A Challenging Month

This month has been such an eye opener to me!  In just three short weeks I have taken huge leaps out of my "box" and tried new techniques and made new (to me) projects.  I used Popcorn the Bear stamps from Crafter's Companion and heat embossed a pillar candle for a Thank You gift and I love how it turned out and now have great gift ideas for Christmas this year!


Envelobox Front

 I made my granddaughter a T-Shirt using transfer paper and a Squigglefly digi image and painted Puffy paints over my Copic coloring.  She loves it and wants, "More, Gamma"!
My newest "new" creation was made using the Enveloper from Crafter's Companion, along with the Ultimate Tool.  I made my first "envelobox", which will fit several flat Thank you cards to give as a gift, OR I may just get chunky and make one FAT Thank You card in my box.
I have also rediscovered why I love Tri-fold shutter cards.  Their presentation is so very pretty, and they are such a breeze to make with the Ultimate Tool. 
I also took a stab at some step-fold cards, and entered a few challenges with them.


Envelobox Back

 My next foray "into the unknown" may just involve my least-loved medium---paint!  I know that there are scads of tutorials out there and now I'm itching to try my hand at some altered art, Picasso-style!  Then there are K Cards, whatever they are, and some pop-ups and swing cards.  My "bucket list" of new crafts is overflowing this month!  Now all I have to do is swear off sleep and lock myself in my craft room for all the time I need to try things out!  I wonder if my family would miss me?

p.s. I often start posts before I finish the projects I am writing about.  So, I have since made the decision to go with a nice FAT, CHUNKY card to pop into this beautiful Envelobox.  I am so proud to say that the box and card were made from leftover papers from my stash.  I am on a 12 step program for paperholics and doing very nicely, thank you very much. 
The flowers were scooped up in a sting operation at Michael's, where my mission was to find flowers at a reasonable if not ridiculous price, which I did.  And I got beautiful glass jars with wood lids that the flowers  came in.  One was as low as $1.25!!


Thank You Card using Faith Stamp Set

 The stamped image of the bird on the branch is from Crafter's Companion.  It's from the Sheena Douglas "A Little Bit Sketchy" collection and is called FAITH.  You can get it HERE if you like.  I find so many ways to use it!
I colored my bird with Copics: E15,35,71; BG05 & B12, and the Zig Brushable Butter.  I used a bit of cream y lace, some tiny adhesive gems, and a bit of Stickles on the branches.
Because the roses were so chunbky, I built up my image and sentiment in layers: there are three layers for the sentiment, and two layers for the image.
Another nice thing about using the Crafter's Companion Ultimate Tool with Enveloper is the tutorial DVD that comes with it.  I really needed it this first time making the envelobox for my chunky card.  And the scrap pieces of paper went well on my card, inside and out!!
Crafter's Companion Challenge Blog has a Thank You theme for their August challenge.  If you want to play along for a chance to win some prizes, click HERE.  Have fun, and step out of your box often.  You won't believe the sweet things that you may find!!