Get Cracking On Christmas {Blog Hop}

Welcome! 

Jenn Shurkus has brought 
some great designers (and friends) 
together for a fabulous Christmas in July blog hop! 

(Bonus: there might be a few giveaways!)

For those of you who may not know me or my company, my name is Tifany and I own Ink Blot Shop. I design clear stamps (made in the USA) for card making, Bible art journaling, bullet journaling, and more.

If you aren't already following Ink Blot Shop, please be sure to follow along on the @InkBlotShop Instagram account and the Ink Blot Shop Facebook page.

The Projects:

For both cards, I used the Peas on Earth stamp set (without the peas). I am not a fan of red, so my Christmas cards generally tend toward non-traditional colors.

I started by stamping a couple of the globe images in a light ink, and used some markers to do a bit of no-line watercoloring. (One card is done with Zig markers and one is done with Tombow markers.)

I used the same basic layout (the sentiment over the globe) for both cards, but decided to add a little extra pizzazz to one by turning it into a shaker card. I heat embossed the sentiment on both cards to help it pop.

If you want to see another card design using the same Peas on Earth stamp set (this time with the peas), you can check it out here. And here are two more cards created by Jenn Shurkus for you to check out.

Although it was definitely a creative challenge for me to create Christmas cards in the middle of the summer, it was really fun to stretch myself and I hope you will give it a shot, too. If you do, please be sure to use #GetCrackingOnChristmas on your social media posts. 

The Giveaway:

Would you like to win the Peas on Earth stamp set that was used on my cards today? You can!

To enter:

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

If you would like additional chances to win:
Comment on any of the posts associated with this particular giveaway on the Ink Blot Shop Facebook page and/or the @InkBlotShop Instagram account.

Rules of this giveaway:
Blog comments for the giveaway will close Monday, July 23rd @ 11:59pm (Eastern) and the winner will be announced Thursday, July 26th here on this 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 Jana Millen's site to continue on the hop.

The Hop List:

Jenn Shurkus

Susan Opel

Chari Moss

Cheiron Brandon

Libby Hickson

Caryn Davies

Emily Midgett

Vera Yates

 >>> Tifany DeGough <<<

Jana Millen

Lydia Fiedler

Lisa Cisneros

Susan Wymer

Jessie Banks

Jessica Frost-Ballas

Teri Anderson

Lisa Henke

Thanks for stopping by today!
Get cracking!

Supplies: 
Stamps: Ink Blot Shop, LLC (Peas on Earth); 
Watercolor Paper: Ranger (Distress Watercolor Cardstock); 
Shaker Window: Grafix (Dura-Lar Clear Film);
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye (Lime Twist - Life of the Party 6x6); American Crafts (Dear Lizzy - 5th & Frolic 6x6); Crate Paper (Portrait Collection 6x6); 
Ink: Tsukineko (VersaFine - Onyx Black); Simon Says Stamp (Barely Beige); 
Markers: Tombow (452, 133, N75); Zig (31, 41, 94);
Embossing: American Crafts (Zing! Clear Embossing Powder);
Sequins: MultiCraft Imports (Go Green Sequins, Black & White Sequins); Martha Stewart (Iridescent Glitter); Pretty Pink Posh (Silver Heart Confetti);
Dies: Spellbinders (Standard Circles);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board); Wagner (Heat Gun);

Valentine Treat (Peanut Butter Balls) {The Twinery}

Hi there! 

Today I'm sharing a delicious treat with you!  

Okay, it's not easy to share homemade, chocolate-dipped peanut butter balls through the internet...but I can at least share the recipe with you. (And the recipe makes plenty to share with friends and neighbors.) 

You can find the recipe here:

Recipe:

4 cups natural peanut butter (just peanuts and salt...no sugar)

8 cups (2 lb. bag) powdered sugar

2 cups butter

2 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients and chill in refrigerator until firm.

Scoop into balls and place in fridge or freezer until firm.

Melt 2 pounds chocolate chips with 1 stick (1/4 box) Gulf Wax paraffin wax in a double boiler (or a dish over a pan of hot water).

Dip each peanut butter ball in chocolate coating. Place on tray that has been covered with wax paper & return to fridge or freezer to firm up. Dip tops in melted chocolate (if needed) and return to fridge or freezer to firm up. Store in fridge or freezer.

This recipe is pretty forgiving. Add more peanut butter, more butter, more sugar...more chocolate...whatever you want. 

And I don't pretend to be some master chocolatier - these aren't the prettiest things. (In fact, my friends and I call them my "peanut butter blobs".) 

But they sure do taste good!

Once you've got all those treats made, it's time to wrap them up.

I created these quick and easy boxes that each hold three peanut butter balls:

And, of course, I used The Twinery's twine to add an extra pop of color (and hold the boxes closed).

...delicious treats all packaged up and ready to pass out for Valentine's Day! 

(If you don't eat them all first.)

Enjoy!

Supplies: 
Twine: The Twinery (Solid Charcoal, Solid Honeydew, Solid Pink Sorbet); 
Patterned Paper: Heidi Swapp; Jen Hadfield;
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); We R Memory Keepers (1-2-3 Punch Board);

Hello Birdie {Unity Stamp Company}

I am thrilled to be able to sneak into this week's Unity blog hop!
Although I am not technically a part of the Unity Design Team, I am one of Unity's Artistas...so I was able to squeeze my way in. :o)

I am so excited to share my cards with you today. To create them, I used a new stamp kit that I created (Hello Birdie) - available from Unity Stamp Company.

During this weekend's sale, you can get the new "Hello Birdie" stamp kit FREE with a $60 purchase...not to mention the free sentiment stamps you will get with every $10 you spend.

("Hello Birdie" will be available for purchase after the sale is over.)

Don't forget: for today's blog hop, Unity is giving away two great prize packages! Be sure to leave a comment on each blog in the hop (including the Unity blog) to be entered to win. (The winners will be announced Monday night on the Unity blog.)

Continue hopping on through to the Unity blog, and then go shopping!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies: 
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Patterned Paper: American Crafts (Dear Lizzy - 5th & Frolic 6x6);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Hello Birdie);
Twine: The Twinery (Solid Honeydew); 
Colored Pencils: Prang;
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Just Believe Card

For this card I stuck with some of the supplies I had used in other recent cards, but used a different card design and also added that wood veneer piece (colored with two colors of Color Shine):

I just can't get enough of that Flea Market collection! Love the colors and style.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies: 
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Harvest Gold); 
Vellum: Papertrey Ink (Vellum);
Patterned Paper: American Crafts - Crate Paper (Maggie Holmes - Flea Market);
Other: (Wood Veneer - Bird);
Mists: Heidi Swapp (Color Shine);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board); Tim Holtz (Tiny Attacher);

Hello Eclectic Card

I've had this card partially finished for quite awhile. I wanted to try my hand at the "eclectic" style and loved how it was coming along...but adhering that die cut was holding me up. (I was just nervous about getting glue all over the card instead of under the die cut where it belonged.)

It all was okay in the end, and I love how the card turned out:

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: 
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Rustic Cream, Harvest Gold); 
Patterned Paper: American Crafts - Crate Paper (Maggie Holmes - Flea Market);
Dies: My Favorite Things (Happy Hellos Die); 
Other: (Vintage Seam Binding);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board); 

Hello Card

Well...it's been awhile since I have shared a card here, so I thought it was time to come back and say 'Hello' to card making:

This is a simple one to get back into the swing of things, but I love how it turned out. I've been doing a lot of crafting lately and have much more to come...soon. 

Stay tuned!

Supplies: 
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Rustic Cream); 
Vellum: Papertrey Ink (Vellum);
Patterned Paper: American Crafts - Crate Paper (Maggie Holmes - Flea Market);
Dies: Serendipity Stamps (Hello Die);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board); Tim Holtz (Tiny Attacher);

Good in every day.

Yep - I am back with another card using the sentiment I designed for the Unity Artista Kit: Lasting Thoughts.

There truly is something good in every day.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Patterned Paper: American Crafts (Dear Lizzy - 5th & Frolic 6x6);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Lasting Thoughts); 
Markers: Copic (0, C0, YG01, BG000, BG11, BG15);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Tim Holtz (Tiny Attacher); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Good. Every Day.

Today's card is one I created with the new Lasting Thoughts kit from Unity Stamp Company. I loved being able to contribute this image to the kit...and I had a lot of fun creating this card as well.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies: 
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Rustic Cream);
Patterned Paper: American Crafts (Dear Lizzy - 5th & Frolic 6x6); Crate Paper (On Trend 6x6);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Lasting Thoughts); 
Markers: Copic (E00, E53);
Trim: KaiserCraft (Lace - Nautral);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Brown Thursday Blog Hop {Unity Stamp Company}

The Introduction:
If you are hopping along with us today: You should have come here from Tracey Malnofski's blog. If you did, you are in the right place! Welcome!
If you 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! Please join along in the hop - you can start at the Unity Stamp Company Blog.

The Prizes:
Unity is giving away a full year membership for Stamp of the Week to two lucky commenters...so be sure to leave a comment on each blog along the hop (including the Unity Stamp Company Blog)...you don't want to miss this one!

The Cards:

I've created two cards for today's hop featuring the stamp I created for the new Artista quote kit, Lasting Thoughts.

The first is a simple one...just stamp, add twine, and adhere to the card:

Of course, I also wanted to color in the rose...so I did:

I'm very excited about teaming up with the other Artistas for the new quote kit and I hope you are excited about this kit, too!
I think I am the last of the Artistas in the hop today...now back to your regularly scheduled programming with the fabulous Unity DT...

Thanks for stopping by today!

The Next Stop:

Jolande van Oosterhout's Blog

Card #1 Supplies:
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Rustic Cream);
Patterned Paper: American Crafts (Dear Lizzy - Lucky Charm 6x6);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Lasting Thoughts);
Twine: The Twinery (Solid Caribbean);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Card #2 Supplies:
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Patterned Paper: American Crafts (Dear Lizzy - Lucky Charm 6x6);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Lasting Thoughts);
Twine: The Twinery (Gold Shimmer);
Markers: Copic (E00, RV02, RV04, YG03, YG25);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Nuts About You {Growing In Unity: Day 5}

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

It's been a wonderful week and I am so thankful for each of you that have stopped by to check out and comment on each of my projects using Unity Stamp Company stamps. If you haven't already, be sure to go back and 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!

For my last project I created this cute gift card holder using my I Am Nuts {About You} stamps.

I paper pieced the peanuts with some cute patterned paper and layered them with dimensional adhesive.
The ribbon is threaded into the gift card holder so that when you pull on it the gift card will be revealed.

Simple, but fun!

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

And, of course, I'd love it if you sign up to be a follower!

From the comments that are left on each of my posts this week I will be randomly choosing someone to win any two Itty Bittys (winner's choice!) from Unity Stamp Company - to be sent to a domestic address only, please.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Patterned Paper: American Crafts (Dear Lizzy - Lucky Charm 6x6);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (I Am Nuts {About You});
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Ribbon: Offray (7/8" Grosgrain - Antique White);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); We R Memory Keepers (Corner Chomper); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

X Marks The Spot {The Twinery}

The Twinery has another inspiring challenge going on...the "X Marks The Spot" challenge.

With the title I immediately thought of a pirate themed project, but I was needing to create some decorations for a baby shower for two soon-to-be-born little girls and thought that a cross-stitch approach would be great to tie in with this challenge (and a little more girly than the pirate idea).

I created a banner with the name of each of the little girls we were celebrating. The banners were strung with The Twinery's Solid Natural twine which was threaded through the top corners of each of the banner pieces cross-stitch style.

In addition to the banners, I created a small floral display.

I again used The Twinery's Solid Natural twine - this time to wrap around the jars. As I wrapped the twine around the jars I did a little criss-crossing...just enough to hint at the cross-stitch design in the banner without having to do cross-stitching on each jar.

You can find all the details about how to join in on The Twinery's X Marks The Spot Challenge here.

And if inspiration isn't enough to make you want to join in...how about this amazing prize?

I can't wait to see what you create for this challenge!

Supplies:
Twine: The Twinery (Solid Natural); 
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye (The Sweetest Thing - Lavender 6x6); 
Stickers: American Crafts (Thickers); 
Other: (Buttons); (Time Cards);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors, Threading Water Border Punch, 1/8" Circle Hand Punch);