WINNERS :: Growing In Unity

Thanks to all who stopped by and commented throughout my week as the Growing In Unity gal...and a very special thanks to each of you who are followers of this blog.

Marcy

and

Bonnie

Congratulations!

Please send me an e-mail with your US mailing address so I can get your information to Unity Stamp Company. (You will each receive 25 random stamps - mailed to you directly from Unity.)
{You can find my e-mail address on my Blogger profile.}

Note: You only have 2 weeks to claim your prize.

Growing In Unity - Day 5: Just A Card Again

Well, I am back again for the final day of my week as a Growing In Unity gal. Thank you so much for checking in on me all week long! 

If you haven't already, please be sure you are following me on Facebook and on Instagram. I'd love to keep in touch with you there.

As for my project for today...sorry, it's just a card (again):

This card is a simple one...just a bit of stamping and watercolor. I did add a few hand drawn accents to the focal cardigan (I love argyle!) and popped it up on some foam tape to give it dimension.

Be sure to leave a comment on each of my Growing In Unity posts for the week to be entered to win 25 random stamps from Unity Stamp Company!

(Don't forget...I'll be choosing TWO winners.)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Watercolor Cardstock: Canson (Watercolor XL 140# Cold Press);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Card Again);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Other: Watercolor Paints (Master's Touch Watercolor Paint Set - 24 Colors);
Pens: Faber-Castell (PITT Artist Pen - Black);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Growing In Unity - Day 4: Pray Continually (Bible Art & Journaling)

I am back again for day 4 of my week as a Growing In Unity gal!

Before I go on - please make sure you are following me on Facebook and on Instagram. I'd love to keep in touch with you there.

I've got another Bible journaling entry to share with you today:

For this page, I added some acrylic paint to my page using a paint scraping technique to give it a fun burst of color. (Note: I did prep my Bible page before doing any painting or stamping.) I then added my stamping...and that's it! Easy, but I love the result.

Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered to win stamps from Unity Stamp Company!

(I'll be choosing TWO winners who will each be getting 25 random stamps.)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Find all my posts pertaining to Bible art or journaling here.

Supplies:
Bible: Zondervan (NIV Holy Bible, Journal Edition);
Page Prep: Ranger (Dina Wakely Media - Clear Gesso);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Pray Continually);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Other: DecoArt (Media Fluid Acrylic Paints);

Growing In Unity - Day 3: Shaker Card

I am back again for day 3 of my week as a Growing In Unity gal!

If you haven't already, please be sure you are following me on Facebook and on Instagram. I'd love to keep in touch with you there.

I thought it would be fun to create a shaker card for today's post...so I did!

I heat embossed the floral image from the Blossomy Condolences stamp set using black embossing powder on clear film. I then added some doodling around the die cut window. I layered that over some patterned paper, enclosing some sequins into the shaker portion of the card. A sentiment can be stamped inside to fit the occasion whenever I am ready for it. 

Be sure to leave a comment on each of my Growing In Unity posts for the week to be entered to win 25 random stamps from Unity Stamp Company!

(I'll choose TWO winners when the week is over.)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Core'dinations (Smooth White - 110#);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Blossomy Condolences);
Ink: Tsukineko (VersaMark - Watermark);
Embossing Powder: American Crafts (Zing! Embossing Powder - Black);
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye (Indie Chic - Nutmeg 6x6);
Sequins: 28 Lilac Lane (Blues);
Pen: Faber-Castell (PITT Artist Pen - Black);
Dies: Spellbinders (Circles);
Other: Grafix (Clear Dura-Lar Film);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board); Wagner (Heat Gun);

Growing In Unity - Day 2: God's Word Is Sweet (Bible Art & Journaling)

I am back again for day 2 of my week as a Growing In Unity gal!

If you haven't already, please be sure you are following me on Facebook and on Instagram. I'd love to keep in touch with you there.

Today I have a Bible journaling entry to share with you:

Since I was having so much fun doing watercolor on yesterday's card, I decided to give watercolor a try in my Bible. (Note: I did prep my Bible page before doing any watercolor or stamping.) I stamped first, added a wash of watercolor, and then went back in and added some extra tint to the stamped hearts with more watercolor paint. I then added in some hand lettering ("God's word is sweet") using a fine-tipped black pen.

Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered to win stamps from Unity Stamp Company!

(I'll be choosing TWO winners who will each be getting 25 random stamps.)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Find all my posts pertaining to Bible art or journaling here.

Supplies:
Bible: Zondervan (NIV Holy Bible, Journal Edition);
Page Prep: Ranger (Dina Wakely Media - Clear Gesso);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company ({Jar Full Of} Sweetness);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Other: Watercolor Paints (Master's Touch Watercolor Paint Set - 24 Colors);
Pens: Faber-Castell (PITT Artist Pen - Black);

Growing In Unity - Day 1: Choose Joy

I am excited to be back participating in another week of Growing In Unity. I took a look back at my blog and realized that this will be my 7th year participating in Growing In Unity - wow!

Before I go on - please make sure you are following me on Facebook and on Instagram. I'd love to keep in touch with you there.

Okay...on to my card for today:

I created a watercolor background (who doesn't love stripes and polka dots?!) and then added the Choose Joy With A Heart stamp to finish it off. I filled in some of the blank space of the stamped image and added a few tiny dots with a white Sharpie to add a little interest and help the sentiment pop.

Be sure to leave a comment to be entered to win 25 random stamps from Unity Stamp Company!

(I'll choose TWO winners when the week is over.)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Watercolor Cardstock: Canson (Watercolor XL 140# Cold Press);
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Black 130#);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Choose Joy With A Heart);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Other: Watercolor Paints (Master's Touch Watercolor Paint Set - 24 Colors); Sharpie (White Paint Pen);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Prince of Peace Christmas Card Set {The Twinery}

Wow!

Christmas is coming up quick! 

While I do love many things about Christmas (especially the real reason for the season), the abundance of red is just not my style. So, going with a completely non-traditional color scheme of blues, browns, and golds, I created this watercolor Christmas card set:

Since I was creating a card set, I did everything assembly-line style. I started out by stamping the focal image on several pieces of watercolor paper. Next, I added a few highlights with some quick watercolor.

I then hand placed a few small star-shaped sequins, to give it a little bit of sparkle:

Once the watercolor panels were done, I adhered them to a variety of colored card bases that I created from some cardstock.

To finish it all off, I tied everything together with some of The Twinery's Solid Marigold twine. Twine is a great way to keep a stack of cards and envelopes together and ready for giving away, while still being able to see the card design. The bell added an extra holiday touch:

I hope you have a very merry Christmas!

Supplies: 
Twine: The Twinery (Solid Marigold);
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink;
Watercolor Paper: Canson (Watercolor 140# Cold Press);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Prince of Peace);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Other: Martha Stewart (Sequins);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Altered Eyeglass Collaboration :: Seeing Stars

A while back, I was given the opportunity to join in with several other crafters and artists with a unique objective: use a pair of reading glasses in an altered art project.

If you've been reading my blog for long, you know that I've only dabbled a bit in mixed media and altered art - it's not my usual type of crafting. But...I love a challenge. I wanted to stretch myself and also put my style (which is generally more of a clean look) into the mix.

I received a pair of blue glasses with some light yellow accents, so I stuck with blue and yellow for my main color palette. I added stamping (both with ink and paint) and some die cuts to my project.

 I finished it all off with a handwritten title: seeing stars.

I had so much fun joining in on this collaboration and loved seeing what everyone else came up with. A few of those involved are sharing their projects on their blogs - so be sure to stop by and check out the other projects from: Tina (the one behind the whole idea), Keri, and Susan.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Paint: Plaid (Apple Barrel - Parrot Blue, Bimini Blue, Ivory, Yellow Flame, White);

Other: Plaid (Mod Podge - Matte);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Sweet Summer Love, Wood Grain Script);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Dies: My Favorite Things (Lucky Stars);
Cardstock:
Other: (Canvas);

WINNERS :: Growing in Unity

Thanks to all who stopped by and commented throughout my week as the Growing In Unity gal...and a very special thanks to each of you who are followers of this blog.

Kenneth Simmons

and

Stephanie

Congratulations!

Please send me an e-mail with your US mailing address so I can get your information to Unity Stamp Company. (You will each receive 25 random stamps - mailed to you directly from Unity.)
{You can find my e-mail address in my blog header or on my Blogger profile.}

Growing In Unity 2016 :: Day 5 - Romans 12:12

Welcome to the last day of my week as the Growing In Unity gal!

I am so thankful for each of you that have stopped by so far to check out and comment on each of my projects using Unity Stamp Company stamps. Be sure to comment on all five of my Growing In Unity posts this week if you want a chance to win some free stamps!

If you are new here or aren't already a follower: I'd love to have you follow my blog!
If you are one of my regular readers: Thanks for coming back! I love having you!
If you are on Facebook, please "like" Ink Blots by TRD.

For my final Bible art/journaling page for the week, I stamped a verse that has a lot of meaning for me - Romans 12:12.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

For this page I used the All About Hope kit that I designed for Unity. This kit is near to my heart, and is even more meaningful as each May rolls around, because May is Lupus Awareness Month. The color for lupus awareness is purple, and butterflies are tied with lupus because of the "butterfly rash" that many people with lupus have. Because this verse ties in so well with having a disease, I just had to combine it all.

On the many days when I am in pain, tired beyond explanation (and for no obvious reason), and just dealing with the many random symptoms of lupus...this verse helps me remember to be patient and pray, but also to focus on hope. True hope.

I hope this week of sharing how I've used Unity's stamps in my Bible margins has been enjoyable and uplifting for you. It's been great to hear the feedback and even to introduce the idea of Bible art & journaling to some of you. (And if you are looking to buy a journaling Bible, I've got two posts that will help you in your decision making. You can find them here and here.)

Thanks for stopping by today - and don't forget to leave a comment so you can enter to win!

From the comments that are left on each of my posts this week I will be randomly choosing TWO winners who will each receive 25 random stamps from Unity Stamp Company - to be sent to a domestic address only, please.

Supplies: 
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (All About Hope); 
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black); Memento (Grape Jelly); 
Bible: Zondervan (NIV Holy Bible, Journal Edition);

Find all my posts pertaining to Bible art or journaling here.

Growing In Unity 2016 :: Day 4 - Praise His Name

Welcome to the 4th day of my week as the Growing In Unity gal!

I am so thankful for each of you that have stopped by so far to check out and comment on each of my projects using Unity Stamp Company stamps. Be sure to comment on all five of my Growing In Unity posts this week if you want a chance to win some free stamps!

If you are new here or aren't already a follower: I'd love to have you follow my blog!
If you are one of my regular readers: Thanks for coming back! I love having you!
If you are on Facebook, please "like" Ink Blots by TRD.

I am back again today with another Bible art/journaling page (Psalm 34). For this one, I used the Love in the Margins kit that I designed for Unity:

The bigger stars are from a past Kit of the Month, Sweet Summer Love.

If you are looking to buy a journaling Bible, I've got two posts that will help you in your decision making. You can find them here and here.

Thanks for stopping by today - and don't forget to leave a comment so you can enter to win!

From the comments that are left on each of my posts this week I will be randomly choosing TWO winners who will each receive 25 random stamps from Unity Stamp Company - to be sent to a domestic address only, please.

Supplies: 
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Love in the Margins, Sweet Summer Love); 
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black); Memento (Dandelion, Lilac Posies); 
Bible: Zondervan (NASB Note-taker's Bible);

Find all my posts pertaining to Bible art or journaling here.

Growing In Unity 2016 :: Day 3 - God is love

Welcome to the 3rd day of my week as the Growing In Unity gal!

I am so thankful for each of you that have stopped by so far to check out and comment on each of my projects using Unity Stamp Company stamps. Be sure to comment on all five of my Growing In Unity posts this week if you want a chance to win some free stamps!

If you are new here or aren't already a follower: I'd love to have you follow my blog!
If you are one of my regular readers: Thanks for coming back! I love having you!
If you are on Facebook, please "like" Ink Blots by TRD.

If you've already visited me this week, you've seen that I am sharing ways I have used Unity stamps in the margins of my journaling Bibles. (And if you are looking to buy a journaling Bible, I've got two posts that will help you in your decision making. You can find them here and here.)

Today I wanted to share this page that I did with the"God is love" image from the Love in the Margins set I designed for Unity. (I added some hearts from the Meow. Purr. Baa. kit as well.) The Love in the Margins set is specifically designed to fit in the margins of journaling Bibles, but can also be used for cards, pocket scrapbooking, and more.

Thanks for stopping by today - and don't forget to leave a comment so you can enter to win!

From the comments that are left on each of my posts this week I will be randomly choosing TWO winners who will each receive 25 random stamps from Unity Stamp Company - to be sent to a domestic address only, please.

Supplies: 
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Love in the Margins, Meow. Purr. Baa.); 
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black); Memento (Sweet Plum, Grape Jelly); 
Bible: Zondervan (NIV Holy Bible, Journal Edition);

Find all my posts pertaining to Bible art or journaling here.

Growing In Unity 2016 :: Day 2 - The sons (& daughter) of Jacob

Welcome to the 2nd day of my week as the Growing In Unity gal!

I am so thankful for each of you that have stopped by so far to check out and comment on my first project using Unity Stamp Company stamps. Be sure to comment on all five of my Growing In Unity posts this week if you want a chance to win some free stamps!

If you are new here or aren't already a follower: I'd love to have you follow my blog!
If you are one of my regular readers: Thanks for coming back! I love having you!
If you are on Facebook, please "like" Ink Blots by TRD.

For the page I am sharing today, I used another "Little" set that I designed for Unity - this one is called Reason for the Season.

I stamped the three men from the set a few times each (and stamped the girl once), then colored and labeled them with the names of Jacob's 12 sons (and 1 daughter). I also threw a few sheep into the mix (speckled and spotted, of course!). I think it's a fun addition to my journaling Bible pages.

(If you are looking to buy a journaling Bible, I've got two posts that will help you in your decision making. You can find them here and here.)

Thanks for stopping by today - and don't forget to leave a comment so you can enter to win!

From the comments that are left on each of my posts this week I will be randomly choosing TWO winners who will each receive 25 random stamps from Unity Stamp Company - to be sent to a domestic address only, please.

Supplies: 
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Reason for the Season); 
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black); 
Pens/Markers: ZIG;
Bible: Zondervan (NASB Note-taker's Bible);

Find all my posts pertaining to Bible art or journaling here.

Growing In Unity 2016 :: Day 1 - In the beginning...

Welcome to the 1st day of my week as the Growing In Unity gal!

Stay tuned each day this week as I show you something I've created using stamps from Unity Stamp Company...and be sure to comment on each of my Growing In Unity posts this week because Unity Stamp Company is allowing me to give away some free stamps!

If you are new here or aren't already a follower: I'd love to have you follow my blog!
If you are one of my regular readers: Thanks for coming back! I love having you!
If you are on Facebook, please "like" Ink Blots by TRD.

This week I plan to share several pages from my journaling Bible that I have stamped with Unity stamps. (If you are looking to buy a journaling Bible, I've got two posts that will help you in your decision making. You can find them here and here.)

Since this is the beginning of my GIU week, I thought I would share a page from the beginning of my journaling Bible:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1, NIV)

For this page, I used stamps from a set I designed called Little Outer Space. I think they work perfectly for Bible art!

Thanks for stopping by today - and don't forget to leave a comment so you can enter to win!

From the comments that are left on each of my posts this week I will be randomly choosing TWO winners who will each receive 25 random stamps from Unity Stamp Company - to be sent to a domestic address only, please.

Supplies: 
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Little Outer Space); 
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black); 
Pens/Markers: ZIG;
Bible: Zondervan (NIV Holy Bible, Journal Edition);

Find all my posts pertaining to Bible art or journaling here.

Handmade Holidays - Stamped Monogram Napkins

With four kids, let's face it...I don't have a lot of time to get my craft on. Quick and easy handmade gifts are right up my alley, and recently I have really enjoyed giving hand stamped cloth napkins. These are perfect for hostess gifts, neighbor gifts, gift exchanges, gifts for your child's teacher...

The process is fairly simple - start with plain cloth napkins. (I prefer cotton napkins.)

You will want to make sure that you are using a permanent, fabric safe ink - you don't want your work to wash away with the crumbs! Then just ink up your stamp(s) and stamp straight onto the napkins and heat set.

For this set I went with a monogram, but any stamp will do. 

Once you've got your ink heat set, it's time to get it "wrapped". I prefer to keep my hand stamped napkins the star of the show, so I simply tie up a bundle of stamped napkins with some of The Twinery's twine. (I used Solid Charcoal for this set.)

Since I already had my stamps on my block, I went ahead and created a quick coordinating tag - this gives you a small space for a quick note to the recipient.

Easy, peasy, and ready to go!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: 
Twine: The Twinery (Solid Charcoal); 
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Liz Hicks Alpha, Blossoming Thoughts & Wishes - March 2015 Sentiment Kit);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);