Boxes as Custom Gifts

No doubt about it, boxes make great custom gifts. Wood is the traditional material for 5th year anniversary gifts, so a wooden box is particularly appropriate for that occasion.

In any event, I've yet to meet someone who couldn't use some sort of a box, (even if it's use isn't at first apparent).

In fact, if you want to get technical about it, cabinets and cupboards are really just big boxes and wouldn't a custom kitchen, or hand carved steamer chest make a great gift?

But, realistically, what makes a box such a great gift is that each box has it's own personality, so you can pick one that fits the situation and the individual.

You can either make your own,

making Shaker boxes
making bandsaw boxes
ideas about joinery

or you can pick out a box made by someone else: me, for instance (click to see what is presently available, and feel free to contact me for ideas for custom boxes).

So, how do you go about picking just the right custom gift boxes?

First think of the person. Does s/he have hobbies? How about a chess box, or one for cribbage?

Maybe you know a fly-fisherman/woman who needs a box for hand-tied flies,

or a recipe box for the recent graduate of that cooking school down the road.

Of course, there are always jewelry boxes.

Maybe you are commemorating a particular occasion (fifth anniversary, as I mentioned above) and you want a box with a monogram, or a message. A small pencil box could be for a child starting school.

How about a box for the first tooth your child looses? (I had one for my puppy's first tooth.)

I recently gave a friend a box for the ashes of her dog who had died.


When thinking about a custom gift try to think widely about the other person. It's easy to choose what you like, and that can be the right thing, but also keep in mind the occasion and the individual.

Maybe a tiny little box as a make-up present after a ridiculous quarrel that went on too long over nothing.

What about a lap desk (the original laptop)?

Or a box to keep papers organized.

As you can see, the possibilities are endless. Use your imagination. Don't think of a box as just a box.

It's a box!

Please feel free to contact me if you'd like me to make you a box or you'd like more ideas on customized gifts.


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