2017 Year in Review (Top Ten Blog Hop 2017)

The Introduction:

If you are hopping along with us today: Welcome! You should have come here from Heather Leopard's blog.

If you aren't already following me, I'd love to have you follow me on my @InkBlotsbyTRD account on Instagram, Ink Blots by TRD page on Facebook, and here on my blog as well!

If you are one of my regular readers: Thanks for coming back! I love having you! Please feel free to join along in the hop.

The Year in Review - Top Fives:

Because I blog a variety of things here (crafts, cards, Bible art & journaling, book reviews, and more) I thought I would do a variation on the top ten idea, and share the top five from a few different categories. And, because I have been a bad blogger (I've had some gaps in my blogging where my projects only made it as far as Instagram or Facebook), not all of these have actually been given air time here on my blog this year.

Top Five Bible Journaling Entries of 2017:

These top five Bible journaling entries were chosen based on their popularity here on my blog (as well as over on my Instagram account). 

You can click each photo below to be taken to the original blog post (where I have a full supply list) or Instagram post...or just go ahead and view them here:

Top Five Cards of 2017:

A few of these top five cards were chosen because they are some of my personal favorites from the year. (And a couple were well loved on my Instagram account, but they didn't make it to the blog...oops!)

You can click each photo below to be taken to the original blog post (where I have a full supply list) or Instagram post...or just go ahead and view them here:

Top Five Bible Recommendations/Reviews 2017:

These top five Bible recommendations are my personal top recommendations from all the Bibles that I have had the pleasure of reviewing this year. 

Here they are with a little description for each:

{Read my original review here / Buy it here}

The Beautiful Word Bible line came out with a "for Girls" coloring Bible version, but for me it is my personal favorite from the line (even though I am not the target age range). The updated images to color really are a step up from some of those in the earlier versions, and I love the added bonus of a cute cover and rounded page corners, all while keeping the original wide lined margins for Bible art & journaling.

{Read my original review here / Buy it here}

The She Reads Truth Bible is a great option for Bible art & journaling, note taking, and more. The interior pages are beautifully designed, and this Bible has some great study helps. The She Reads Truth Bible is a journaling Bible on steroids. (All legal, of course.)

{Read my original review here / Buy it here}

Okay, this isn't technically a Bible (since it is a storybook), but I snuck it into this category. If you don't already have The Jesus Storybook Bible, I recommend getting this version. Not only is there a gorgeous cover, but the pages are larger which results in larger artwork and larger text. Although this Bible storybook is definitely great for kids, it helped me as an adult, and I think anyone (at any age) would benefit from owning it.

{Read my original review here / Buy it here}

The Kids' Quest Study Bible is a fantastic study Bible for kids. It covers some great study basics (who, what, where, when), but also has some informative practical application for kids that I think is wonderful.

{Read my original review here / Buy it here}

The Kids' Devotional Bible is both a Bible and a year's worth of devotional readings for kids. And, as a fun bonus, there is some great line art that could make this a coloring Bible.

Top Five Book Recommendations/Reviews of 2017:

These top five book recommendations are my favorites from all the books that I have had the pleasure of reviewing this year. Most of them are for kids, but they are all well loved in our house.

So that you don't have to judge these books solely on their covers, I'll give a little description for each.

{Read my original review here / Buy it here}

The Marvelous Mud House is...marvelous. It is beautifully written, incredibly illustrated, and has a wonderful message. It really is an incredible book and a peek at a different lifestyle for those of us with easy access to education, large homes, nice cars, and an abundance of toys. It is definitely worth buying...and buying several copies to share with other families.

{Read my original review here / Buy it here}

When God Made You is a positive, uplifting book that celebrates uniqueness and diversity, all in the context of being created by God. It is a literary step above other children's books on the market, in my opinion. The illustrations just add to the incredible confidence-building text in this book and I can't recommend it enough.

{Read my original review here / Buy it here}

Found is taken from The Jesus Storybook Bible, and our family loves owning both. The illustrations in this board book are beautifully done in calm colors and they help create a very peaceful feeling. Our littlest one loves to read Found - and he likes to read it often. It's definitely a keeper!

{Read my original review here / Buy it here}

Noah, Noah, What Do You See? was an instant favorite in our house. It is co-written by Bill Martin Jr. - the author of classics like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (and other books in the Brown Bear and Friends line) as well as Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (and other Chicka Chicka books). This book is cute and fun to read, definitely a must-have in our house!

{Read my original review here / Buy it here}

Portrait Revolution is all about inspiration (not instruction), but it definitely delivers on being inspirational! Portrait Revolution features portraits (faces from the shoulders up, so it's family friendly), and has sections dividing the art by media, style, theme, and artist. According to my 11 year old artist: "I like all the imaginative ways of making portraits. I like seeing different versions of the same person (subject). There are a lot of drawings with good style." I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to be inspired to create and/or wanting to check out different artistic styles.

The Giveaway:

Whew! We made it! 

(What a year!)

I am SO thankful that you did a little time traveling with me. As a way to say thanks, I'd like to give away some stamps from my stamp company,  Ink Blot Shop, LLC! 

I'll be sending these three stamp sets to one lucky winner:

{Stretched Sentiments}

{PEAS on Earth}

{Rainbow Promise}

To enter:

Leave a comment on this blog post. That's it!

If you would like additional chances to win you can do so in one (or all) of the following ways:
- "Like" Ink Blots by TRD on Facebook. {Please let me know you've done so by leaving an additional comment.}
- Comment on any of my giveaway posts (associated with this particular giveaway) on Facebook or Instagram (@InkBlotsbyTRD).
- Share about and link back to this giveaway on your own blog, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, or anywhere else. {Please let me know where you've shared/linked by leaving one additional comment.}

Rules of this giveaway:
Blog comments for the giveaway will close Sunday, December 31st @ 11:59pm (Eastern) and the winner will be announced Tuesday, January 2nd here on my blog.
- The winner will have 48 hours to contact me with their information.
- Due to shipping costs, giveaways are available to US mailing addresses only.

Please remember to check back to see if you've won.

Disclaimer: This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter.

After leaving a comment, be sure to hop on over to Sue Eldred's site.

Thanks for stopping by today - and may the Lord bless you in the new year!

The full hop list:

Christine Meyer
Kathy Skou
Kathleen Graumüller
Teri Anderson
Susie Bentz
Janice Daquila-Pardo
Giorgia Rossini
Laurel Seabrook
Aimee Kidd
Mary Ann Jenkins
Keren Tamir
Lee-Anne Thornton
Heather Leopard
Tifany DeGough (You are here)
Sue Eldred
Melissa Elsner
Laura Whitaker
Anita Mulcahey
Ashley Smith
Simone Schermann
Shelly Kurth
Monique Liedtke
Suzanna Lee
Kat Benjamin
Wendy Antenucci
Marcia Dehn-Nix
Laura Cox
Irit Shalom
Nicole Martel
Carolyn Johnson
Tenia Nelson
Samantha Taylor
Rebecca Keppel
Judy Hayes
Isha Gupta
Traci Penrod
Tracy McLennon
Karen Hunter
Lyne Blodgett
Anna Sigga
Lisa Moen