EP Challenge - Thinking Outside the Box

Good Thursday morning! Today it's a challenge over at Eclectic Paperie. It's the eTeam Picks Challenge.  The eTeam Picks Challenge is held on the third Thursday of each month and each challenge is an opportunity for you to be inspired by one of our eTeam’s creations to share your work and to be entered into our challenge prize drawing. This week is the talented Marjie Kemper and her design challenge is Altered Boxes. So be sure to hop over there and check out hers and all the other creations.

I had several ideas swirling in my head over this one. I've got so many boxes of different kinds. I came across these leftover boxes from different Configurations boxes I've created, so I started thinking of what I could do with them.

I began by playing with different configurations on my table. I took several photos of all the different ways and then looked them over to decide which I liked best. I chose this one.

This is what it eventually became. A Valentine configurations display. You'll have to click on the image to get a better look. It was fun to make. I'll show you how.

With a Cranberry Paint Dabber, I painted the front edges and along the sides where paper would not be going. All the while, I keep my boxes in the configuration. I still have the photo, but this helps keep me organized.

For the insides of the open boxes I cut papers like this, inked the edges,...

...and glued them inside. Other boxes had papers glued to the front. Then using 3-in-1 glue, I glued all the boxes together into my configuration.

I don't think I have a picture that shows it, but I adhered longer strips of paper to the outer walls once the boxes were glued together. Here you see how I started to embellish. This is the really fun part! I just started digging through my stash for hearts, love and pink things.

I filled some Idea-ology corked vials with Stickles in reds and pinks, then labeled them with Tim Holtz's  Chit Chat stickers.

More Idea-ology fun.

Word key, miscellaneous buttons, an image behind a fragment and a felt flower.

More Idea-ology. You can see here how I darkened up the Cranberry edges a little with some brown. I used my Faber Castel Chocolate Gelato, spreading it with my finger here and there for a distressed look.

Idea-ology (armless doll? Can't remember what she's called) and the cute little flower pitcher I found at Hobby Lobby in the dollhouse section. Perfect!

Rolled paper flowers, Idea-ology pearls, and some misc. buttons.

Check out those little lips. There are a few in the back of the box too. Those are from Wendy Vecchi's Blossom Bucket line. So fun! I created a hanging pennant of frosted vellum and adhered the Alpha Parts letters, which I had painted red earlier. 

A cluster of various buttons and adhesive embellishments.

Some jewelry findings and a cut from the Lovely paper stack by Authentique.

The eTeam Picks Challenge is all about inspiration and having fun.  During each challenge one of the eTeam members will share a topic, word, technique, sketch, or product that will become the foundation for your creation.  This challenge is all about mixing it up and just enjoying the creative process of feel free to share a journal page, card, scrapbook project, mini album….Anything goes!  We want to see your work and hear about your inspiration. All of those who play along with our challenge will be entered into a prize drawing for a $15.00 gift certificate to the eclectic Paperie store.

So grab your supplies and play along.  Here are a few things to keep in mind for this challenge…

• You do not have to use products sold in the eP store…but we do love it when you do!

• Share a direct link to your creation, not just your blog, using the Linky Tools feature at the end of this post.  If, for any reason, the Linky Tools doesn’t cooperate, please add a link in the Comments section of the blog.

• When uploading to any online galleries, please use any of the following keywords; eP, eclectic Paperie or eTeam Pick Challenge.  Link your creations to the eP blog.

• If you’d like to be considered as one of our featured projects and be entered into our prize drawing, please be sure to add your link no later than 6pm EST on January 31st.

Thanks for stopping by. Now go find a box and have some fun!