MIA Mojo...

When my kiddos had their Christmas with their father's side of the family, they didn't take gifts for their dad or stepmother because they were told they would have a separate gift exchange with them. That hasn't happened yet for one reason or another, and the kids put off getting gifts, the little stinkers. I finally coralled them for the picture for their dad (previous post), and they had no idea what to get their stepmother. Groan...I was going to be making something for my niece yesterday but said I would make something for stepmom. I called and asked my ex her favorite color - pink. Here's what I came up with, though took a while to get my heart into it. I made the A2 box base, and then my mojo just jumped out the window...to chase a squirrel or something, I dunno...but I had a hard time coming up with something that could be considered presentable. Finally told myself not to think about who this is for and just "do what you do" as my daughter said. Okay, so I picked this pretty cardstock and cut it to fit around it the box base like a book cover, scallop punched the edge. Ran narrow satin ribbon across the base and attached the box over it, cut a slit to pull the ribbon through. Because it was a single-sided CS I rummaged and found a solid DP that was a close match and lined the cover and spine. Put that to the side and started on the cards. Used my JustRite Monogram stampers with the From the Desk of frame. Did the initial in pink and frame in a pale blue to pick up from the design. Cut those out with circle Nesties, then a scalloped circle from the liner paper for the mat. Mojo waffled again. Went and did some cleaning downstairs because we're having a dinner party tonight, came back a few hours later and this is what I ended up with. I used the largest scalloped rectangle Nestie on the patterned CS, then a larger scalloped circle and cut out a vignette. That's where I put the monogram stack. My daughter came in and looked at everything, said "Oh Mommy, that is so cute". Before I could stop her, I heard my evil twin say "is it too cute?" (I'll smack myself later). Back to the card - felt it was missing something, so added that muave satin ribbon running all the way across. Then attached the monogram stack. Still missing something, so I added those little swirls, which are outline stickers. Used four gold and four silver, then added a longer one to the inside of the box lid. Went back to the box and stamped her name with JustRite Brayton and Special Occasions fonts, cut that out with Spellbinders ribbon slide, inked edges. Ran the ribbon through it. Flowers are layered CS from a Cuttlebug die. I inked alternating layers with shades of pink and blue, then put them on my gel wrist pad from my computer and pushed down in the center of each layer with the end of my paper piercer so they would curl up. Attached them to the box with Diamond Glaze, and added the blue foil butterfly. Put little rhinestones in the center of the flowers and on the butterfly's body. Did I do okay? :)

Stamps: JustRite Monogram stamper and Fonts.
Paper: The Paper Studio, Pink Paislee, Hot Off the Press.
Ink: Colorbox Queues.
Accessories: Spellbinders, Cuttlebug, ribbon, foil butterfly, rhinestones, outline stickers, scallop edge punch.