Brian,

Lots of cool ideas, beautiful boxes and good advice so far.
However it seems to me that she has already done much of the work for 
you by sending you links to ones she likes.
We could send you our favorite design, one that would appeal to you as a 
woodworker, and when she opens the package you see the "oh, what am I 
going to do with this awful thing" look on her face. Been there, done 
that, have the ugly, ill fitting T Shirt as proof.

Are the boxes in the links poorly made over priced particle board crap 
or is it the design of the box that is offensive?

I would use her links as a starting point and tweak the design as required.

Perhaps it would help if you send us the links for reference.

Troy