How to make a basic keepsake box. Once you learn to make this wooden box you can modify it to be a jewelry box or a presentation box, or in this case a recipe box. you can add an interesting design element by inserting pieces of ceramic tile into the box as I have done here. Or you can use the same technique to insert fabric, or leather, or exotic woods, which is a great way to use some of those little scrap pieces of hardwood. The basic box is a straight forward construction process that can easily be scaled to different sizes, and can be personalized in any number of ways. This box was made with maple and finished with a wipe on gel varnish.