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Jason Marton was looking for a quieter, hidden home server. So, naturally, he built one into a whisky bottle that blends in with his existing dry bar.

Over at hack weblog MetkuMods Jason Marton explains how he created a personal PC or home server inside of a discarded and (obviously) empty whisky bottle. Although it isn’t the first thing one might think of, we have to applaud the creativity and problem solving skills that went into the modification.

The only part of the hack that needed a small amount of professional help was from a glass cutter. After a few failed attempts to use at home tools, he took it in to a local professional to have the holes drilled and cleaned up. Here’s the rest of the materials Jason used for his 2006 hack (you can update accordingly), and you can pick up the assembly details over at MetkuMods:

• 1.5 liter Ballantine’s bottle
• 3.5″ SBC board
• Intel P3 733EB processor
• 256MB notebook RAM
• 40GB notebook HDD
• 60W mini-ITX PSU
• 44 pin mini-IDE cable

Would you consider modding your own home server from an unusual object? Or are you okay with your traditional, home office set up? Sound off in the comments.

Note: No Genies were harmed in the making of this craft.

Lightboxes aren’t just for the professionals any longer. Using them to illuminate your Craigslist and eBay listings can help make a sale, and amateur photogs can get professional-looking shots with one. Create your own using K’nex and a little know how.

At first the idea of using our favorite childhood toy to make a light box may feel slightly silly, but the slim design of the pieces would be beneficial in keeping unwanted shadows or darkness out of your final photograph. Plus, it’s a fabulous excuse to bust out the toy box again. Here’s what you’ll need:

Hit the full post on DIY weblog Spin Hand Spun for all the assembly details, including how to grommet your fabric to encase your structure.

Do you use a light box to give your photographs a professional touch (maybe a simple cardboard one perhaps)? Share your expertise in the comments.