Enchanted Dream Box- Heather Collins

A friend of mine was coming upon an important event for which I wanted give her a gift. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to give this person, but I knew I wanted to make it handcrafted. Giving something that I have made gives more meaningful, I believe. Since this person is a fellow crafter, I knew that they would also appreciate it. As soon as I saw the new stamps from Brutus Monroe’s April release I knew what I wanted to do.

First I started by cutting some white cardstock paper down to 6”x8.5”. If you’re using letter-sized paper, you should only have to cut along one side. I then put it into my original sized Misti. Using Brutus Monroe embossing ink I stamped the Enchanted Rose Background stamp on two different pieces of paper. Then I poured Brutus Monroe’s Raven embossing powder on both pieces. Using a heat gun I set the powder. This is a favorite technique of mine. I find that the ridges of the embossing lines make it easy to contain the color when I use a paint or water brush.

Erin Reed had suggested using rubbing alcohol in water pens, so I filled up a few that I got at my local craft store although Brutus Monroe also has some now. I painted only one of the stamped pieces that I had made entirely. On the other embossed card I only did the leaves. I did this by first smearing some Wagon and Rouge surface ink on an art craft mat. Using my alcohol-filled water brush, I painted my embossed rose. Sometimes I mixed the colors on the art mat and sometimes I just used one color or the other. Next I brushed the Cornflower surface ink on several areas of the rose and some of the little flowers. The leaves were done the same way using Sage and Cactus surface inks. The main difference I found using alcohol rather than water in the brush is that you had to use shorter strokes and it dried more quickly than water. Any white spots on the page I colored completely, I painted using a regular old paint brush by dipping into the chalk sprays straight, so that the piece could blend to the box I had sprayed. Then I sat everything on the side to dry.

I grabbed a box that I had picked up at the local craft store and painted the whole thing in clear gesso because I find that the unsealed wood soaks up the paint. I typically let this dry for at least a day before trying to do anything to it. After I knew it was thoroughly dry, I placed the Brutus Monroe Jagged Heart stencil and used a palette knife to apply modeling paste. Once this dried, I sprayed the box with Brutus Monroe Rouge Chalk Shimmer Spray and then wiped on some Cornflower Chalk Shimmer Spray. I found that this gave the box more of a blended look. On the front of the box I added a metal drawer pull that I put brads on and attached using Brutus Monroe craft glue. Using an acrylic block, I stamped Brutus Monroe’s new Follow Your Dreams stamp with the embossing ink and Raven embossing powder. With a heat gun, I set the embossing powder. Then I placed a few gems.

I trimmed the completely colored Enchanted Rose image to fit the top of my box. Next I cut out the designs from the page of only leaves. Then I bent those leaves along the vein of the leaf. Under each leaf, I put a strip of foam tape on either side of the bent area. I put them on top of the painted leaf of the stamped image that is attached to the top of my box. I made several butterflies and used two stacked pieces of foam tape to attach those above my rose. This technique made the whole rose look 3d, even though it was just the leaves and the one butterfly I added.

I hope you enjoyed this project and can't wait to see what yours looks like!

Supply list for "Enchanted Dream Box":

Brutus Monroe- ‘Jagged Heart’ Stencil

Brutus Monroe - “Enchanted Rose Background” stamp

Brutus Monroe - “ Rock On” stamp set

Brutus Monroe - Butterfly Sentiments 2.0

Brutus Monroe - Ultra Fine Embossing Powder 'Raven'

Brutus Monroe – clear embossing ink

Brutus Monroe Surface Inks

-Rouge

-Wagon

-Phonebook

-Sage

Brutus Monroe- ‘Rouge’ & ‘Cornflower’ Chalk Shimmer Sprays

Brutus Monroe- Craft Glue

Brutus Monroe Squeaky Clean Cleaner

Brutus Monroe Microfiber Stamp Cloth

heat gun
gold brads
metal ‘drawer pull’
MISTI
Scissors
White Card Stock
Paper Cutter
Ranger Craft Mat
Alcohol
Water Pen
Paint Brush
Palette Knife
Gems
Modeling Paste
Clear Gesso