The following VBA example creates a text object and applies an envelope effect to it. It then creates a group of rectangles and applies an envelope to them, using the same parameters as the text's envelope.
Sub Test()
Dim s1 As Shape, s2 As Shape, eff As Effect
Set s1 = ActiveLayer.CreateArtisticText(2.75, 5, "Text")
With s1.Text.FontProperties
.Name = "Arial Black"
.Size = 150
End With
Set eff = s1.CreateEnvelope(3, cdrEnvelopePutty, True)
Set s2 = ActiveLayer.CreateGridBoxes(0, 0, 3, 3, 8, 8)
s2.CreateEnvelope(1).Envelope.CopyFrom eff.Envelope
End Sub