Project

YaYa Zebrawood Christmas Gift Box

Build Date: December 21, 2022

This Zebrawood box was built as a Christmas gift for YaYa, with maple used as the accent color against the bold striped hardwood. The top carries CNC-engraved artwork filled with epoxy resin, while the inside holds the more personal details.

The overall size was built around the felt-lined jewelry container inside. Barrel hinges let the lid sit flush, and the inside of the lid hides a Mod Podge photo transfer that turns the box from a woodworking project into a keepsake.

Finished Box

Finished Zebrawood Christmas gift box with maple accent and CNC engraved YaYa lid — Finished Zebrawood box with the maple accent.

Close-up of the CNC engraved YaYa lid after the epoxy resin fill — Finished Zebrawood box with the maple accent.

The finished exterior keeps the Zebrawood grain prominent, with the maple accent running through the box and the dark epoxy artwork set into the lid.

Build Process

Zebrawood and maple strips clamped together during the box glue-up — Zebrawood and maple clamped for glue-up.

Glued-up Zebrawood and maple stock being cut into box parts on the table saw — Zebrawood and maple clamped for glue-up.

The build started with Zebrawood and maple glue-up, then moved through cutting and dimension checks so the case, lid, and interior insert would all land where they needed to.

Hidden Details

Open Zebrawood gift box showing a Mod Podge photo transfer inside the lid — Photo transfer hidden inside the lid.

Open Zebrawood gift box showing barrel hinges and a black felt-lined jewelry insert — Photo transfer hidden inside the lid.

The inside is the quiet reveal: a photo transfer in the lid, flush barrel hinges, and a fitted jewelry insert that gives the box its purpose.

Resources:

Tools

SawStop CTS

Materials

Software

Fusion 360

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