Wooden Money Puzzle Box for Gift Cards & Cash | Secret Stash

Q: Who designed the Secret Stash, and where is it made?

Designed by Bob Nolet and handcrafted by Creative Crafthouse in our Hudson, Florida family workshop.

In stock, ready to ship

$57.95

Difficulty: Easy

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Add laser engraving (+$4.00)

30-day free returns Ships from our Florida workshop Secure checkout

Delivery and Shipping

All standard orders normally ship within 1 business day.

Custom orders normally ship within 2 business days.

Description

The Secret Stash is a wooden money puzzle box with a hidden compartment that hides a gift card, folded cash, a check, or a small keepsake until you solve it. Handcrafted in American cherry by Bob Nolet and our family workshop in Hudson, Florida, it is hand-finished to a warm reddish-amber that deepens with age, with a felt-lined interior that also fits a key, a folded note, or a small piece of jewelry.

The opening is a clever surprise, not a punishing brain teaser. Most recipients figure it out within minutes once they spot the cue. That is by design. A Secret Stash is meant to turn a card or a cash gift into a moment, not stump a serious puzzle solver. Every box ships with a printed instruction and solution sheet, so you know the trick before they do.

Dimensions: 4 × 4 × 4 inch external. Interior fits standard plastic gift cards, folded bills, a folded check, or small keepsakes.
Material: American cherry hardwood with a felt-lined cavity. No batteries, no electronics, nothing that wears out.
Difficulty: Easy. Surprise mechanism, not a brain teaser.
Average solve time: Most recipients open it in a couple of minutes once they spot the cue.
Personalization: Laser-engraved names, dates, monograms, short messages, or a small business logo on the lid. Up to 45 characters.
Ships in one business day. Personalized orders typically ship in two.
Reusable. The box outlasts the gift inside: birthday this year, anniversary next, retirement after that.
Also used in: DIY escape rooms, team-building events, and professional escape rooms as a hidden-clue mechanism.

See the box in action in our video walkthrough. Compare with our other handmade wooden puzzle boxes, or step up to the high-end puzzle box collection if you want a harder challenge for an experienced solver. For more cash and gift card boxes, browse our Gift Card & Money Puzzle Boxes collection.

Designed by Bob Nolet, handcrafted by Creative Crafthouse in our Hudson, Florida workshop. If you've held one of our pieces before, you know, and if you haven't, the Secret Stash is a good first one.

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Add a personalized laser engraving to your puzzle or game.

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Payment & Security

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Product Specifications

Dimensions: 4.0 × 4.0 × 4.0
Materials: Wood, Metal
Difficulty Level: Easy
Age Range: Teens (13-18 years), Adults (18+ years), Kids (6-8 years), Tweens (9-12 years), Seniors (65+ years)
Piece Count: 2
What's Included: Cherry puzzle box base (1), Cherry puzzle box lid (1), Instructions and solution sheet (1)
Gift Occasions: Christmas, Birthday, Holidays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day, Retirement, Anniversary, Wood Anniversary
Personalization Available: Yes
Puzzle Type: Puzzle Box, Escape Room
Category: Puzzle Box
Availability: In Stock

Personalize It!

Did you know we can add a custom laser engraving to every puzzle and game? Well, we can. Add a personal touch to your gift with a name or message.

Personalized laser engraving

a puzzle being laser engraved with personalized text by creative crafthouse

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Customers praised this wooden puzzle box for its "phenomenal craftsmanship" and "beautiful" design with felt lining. The box features a clever secret opening mechanism ideal for gifting cash or cards. Most found it well-made and visually appealing. Some noted the puzzle was simpler than expected, with one child solving it quickly, and one reported accidental openings.

Shipping (positive)Mechanism (positive)Craftsmanship (positive)Engraving (positive)Gift (positive)

5 stars: 71 (93%)
4 stars: 3 (4%)
3 stars: 0 (0%)
2 stars: 2 (3%)
1 star: 0 (0%)

Got 2 boxes way ahead of Christmas this year. Boxes are nice quality & love the engraving.

Worth it, especially from creative craft house.

Excellent quality, the custom engraving came out perfectly. This puzzle box exceeded my expectations and arrived quickly!

Perfect for hiding small gifts in!

This little box is really well made- the inside is felt lined and the opening is big enough to fit all kinds of fun stuff! It's something that, undoubtedly, would last for years! Makes a cute gift. Opening it is very simple and quite a surprise to people!!!

Phenomenal craftsmanship and it smells delightful!

Beautifully made item. Highly recommended.

It’s a gift…

Good price, fast shiping…

Nice high quality gift- great for beginners starting to be interested in puzzle boxes

Item is perfect. No complaints at all

This was given as a high school graduation gift. The recipient loved it!

Beautifully crafted! Arrived much faster than expected! Thank you!

Great gift! This clever puzzle was a hit with the recipient.

Five stars on all three.

Beautiful box and great secret opening mechanism. Planning to put my wife's Xmas gift inside and watch her struggle to open it

I purchased this as a gift, and I know the recipient will love it! Shipped quickly.

Great product and well made.

beautiful box. met all expectations

Very good quality! Would recommend it to anyone.

Qualità articolo buona, ma mi aspettavo più complessa la risoluzione. Mia figlia di 7 anni l'ha aperto in 4 minuti.
Un pò deluso, anche perchè mi è costato in totale spedito 120€

Elegant construction. Smooth mechanism. Lovely box. Perfect.

Secret Stash Wood Puzzle Box | Our Most Popular Puzzle Box

I absolutely adore this excellent little puzzle box. It's not overly complicated, but it does provide a good amount of entertainment. It looks beautiful, too.

Beautiful piece! Daughter loved it! Great service!

They were an immense help with the dedication and the box looks more amazing in person!

Arrived quickly! I asked for a longer inscription and they inscribed it beautifully! I appreciate the felt lining as well

Great puzzle box. Well made

Such a beautiful, clever little box! Highly recommend!

Beautiful, fun and easy (once you know how)!

Recipients loved them!! Nice quality.

The only reason I didn't give this a five is because I was under the impression that the box would have more than one step to reach the solution. Maybe I missed the description somewhere, but I never saw a difficulty rating anywhere. Still a super cool box and very well crafted!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Secret Stash money puzzle box?

A handcrafted cherry hardwood box with a hidden compartment that hides a gift card, folded cash, a check, or a small keepsake until you solve it. Designed by Bob Nolet and handmade by Creative Crafthouse as a surprise gift mechanism.

Who designed the Secret Stash, and where is it made?

How does the box open, and does it include instructions?

It opens with a clever cue that is not obvious at first glance. Every box ships with a printed instruction and solution sheet, so you know the trick before the recipient does.

How hard is it, and how long does it take to open?

Easy. It is a surprise gift mechanism, not a brain teaser, so most people open it within a couple of minutes once they spot the cue. If you want a genuine challenge for a serious solver, see our brain teaser and high-end puzzle box collections instead.

What can fit inside?

The felt-lined interior fits a standard plastic gift card, folded cash, a folded check, a key, a small ring or earring, or a folded note. It is sized for everyday gift-reveal items, not large objects.

Is the Secret Stash a good way to gift a gift card or cash?

Yes. It is one of our most popular gifts for exactly that, and it works for birthdays, graduations, weddings, retirement, and the holidays. The hidden compartment turns a card or cash gift into a memorable reveal, and the box gets kept long after.

Can I also use it to hide cash or a gift card around the house?

Yes. Many people keep the Secret Stash on a shelf or desk as a small hidden-compartment box for folded cash, a spare key, or a gift card in plain sight. It is a decorative wooden box first, so it sits out without looking like a safe.

What is the puzzle box made of?

American cherry hardwood with a felt-lined interior, handmade in our Hudson, Florida workshop.

What are the dimensions?

4 x 4 x 4 inches.

Can I personalize the money puzzle box with engraving?

Yes. We laser engrave a name, date, monogram, short message, or a small business logo on the lid for $4, up to 45 characters. Details and examples: https://www.creativecrafthouse.com/pages/custom-laser-engraving For a custom logo or artwork order, request a quote here: https://www.creativecrafthouse.com/pages/request-a-quote-for-custom-work-creative-crafthouse

How fast do orders ship?

Standard orders typically ship within 1 business day. Personalized orders usually ship within 2 business days.

Can the Secret Stash be used in escape rooms?

Yes. It is popular with DIY escape room builders, team-building event organizers, and professional escape rooms. The hidden compartment works as a clue location or reveal mechanism.

Is there a video showing how the Secret Stash works?

Yes. Watch the Secret Stash demonstration here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EqEg5-rdcY. For more product videos, visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dj51florida/videos

Is the Secret Stash a good Father's Day gift?

Yes. It is a favorite Father's Day option for hiding a card, a note, cash, or a small keepsake. With laser engraving on the lid (a name, a date, a short message), it doubles as a keepsake that gets reused every year.