monogram madness…

This week at The Shabby Tea Room, Rebekah is challenging us to create with a monogram, inspired by this intriguing photo!…

I began with a sheet printed with ‘Black Button Alphabet‘ designs from ‘Digital Papers’ by Janet.  The wonderful, neutral colors really appeal to me, after the very colorful season we’ve just experienced.  A kraft colored, paper maché box was my second choice.  The unfinished color of the box worked perfectly with this simple color combination.  A few scraps of card stock in black and kraft, two sets of dies, a sheet of pearls, a doily and a 20″ length of trim came together to make a quick and classic little box.

The digital ‘Button’ was punched from the sheet with a 1″ circle punch and placed on a white circle cut with a 1-3/8″ die, set on a black die cut circle that is 1-5/8″ across.  Half pearls were positioned on the black circle.  A kraft die cut came next, mounted on a black die cut from the same set and all these layers were placed on a white doily.  One last die cut (in black) from ‘Splendid Circles’, was used on the top.  It filled out the design area between all the layers and the ring of little half pearls.  I love the Melissa Frances pearls because of all the sizes that come on a single sheet!

The side of the box was a wonderful place to continue the design theme.  The rim of the top received another row of half pearls, followed by a single layer of white trim that drips down, past the edge.  I die cut a strip of black that is adhered to the side of the box, at the point where the lid ends.  I couldn’t resist a few more, larger pearls…such fun.

I took this photo before I erased the pencil mark I drew on the box to guide me while adhering the black lacy die cut.  With the lid closed, I drew a pencil line just below the edge of the lid.  The top of the die strip was adhered to the bottom of the line, assuring that placement is just right.

This little box is going to be filled with some fun embellishments before giving it to a dear friend.  Who doesn’t like to receive a little surprise now and then!

Hope you’re snug and warm~ and thanks for stopping by!

*Hugs*

Rebecca