer, polyurethane or varathane. Include a few starter keepsakes in the box so the recipient will have an added surprise when they open the box for the first time. Small, unfinished wood boxes are available if you don’t want to construct, but still want to customize, a keepsakes box.