In need of some box-type help

[winneganfake]

Right. So, I'm currently working on a number of box projects. Mostly because I love me some boxes, and they're fun ways to get some new challenges in. However, I need both help and input on some of these, so jump behind the cut and check this stuff out and reply, please.


Box #1- The Gambler's Case.

The Gambler's Case is actually about 50% finished. It's a small box, designed for the poker enthusiast- it contains a molded setting inside to hold two copies of the Windrow-Ravenswood deck (included) and slots for poker chips.

The chips are where the problem resides- none of the standard chips out there really work well with this, so for the last several months I've been trying to make or come up with a decent substitute. I'd though I'd solved the issue earlier this week, by going with the idea of getting them fabricated through a 3D printing out, specifically Shapeways. Unfortunately, that idea went bust- it's simply too expensive for manufacturing them that way- not when the cost of just getting the chips done in their cheap plastic is going to be more than double what I was originally planning on charging for the full box set. Worse, it'd be even more than that, since I'd need three different materials or colors to differentiate the chip denominations, all of which cost more than the basic, of course.

So I need a way to figure out the chips. I'm open to suggestions, and hell if anyone who does resin, metal or other casting methods is interested in helping me out and doing this, let me know- let's talk and figure this thing out. I'm running out of time and energy that I can invest in this project though. Anyways, just so there's something visual with this post, here's a quick render of the idea I was going to use on Shapeways-

Yep, semi-simple. Chips would be about 4cm across and .5 cm thick. Obviously, this wouldn't work on something handmade, since getting all those gear-teeth even would be an utter bitch-and-a-half, but I'm fairly certain there's a good way to figure out something unique and original that would work.


Box#2- As-Yet-Unnamed-Vanity-Set

This one's not quite started yet, but I'm hoping to get it underway this week.

I've got a number of small vials that would be fine for holding liquid, so I'm thinking of making a small vanity- a molded space for jewelry storage, mirror in the lid, and molded slots holding an number of those vials. I just need to figure out what I'm filling them with and how. If anyone's got good tips on making their own scent, or wants to see some specific scents in here, this'd be a great time to speak out on it, as I'm not entirely sure where to begin with these.