Wooden jewelry box with living hinge and elastic strap

1. Cut box from 3mm plywood so that hinge slits are parallel to the grain of the wood.
2. If desired, loosen the hinge by firmly (but carefully) pulling the lid section away from the bottom of the box -- stretching the wood between the hinge slits.
3. Sand away unwanted laser burn marks
4. To remove burnt wood smell, make a paste from white vinegar and baking soda and apply liberally, allowing it to absorb the odor for at least 5 minutes before rinsing off.
5. Allow box to fully dry before applying finish, if desired. I applied three coats of Howard brand "Butcher Block Conditioner", a food grade mineral oil, beeswax and carnauba wax mix. This protects the box, further helps cover any remaining burnt wood odor and gives it a nice finish (it brings out the wood grain a little more, although had a little too much of a green hue for my liking.) I would recommend staying away from a polyurethane finish because it will prevent the hinge from bending properly.
6. Attach an elastic band through holes to hold the lid shut when closed. I tied the elastic to small black buttons, but if the holes had been sufficiently small, I could have just tied a knot to hold it in place. You may want to modify the laser cutting template to match the size of elastic band you have.
7. If desired, glue a soft fabric (like velvet or felt) to the bottom of the inside of the box.