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);

Just Because

Just because...sometimes you need a card for no particular reason.

I love this floral image from the Comfort & Hugs stamp set - it is large enough to carry a card with just a simple sentiment. I added a bit of watercolor and topped it off with a little bit of shimmer. It was easy to create (great for assembly-line style...I've got a few variations to share) and gives a beautiful result.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies: 
Watercolor Paper: Canson (Watercolor XL 140# Cold Press);
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Ocean Tides, Royal Velvet);
Cardstock for Card Base: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Stamps: Ink Blot Shop, LLC (Kindness & Thanks, Comfort & Hugs);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Other: Watercolor Paints (Master's Touch Watercolor Paint Set - 24 Colors); Spectrum Noir (Sparkle Glimmer Brush - Shimmer Pen);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

New Releases from Ink Blot Shop, LLC!

I'm so excited to tell you about two new stamp sets (available now!) from Ink Blot Shop, LLC! 

Introducing...

Flopsy Birds:

(6x8 Clear Stamp Set)

 ...and Tiny Bubbles:

(4x4 Clear Stamp Set)

You may have seen my sneak peek last week, but I wanted to share a couple more cards with you today.

The Flopsy Birds set contains lots of bird stamps, plus a few options to help your birds feel at home...this cute bird swing (with two ways to hang it), some branches, and a nest. There are also a couple little accessories tucked in so you can dress up your birds for a variety of occasions.

With the Tiny Bubbles stamp set, you can make your birds (or other little critters and characters) speak. There are a few included sentiments, but you can also combine them with other small sentiments or alphabet stamps (like the Skinny Mini Alphabet).

I'm excited about these two new stamp sets, and I hope you will love them like I do!

Head here to get them.

Supplies for Hey Bird Cards:
Watercolor Paper: Canson (Watercolor XL 140# Cold Press);
Cardstock for Card Base: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Patterned Paper: Shimelle (True Stories 6x6 - Yellow and White Polka Dot, Yellow and White Pattern); My Favorite Things - MFT (True Blue Houndstooth 6x6);
Stamps: Ink Blot Shop, LLC (Flopsy Birds, Tiny Bubbles);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Other: Watercolor Paints (Master's Touch Watercolor Paint Set - 24 Colors); 
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Supplies for Flamingo Cards:
Watercolor Paper: Ranger (Distress Watercolor Cardstock);
Cardstock for Card Base: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 130#);
Patterned Paper: Studio Calico (Brighton Pier 6x6 - Black and White Pattern); Amy Tangerine (Plus One 6x6 - Pink Pattern);
Stamps: Ink Blot Shop, LLC (Flopsy Birds, Tiny Bubbles);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Other: Watercolor Paints (Master's Touch Watercolor Paint Set - 24 Colors); 
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

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 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);

Hi. (Coming Soon!)

Be on the lookout...there are two new stamp sets coming soon (next Friday!) from Ink Blot Shop, LLC.

Here's a little peek:

Check back again on Friday to see more projects from the new sets!

Supplies:
Watercolor Cardstock: Ranger (Distress Watercolor Cardstock);
Patterned Paper: Studio Calico (Wanderlust - 6x6);
Stamps: Ink Blot Shop, LLC (Flopsy Birds, Tiny Bubbles);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Twine: The Twinery (Solid Charcoal);
Other: Watercolor Paints (Master's Touch Watercolor Paint Set - 24 Colors);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); 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);

Review :: Aquarelle Monet

Aquarelle Monet is a unique watercolor art kit (available at Timberdoodle), based on the works of Claude Monet.

The Aquarelle Monet kit contains:

- 5 liquid watercolors (in squeezable dropper vials, similar to what you would find for food coloring)

- a mixing palette (with 20 wells)

- a double-sided paintbrush (size 1 & 2)

- a water pipette

- a small practice piece of watercolor paper

- 3 watercolor paper canvases (approx. 9 11/16" x 11 3/4" each)

- an instruction booklet with paint mixing chart

The instruction booklet has some great information in it, but the only reason it is a booklet is because it is printed in so many languages. Once you find the language you are looking for, it is really only a standard page size of information. Even in that small space, though, it touches on color theory and painting techniques such as: primary colors, color blends/secondary colors, tertiary colors, cool and warm colors, complementary colors, lightening colors, darkening colors, mixing colors, glazing, washes, graded wash, wet-on-wet, lifting off, along with some useful tips. The color mixing chart on the back of the booklet is also very useful.

What the instruction booklet (and the kit in general) does not have is specific instruction to recreate Monet's paintings. Once the basic color theory and paint techniques are discussed, you are on your own to choose colors and test your skills. And if you want to see the 3 original paintings in anything bigger than a 1" x 1 1/2" tile on the edge of the box, you will either need to just look at the portions of the paintings shown on the front of the box or look them up in a book or on the internet. I found it odd that there weren't prints of the original paintings inside the box or instruction booklet. 

The watercolor paper canvases are where the Aquarelle Monet kit really comes alive. Each paper is printed with a resist image - the resist areas will show through the watercolor as white on your finished project. Each watercolor canvas has an approx. 1/4" portion at the bottom which is intended to be trimmed off, making the finished works approx. 9 7/16" x 11 3/4" each.

I let each of my three school-aged children have a turn to sit down with the kit, read the instruction booklet, and paint. 

Here are the results:

(Age 7)

(Age 10)

(Age 12)

As one of my kids was reading the booklet and testing out some paint mixing techniques, this is what I overheard:

"I can't believe I'm adding magenta to something to make green." 

Followed by...

"It made green."

Definitely a learning experience.

With all three paintings completed, we are now left with nearly empty bottles of yellow and blue watercolor, and about 1/3-1/2 of the liquid watercolor remaining in the three other bottles. 

All in all, I found that the Aquarelle Monet kit was a great experience - educational, engaging, and we are left with some great art pieces that are ready for display. One thing I did find that we needed to add to the kit is a larger paintbrush. The included paintbrush is great for detail (both tips are very fine), but it would take incredible focus to use those tiny tips to fill in the large background areas.

And, of course, one of the best parts of this kit was hearing one of my kids say of their painting:

"I'm really proud of myself!"

I'm proud of them, too.

FTC Declaration: Timberdoodle has provided me with a complimentary copy of this product. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Owl Watercolor Card Set {The Twinery}

Hello!

Today I wanted to share with you a quick and easy watercolored card set:

I love to create card sets because adding in a few extra cards doesn't take much more time to create (if you are working assembly line style), but then can be given as a simple gift (card sets are great hostess gifts)...or you can just stash them away for the times when you need to grab a quick card for a special occasion.

For this card set, I started by stamping that cute little owl and the sentiment on some 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" watercolor paper panels. After the panels were all stamped, I added the watercolors. When the paint was dry, I added a few dots around the images and sentiments, then adhered the panels to the front of some card bases. 

I finished it all off by adding some of The Twinery's solid twines. I love the pop that the twine gives - an extra burst of color and a little bit of grounding for the image and sentiment. A simple addition, but it makes a big difference. For this set, I used The Twinery's Solid Mandarin, Solid Peapod, Solid Denim, and Solid Lilac twines.

It took only a few supplies and a little bit of time to create these. Now, the hardest part - to decide if I should give these away as a set or set them aside to use individually as a suitable occasion arrives...

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: 
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock (Brilliant White 110#);
Other Paper: Canson (Watercolor Paper - Cold Press 140#);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Hoot Hoot Hooray, Blossoming Thoughts & Wishes);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Twine: The Twinery (Solid Mandarin, Solid Peapod, Solid Denim, Solid Lilac); 
Color Medium: Master's Touch (Watercolor Paints);
Pen: Faber-Castell (PITT Artist Pen - Fine);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors); Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Book Review :: Just Add Watercolor by Helen Birch

Just Add Watercolor is an inspirational and informative book for those who are interested in watercolor and gouache.

The paintings are divided into 6 categories: traditional watercolor, gouache, digital, mixed media, other water-based media, and non-paper media. There is one painting per two-page spread throughout the majority of the book, and the paintings that are shared are done in a variety of styles from over 70 artists. I appreciate the layout of the book, because it is easy to flip through and see the paintings easily as they are all (or the vast majority) on the right-hand pages of the book. 

Although the descriptions for the paintings may reference certain steps in the creation process, this is not a how-to book nor will you find a start-to-finish description of each piece. What this book does do, however, is highlight specific techniques and art concepts used in the piece being highlighted. There are a few pages at the back of the book that discuss materials and equipment, but I would not recommend this book as a means to learn about those things - there are better books out there for that. 

I do think this book could have been better organized to highlight the specific tips and techniques, but it is fun to flip through for inspiration - with the added bonus of possibly learning something new. 

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy through the Blogging for Books book review bloggers program. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.