The hard maple, bird's-eye maple and purple heart in the rough.

Starting the milling process with the purple heart wood

Bird's-Eye Maple being planed down to approximately 3/8" after it was jointed on 2 sides.

I didn't know which to show being planed so I'm also including a pic of planing the Purple Heart.

The Purple Heart and Bird's-Eye Maple getting glued together to create the greeting box.

Preparing the Hard Maple for the box liner.

All sides of the greeting box have been mitred and ready for glue up.

The box and lid were glued together with Tite Bond III.  Once the glue dried the lid was routered with with the box.  A flush trim bit was used.

Preparing the box on the table saw for the splines.

Bird's-Eye Maple splines were inserted into the Purple Heart and vise a versa for the Bird's-Eye Maple.  I thought the contrast would give the box a decorative look.  Prior to adding the splines, all side of the lid were cut at a 45 degree angle.

All ready for sanding.

The lid was cut from the box at this point with the bandsaw.  Lots more sanding followed.

I applied 5 coats of General's Arm & Seal Satin Finish to the box and box inserts.  I found it was easier to apply the finish to the inserts before gluing them in place.

Two pens were turned with Purple Heart and Bird's-Eye Maple on the lathe.  I switched the wood around on both pens and decided which one I was giving as a gift to compliment the greeting box.

Here's the pen ready for assembly.

The finished pen turned out beautiful.  Honestly this picture doesn't do the pen justice.  It got 4 coats of Shellawax and buffed with Beeswax.

Here's the finished Greeting Card box with the card organizer inserts and both pens.  I chose the pen on the right to include with the box.   My Mother-In-Law loved her Mother's Day Gift!