Monogrammed Whiskey Gift Box

Intro: Monogrammed Whiskey Gift Box

This monogrammed gift box is a version of several ideas that I have had over the last few months, on how to add some flash when giving Spirits as a gift. I am sure the more I make these the design will evolve, as I am sure I want to incorporate a drinking glass or maybe even shot glasses. I really didn't like the idea of giving this gift in those paper wine bags available from just about every party store, so I set out to make something unique that the receiver could appreciate.

This box is made for Liquor with the added flask and funnel, but this can be easily turned into a box for Wine or Champagne.

Here is what you will need:

Tools Used.:

1. Table saw (Circular saw, band saw, even a jigsaw will work for this project.)

2. Drill and bits (A 1/4" dowel bit was used for drilling the dowels, and a 1/16" bit was used for drilling the holes in the leather straps)

3. Sander (80 grit through 220 grit sand paper)

4. 1/4 inch dowels (I used glue and dowels but it's just a box and there are so many ways to make a box - use whatever technique you are comfortable with.)

5. Mallet for tapping in the wooden dowels

Supplies Needed:

1. 1 x 6 x 6 pine board

2. #10 Finishing washers and 1/2" screws

3. Stencils (I made my own with a vinyl cutter, but you can pick these up at any Craft Store.)

4. Acrylic Paint.

5. Sponge or pouncer to apply the acrylic to the stencil design.

6. Two buckles (I used 3/4" buckles)

7. Leather scraps. (Craft store or old belts from the Thrift store.)

8. Leather dye. (This can be purchased at hobby lobby, you can even use regular ole shoe polish.)

9. Leather snaps and snap setter. (I am a leather worker so I have presses that do this for me but you can find the hand setters at HobbyLobby, Tandy Leather, and even Ebay for really cheap.)

10. Leather Hole punch (The one used in this project $6.99 from Harbor Freight.)

11. Needle and thread for sewing on the buckle. (Again HobbyLobby for waxed leather thread and needles.)

12. Danish Oil. (I used Natural)

13. Flask (This was a 4oz flask.)

14 A bottle of Spirits/Libations to gift away.

15. Two small door hinges (I used 1 1/2" hinges.)

So let's get started!

STEP 1: Measuring and Cutting Your Wood.

I used a 1 x 6 x 6 pine board for this project.

The dimensions I use for this box are:

1. Two (2) pieces cut to 5 1/2 x 5 3/4 (For the top and bottom,)

2. Two (2) pieces cut to 5 1/8 x 12 (The left and right side of the box.)

3. One (1) piece cut to 5 1/2 x 12 (The Lid.)

4. One (1) piece cut to 3 7/8 x 12 (The back of box.)

5. One small cut of wood to prop the neck of the bottle at an angle.

STEP 2: Putting Your Box Together

I decided to use wood glue and dowels to put this box together. There are many ways this box could have been made, but I choose the dowels because I was going for a certain look. The dowels are not only for added strength, but to add detail around the sides of the box as well.

After the box has been put together, it's time to add the hinges. I made the holes for the hinges with the 1/16 drill bit and screwed in the screws with a screwdriver to prevent from possibly splitting the wood.

Once your box is together, it's time for sanding. A lot of sanding!!

STEP 3: Sanding

I used two different sanders. I did not have a pull saw to remove the dowel pieces left sticking out after installing them, so I used my bench sander to get rid of them fast, then moved over to my hand sander starting with 80 grit, then moved through the girts up to 220 until the box was super smooth. The photo above shows the box after sanding and ready for decoration.

STEP 4: Decorating Your Box

I designed my stencils on my computer then cut them out on my vinyl cutter. Letter and design stencils can be purchased from any craft store for supper cheap. If you are artistically blessed, (which I am not) this can be done freehand.

Mixing your acrylic. The color mixing was trial and error until I got the shade I was after. I was trying to match the strap color that I would use on the gift box. (I am sure that if I had went to the craft store I would have found a similar shade but I decided to use what I had on hand since I have so many colors of acrylic.)

Applying your stencil is pretty straight forward. Lay the stencil in the area you want your design, and use your sponge and pouncer to apply the acrylic. Make sure to use small amounts of paint at a time and ponce lightly. Too much paint and pouncing too hard will cause the acrylic to bleed under the stencil and you will not get crisp lines. If you get a bit of paint in an area you don't want, take a sheet of sand paper and sand that area removing the acrylic.

Applying your finish: I used a natural danish oil because that is what I had on hand, but any finish will do. (Whatever finish you choose is totally up to you, the choices are endless.) Apply your finish, let dry for the recommended time, them move on to installing the closure for the box.

STEP 5: Gift Box Leather Closure.

Using scraps of leather from my scrap bin, I went about making the leather strap and buckle closure. To figure out what size straps I needed, I measured the bottle, the flask, and a rough estimate of the straps to go around the box.

After measuring and cutting the straps, I dyed the straps tan using leather dye. (Leather dye can be purchased at Hobbylobby, Tandyleather, Ebay, or you can even use shoe dye.)

Once the dye was finished, it was time to install the snaps. I have a professional snap setter, but a hand setter and anvil can be purchased for $4.00 at TandyLeather.

I then tested the straps to make sure they fit. The straps are now ready to be installed on the box. Using the finishing washers and 1/2" screws, I placed the flask and the bottle in place, and secured the straps to the box. At this time, I installed a wooden block to prop up the neck of the bottle. This block is not affixed to the box, it was cut so that it would fit taught, but can still be adjusted up and down for different sized bottles.

Next, secure the leather strap and buckle to the front of the box in the same way, and your personalized gift box is now finished.

STEP 6: The Finished Gift Box.

The personalized whiskey gift box is now complete. As I built this, I had so many ideas incorporating different features, and I am sure that the next one I make will have some very unique features added.

Thank you for looking through my tutorial!

Comments

[Kierana]

That is an amazing gift and a great Instructable.

[warriorethos2]

Very nice Whiskey gift box. You did a great job from start to finish to ensure it would please the senses. I like the idea of the adjustable neck piece for the bottle. I also like the idea of adding shot glasses in future boxes that you are planning to make. Your photos and instructions were easy to follow. Good luck in the contest.

[taricp35]

Thanks! I really enjoyed making this project, and the person it was gifted to was speechless, so seeing his face when he received it was priceless.

[slayerofgoliath]

Great project. has many variables as a project. Kudos

[taricp35]

Thank you!

[IamGutter]

Love the look of this, especially the leather straps. Do you think it would be possible to use leather as the hinges? Maybe even to carry the long front strap around to the hinge side and use the same fasteners you used elsewhere on the leather in the hinge locations, they look really nice.

Great Instructable!!

[taricp35]

Yes, I do think it is possible and that was the idea I had in mind when I started this build, but somewhere along the way, things changed and this was the final result.

I am already redesigning this project. I have so many new ideas for this.

[Perry Day]

What was the final cost of the box as a whole including flask?

[taricp35]

Everything used in this build was left over from other projects, or stuff that I use in my shop daily, so I actually spent nothing to build this.

If I had to take a guess, it cost anywhere from $12 to $15 dollars to build. The flask is 4oz flask I purchased off of Ebay for $2.60, with free shipping. You can get the 8oz flask from Walmart for $3.50. The leather straps I got from my leather scrap bin which was waste from other leather working projects, but you can find leather belts at the Thrift store for a couple of bucks then cut them to size. Or cut down one of your own that may be too small or that you no longer use.

The acrylic paint is 2 for $1.00 at Walmart. If you have to buy the stencils, they cost from $0.99 to $4.00 at HobbyLobby depending on the design.

The most expensive part of this build was the wood and when I purchased it for another project it only cost $4.97 at Lowes. This is what was left over so the cost per project is even cheaper.

The screws come in a bag at Lowes and are $0.99 each. The hinges were $1.39.

Hope this information helps you, any more questions just ask.