Two Types of Ink - Everything We Left Behind

It's Mention Monday and I'm back with my weekly installment of Two Types of Ink where I combine my two favorite hobbies together: reading and crafting.  I'm so excited to share my review and recommendation today for Everything We Left Behind by Kerry Lonsdale along with the project I made inspired by the book.

A little backstory - I fell in love with Kerry's first book, Everything We Keep.  The writing was beautiful, the characters very dynamic, and the plotline was gripping. 

Link to Amazon:  http://a.co/5bppk4y

She followed it up with All the Breaking Waves, a story about a completely different family, that had me holding my breath.  I've never felt so much for a character as I did for the little girl in that book.  All the moms in my world would feel the same way. 

         

Link to Amazon: http://a.co/hRgx9Zl

So, when the opportunity to read Everything We Left Behind early, I was all over that.  It's a great sequel for Everything We Keep.   I was so happy that Kerry sent me a thank you note and charm to go with the book too.  Authors are real people, kind people, funny people, and people who put everything they have into their books whether you like them or not.  But trust me on this - you'll like this one.  All three of them in fact. 

Link to Amazon: http://a.co/bk4YJ5A

Here is my review of this fabulous book that comes out on July 4th, 2017!

I love that moment when you know you have an author in your life that will constantly deliver stories that you will read, sight unseen.  I felt this way when I read EVERYTHING WE KEEP by Kerry Lonsdale last year.  Then I read and fell in love with her characters in ALL THE BREAKING WAVES.  Now, having finished an early copy of EVERTHING WE LEFT BEHIND, the deal is even more solidified.  Where Everything We Keep was about finding a way to deal with the past from Aimee's point of view, Everything We Left Behind is about James' s story.  The novel picks up where the first one ended and rotates each chapter being told from Carlos and James's point of view.  To me, the theme of this book was about family.  Not just discovering the secrets of the Donato's and that fateful night in Mexico, but also the relationships with James and Nat and his sons.  I cannot imagine as a parent having lost the memory of my children's childhoods but love that one thing he knows in his heart is that he is a dad and he loves those boys.  And Lonsdale captures that sentiment beautifully. I really enjoyed how the author captured the  male perspective in this novel, focusing so much on James as a son, father, lover, and brother.  This book has it all and I'm stoked to see what happens next in this story.  I sure hope it's told from the Claire's point of view....

As for the project inspired by this book, it's very literal.  Carlos/James is a painter and I bought the products on this card because of this book.  I stamped the brushes in Archival Black and then watercolored the brushes with Soft Suede ink.  Then colored them again with watercolor pencils to represent the paint on the tips, specifically colors you would find when painting a sunset.  Then I cut them out and layered them on a watercolor wash of Dapper Denim.  The blue background is for the tropical time in Hawaii and the blue color I imagined Aimee's eyes to be that haunted Carlos in his dreams.  I also splattered some Wink of Stella on it for a paint splatter look. I thought the sentiment was applicable because art is so important in this book and when I think of my kids, I think of them being the best work of art that a parent can create, especially when they show they are artist's themselves. 

Supplies:

• Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Watercolor Paper
• Ink: Soft Suede, Dapper Denim, Archival Black
• Stamp Set: Crafting Forever, Work of Art
• Big Shot: Cutting Mat, Magnetic Platform, Stitched Shapes Framelits
• Accessories: Linen Thread, Aquapainter, Watercolor Pencils, Linen Thread, Dimensionals, Clear Wink of Stella Pen, Glue Dots, Scissors, and Adhesive

ONLINE HOSTESS CODE

To purchase these products, please visit my Online Store and use hostess code 4R3DF9YC when checking out.

BONUS DAYS ARE HERE

For the month of July, you can earn $5 in bonus dollars each time you spend $50.  Then in August, you can redeem them for more fun product.  Bonus dollars are sent via email so don't delete them!

Sign up for PAPER PUMPKIN!

Paper Pumpkin is creativity in a box.  It costs $19.95 plus tax and ships to your mailbox once a month.  It contains everything you need for your own creative escape.  Besides the instructions and pieces for the cards or project, it also contains ink and photopolymer stamps and usually the adhesive you need as well.  My subscribers will also get a project sheet with tips and additional ideas and instructions that they can make with the supplies in the kits and sometimes some supplemental supplies.  Sign up by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit! 

You can sign up here: https://mypaperpumpkin.com/en/?demoid=80380

Subscribers can also have access to all my past project sheets!

JOIN MY TEAM

Joining Stampin' Up! was one of the best decisions I've made in life.  I have met some wonderful people who offer incredible inspiration and I believe in the quality of the product. Plus there is always something special about making and receiving homemade cards or décor from people.

If you are interested in joining my team, contact me today or go here to sign up!  You can get $125 in free merchandise that you choose yourself for only $99 plus tax.  With the new 2017-2018 Annual Catalog, it's not hard at all to find stamps and accessories that you will want to play with. 

But for the month of July, the deal gets even better.  You also get an Essentials Gift Pack for FREE.  This kit includes 2 clear D blocks, Grid Paper, Paper Snips, SNAIL Adhesive, and a Bone Folder for FREE.  That’s a $52 value.  And, though I’m already jealous of this deal, you will also get the clear mount Carols of Christmas set ($20 value) for free.  That deal is too sweet to pass up especially when it’s so easy to find $99 worth of stuff you would buy anyhow from the new catalog! 

Being a demonstrator doesn’t mean you have to have parties – it means you can buy from yourself at a discount!  And if you don’t hit your minimums, there is no penalty!  Contact me today if you are interested in trying this out or sign up directly at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stacymccain/jointhefun!

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy