Friday, August 26, 2016

Book Reviews :: The Berenstain Bears' Holiday Cookbook: Cub-Friendly Cooking with An Adult, The Berenstain Bears School Time Blessings, and The Berenstain Bears' Caring and Sharing Treasury by Jan & Mike Berenstain

If you liked The Berenstain Bears' Country Cookbook, you're sure to enjoy the The Berenstain Bears' Holiday Cookbook. The Berenstain Bears' Holiday Cookbook is a hardcover cookbook that has fun, easy recipes that will be easy to create with the help of little "cubs". 

For each of the six holidays (Valentine's Day, Easter, Fourth of July, "Fall Festivities"/Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas) there are ideas for drinks, main dishes, desserts, & snacks. In addition to the cookbook aspect, The Berenstain Bears' Holiday Cookbook also has a small story that runs before each section of the book. (I must say that the story sections could have used a little bit more time in the editing department.)
Each of the 40 recipes in The Berenstain Bears' Holiday Cookbook has a large, full-color picture of the completed product on the page opposite the recipe. 

The recipes are all very easy, but I must admit that I was hoping to find recipes from scratch (rather than using "ingredients" like a bag of microwave popcorn or a can of tomato soup). Even still, there are several recipes here I am looking forward to trying (especially the "Winter Sweet Potato Soup").

At the end of The Berenstain Bears' Holiday Cookbook you will find some basic kitchen conversions (tablespoons to cups, etc.).

I love when kids are encouraged to help out in the kitchen and adding in the lovable Berenstain bears characters only makes this more appealing for kids.



The Berenstain Bears books are instant classics, as far as I am concerned. These are books that I grew up reading and the new books in the collection (even though they are now mainly written by Mike Berenstain rather than Stan and Jan Berenstain), keep in line with the Berenstain legacy. The Berenstain Bears books are books that exemplify moral character, and I appreciate that. 

In The Berenstain Bears School Time Blessings, the bear cubs (including Honey) are headed off to school. Each of the cubs are excited, but also a bit nervous. What I love about The Berenstain Bears School Time Blessings is that it points out that you should take your worries to God. This is a great example for kids who will be reading this book (and the parents, too!). There were several Bible verses referenced in the book, which is wonderful.

I think The Berenstain Bears School Time Blessings is definitely a great choice. 



The Berenstain Bears Jobs Around Town gives a quick look at a wide variety of jobs that Brother and Sister Bear might do when they grow up. I found the voice/perspective of the book to be confusing, but other than that I enjoyed it. 

The Berenstain Bears Get Involved shows Brother and Sister Bear and the rest of the Cub Club learning about helping others in need, and they get to put their learning into action when flooding hits their town.

The Berenstain Bears Love Their Neighbors is a take on the story of the Good Samaritan. Although I could have done without the country stereotypes in this book, I thought it was a good take on the familiar parable.

In The Berenstain Bears Gossip Gang, Sister learns about gossip - from multiple perspectives. 

In The Berenstain Bears and the Biggest Brag, Brother and Sister Bear learn that bragging is not a loving thing to do. I appreciate the moral of this book, but wish it had been handled in a different way. Throughout most of the book, Brother and Sister Bear are bragging, rather than learning their lesson. I wish they had learned their lesson sooner and maybe even learned some alternatives to bragging (like building each other up). I also didn't care for how Grizzly Gramps talks to Brother and Sister Bear about their bragging - he calls them "two of the biggest, bragging-est fools". In the end, however, Brother and Sister Bear start to get the idea and apologize for their bragging.

At the end of The Berenstain Bears' Caring and Sharing Treasury is a page of questions and activities based on the 5 stories - a nice addition to some good books. 
FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Book Review :: Garden of Eden (coloring book)

Coloring books are great for everyone from 1 to 100 and Zondervan has come out with a new one called Garden of Eden
As you might imagine, the Garden of Eden coloring book is filled with images of flowers, plants, and animals (and Adam and Eve). There are verses from Genesis chapters 1-3 spread throughout the coloring book that go along with the images. Some of the pages feature full scenes (many on two-page spreads), while others are just a single animal or a pattern made up of smaller images. The images are printed on both sides of the pages, so if you were wanting to color something for framing you would need to make a decision on which side to use.

As I mentioned in a review for another coloring book put out by Zondervan, I noticed a few layering/design inconsistencies in the artwork that I would have preferred not to see in a coloring book put out by a major publishing house. I may have only noticed them because I work with digital design software, but I wanted to mention it just incase.

All in all, I think the Garden of Eden coloring book is a great choice and would even be a great addition to a homeschooling unit on creation. 
FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Friday, August 19, 2016

Hi. {The Twinery}

Hi.
I'm happy to have you here!

Today I wanted to share this card featuring a few of my favorite things - mason jars and twine...and (stamped) flowers. 
I love using The Twinery's twine to jazz up mason jars, and I wanted to give the same feel to this mason jar stamp. Rather than wrapping my twine around the entire card as I often do, I just pierced holes in the card around the rim of the stamped mason jar and threaded the Solid Lilac twine through the holes. I love the final product!

Thanks for stopping by today!
Supplies: 
Twine: The Twinery (Solid Lilac);
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (Kraft); 
Stamps: Ink Blot Shop, LLC (This & That; Quirky Alphabet); 
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Colored Pencils: Prismacolor (Premier - 24 pack);
Tools: Fiskars (Trimmer, Scissors);
Scor-Pal (Scoring Board);

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Bible Art Journaling in 3 Minutes or Less :: Psalm 113 Process Video

I'm back with another new video to share from my Bible Art Journaling in 3 Minutes or Less series.

This series is based off of a challenge to myself to do page (or project) process videos that are 3 minutes long (or shorter). I know it can be hard to find time to watch a long video, so I'm taking the time to make them short.

This video is based on Psalm 113:

Want to get the Ink Blot Shop, LLC stamps used in the video?
Find them (& more!) here: www.inkblotshop.com
Find all my posts pertaining to Bible art or journaling here.

Supplies:
Bible: Zondervan (NIV Holy Bible, Journal Edition);
Stamps: Ink Blot Shop, LLC (
This & That, Trinity Names, Big Words (Solid));
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Pen: Faber-Castell (PITT Artist Pen - Black, F);
Paint: Plaid (Apple Barrel - Bright YellowTropic OrangeLime Tree); Michaels (Craft Smart - Ocean Breeze);

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Book Review :: Doodletopia Manga by Christopher Hart


Doodletopia Manga (pronounced like "mawn-guh") by Christopher Hart is a fun book! It is one of three titles currently in Hart's Doodletopia line of books. It combines instruction, inspiration, and a space for your doodles all in one. This book is intended to be drawn in. 
Doodletopia Manga is divided into 14 sections. They are:
- Introduction
- Finish the Heads and Faces
- Make Hilarious Expressions with Silly Selfies
- Draw Your Own Versions of Manga Characters
- Dress the Chibis from Around the World
- Draw the Super-Cute Animals
- Add a Team Leader
- Have Fun with Emoticons
- Stuff the Pages with Doodles
- Master the Manga Mazes
- Complete the Scenes
- What's Cooking?
- Create Mange Crafts
- Doodle Free-For-All

What I like about Doodletopia Manga is that it is not limited to one drawing subject (people, animals, etc.) but includes a mixture of characters to draw. Although there is a lot of practice going over pre-drawn body shapes, there really isn't much instruction regarding the body. It is mainly going over a pre-drawn character outline, with the emphasis on adding details and accessories. 

The book is printed in two color scales - grayscale and orangescale. The orangescale words and drawings are helpful tips and guides (such as center lines and eye lines on characters) to give you a "base" for your drawings.

The one major problem that I see with Doodletopia Manga is that I have three kids who love to draw (and I do, too!)...and we have one copy of this book.
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.

Friday, August 12, 2016

Book Review :: Snuggle Time Psalms by Glenys Nellist, illustrated by Cee Biscoe

Snuggle Time Psalms is a fantastic board book to share with little ones. There are adorable illustrations of various animals on each 2-page spread along with a Bible verse and a short (rhyming) version of the Psalms. 
There are 15 psalms total in Snuggle Time Psalms. They include the following Psalms: 4, 6, 8, 18, 23, 63, 84, 91, 95, 103, 104, 113, 121, 133, and 139. (To be clear, these are re-tellings of the Psalms, not the Biblical text.) What I especially enjoyed about this book of psalms is that each of them are written in the first person (from the child's point of view). I thought this was unique and a great way to help teach children about the psalms and about how they can talk to God (like the other great book from this author/illustrator duo, Snuggle Time Prayers).

Both Snuggle Time Psalms and Snuggle Time Prayers have both been fast favorites in our house. 
FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Bible Art Journaling in 3 Minutes or Less :: Psalm 19 Process Video

I've got a new video to share from my Bible Art Journaling in 3 Minutes or Less series.

For this series I've challenged myself to do page (or project) process videos that are 3 minutes long (or shorter). This one is based on Psalm 19:

Want to get the Ink Blot Shop, LLC stamps used in the video?
Find them (& more!) here: www.inkblotshop.com
Find all my posts pertaining to Bible art or journaling here.

Supplies:
Bible: Zondervan (NIV Holy Bible, Journal Edition);
Stamps: Ink Blot Shop, LLC (
This & That, Quirky Alphabet, Trinity Names, Mercy & Justice Words, Grace Shines Words);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Pen: Faber-Castell (PITT Artist Pen - Black, F);
Paint: Michaels (Craft Smart - Ocean Breeze, Plum);

Monday, August 8, 2016

29 {again} Birthday Sale at Ink Blot Shop, LLC!

It's my birthday, and I want to celebrate with you!
I'm having a birthday sale over at my shop - Ink Blot Shop, LLC.
All individual stamp sets are 29% off, which means you can save around $4-7 per set!

{As a side note, some of my kids saw me making the sale graphic and said, "You're not 29!". Thanks, kids, for always being there to keep me in line.}

As a bonus, I've got the 24 pack of Prismacolor Premier colored pencils marked at only $8. (If you've ever priced Prismacolors, you know that this is a steal!)
No coupon code necessary - all sale prices are as marked.


Sale prices valid only 8/8/2016 - 8/15/2016 or while supplies last.

Friday, August 5, 2016

Book Review :: Miracle in Music City (Glimmer Girls Series) by Natalie Grant

Miracle in Music City is the third book in the Faithgirlz Glimmer Girls Series by Natalie Grant. (London Art Chase and A Dolphin Wish are the first two books in the series.)
Because Miracle in Music City is a "tween" book, I am going to hand this over to my daughter for the review (*spoilers included*):

Miracle in Music City is about three girls who, together, solve a mystery. Gloria Glimmer, their mother, wants them to learn that you are never too young to make a difference, so when she is invited to sing at an auction being held at The Grand 'Ole Opry, they take it as their chance to help. Their teacher, Mrs. Carpenter, donated an old guitar to the auction. She told the girls that it belonged to Earl Eldridge Jr., a famous singer that happened to be her great-grandfather. The girls spend time at the local soup kitchen and make a friend, but soon afterward, the famous guitar goes missing! The girls work together to return the guitar, and they also donate some clothes, toys, and books to their new friend. They all learn what true friendship is. 

I asked my daughter a few questions about Miracle in Music City - here they are with her responses:

Was the book interesting?
Yes.
Do you plan to read it again?
Yes.
What did you like about this book?
I liked the story better than the mystery in this one.
What (if anything) did you NOT like about this book?
I didn't like how the book was mostly a story, not a mystery. The guitar was only gone for a short time, so there wasn't much mystery.
Would you recommend this book to others your age?
No.
What ages do you think would enjoy this book best?
8 to 10
Any other comments about this book?
No.
Out of a total of 5 possible stars, what would you rate this book?
4 stars.

The Glimmer Girls series by Natalie Grant is a great option for tween readers, and I know my daughter is looking forward to the third book in the series (The Miracle in Music City) being released later in 2016.
FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Bible Art Journaling in 3 Minutes or Less :: Numbers 6 Process Video

I've got a new series of videos that I am working on:
Bible Art Journaling in 3 Minutes or Less

I know it's hard to find time to watch a long video, so I've challenged myself to do page (or project) process videos that are 3 minutes long (or shorter).

Here's the first in the series, where I am creating based on the blessing in Numbers 6:

Want to get the Ink Blot Shop, LLC stamps used in the video?
Find them (& more!) here: www.inkblotshop.com
Find all my posts pertaining to Bible art or journaling here.

Supplies:
Bible: Zondervan (NIV Holy Bible, Journal Edition);
Stamps: Ink Blot Shop, LLC (
This & That, Quirky Alphabet, Trinity Names, Love & Praise Words, Grace Shines Words);
Ink: Ranger (Archival - Jet Black);
Pen: Faber-Castell (PITT Artist Pen - Black, F);
Paint: Plaid (Apple Barrel - Bright Yellow, Tropic Orange, Lime Tree); Michaels (Craft Smart - Ocean Breeze);

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Review :: Monster Colors Sensory Tub

If you've got kids who love to keep their hands busy, be sure to check out the Monster Colors Sensory Tub. To really appreciate how much is in the bag (a "tub" is not included), you just need to see it in action. I wanted to share an unboxing (unbagging?) video, so here it is:

Cool, huh? My kids love digging in and playing with all the various bits and pieces. 

Enjoy!
FTC Declaration: I received a complimentary package of this product. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.