Some random thoughts

 My goodness has this year been a whole heck of a lot.   I can't believe were just a few short days away from 2022!

I have had some health issues and have been unable to craft.  I am feeling much better and am ready to go back to work and craft again.  One would think when your on medical leave you have much time to do things, but my mind and body just didn't allow it.

I am back at it and looking forward to a year without any medical crap.  I do need surgery on my foot that I had planned to do early but there is no way I can take off work again, so I will just deal with it for a bit.  

I have some goals this year.   I really need to do more live videos.  I really enjoy them and need to do more on a consistent basis.  I tend to go when the mood strikes, So, I need to plan and advertise them.

I need to find a way to have crafty time.   I get so busy with work and house duties, shopping etc.  I just can't seem to find balance sometimes.  I will wind up rushing to get a card done, so I don't use a lot of supplies etc.  I want to really dig into my art and have fun with it.   My husband works nights so when he is home and awake I tend to want to watch a movie with him or hang out.   So, balance is gonna be a priority for me.   

I know this is a crafty blog, but I like to share life too, and since I have few followers no one is  really gonna see this.

I want to talk a minute about mental health.  

It is extremely important to walk through life with a little help when it is needed.   I stated therapy a few weeks ago. Today will be my third session.    I am having trouble managing myself.  My anxiety and self doubt is strong.   I tend to be a very half empty type person and I'm tired I'm tired of always feeling this way.   I need to walk this life with a little extra help.  There is no shame about learning to process things and trying to better yourself.  

I want to live a little, my anxiety keeps me from doing a lot of things.  If I could stay in my house and watch tv forever I would.  I want to do things, have fun go out and do a little living.

Here is to a happy healthy 2022!

Dawn

Friends of Unity Blog hop October 2021

Welcome to the friends of Unity blog hop, and Happy Happy World Cardmaking day!   What a great way to celebrate today by getting out some of your beloved supplies and create.  Today I will be making this card LIVE, on the Unity Stamp Co. Facebook page at 4:00p Eastern.   I hope you'll join me!   I will be making two cards.   I'd love to see you there!  Now, lets get to it!  This month we have  A technique driven hop.  I hope some of these inspire you to get out some supplies and play!

Below is the Schedule for Unity's live today, hope you can stop in and visit!

Today I am using a stencil and paste, to show you how to make a fun background for you image.

This is super easy, take two ink pads and smoosh out some ink, go ahead and mix them with texture paste.  I keep the two colors separate, So that you get some swirls and the colors will mix some and that is fine.   

After you mix the two colors go ahead and run them over the stencil using a pallet knife, The colors will mix some and that is fine, you can mix them or add them both randomly I do a little of both.

When your done, your gonna have great color and texture, set that aside to dry as you finish the other elements of your card.   This took about 20 min to dry in 70 degree weather.   Thicker takes longer but it's not to bad, by the time your done with it all its usually dry.   

   That is all their is to it, It does not get much easier than that.   I will say don't freak if a little paste gets under the stencil it's no big deal, I also like to take the same ink and splatter some to break those little smoosh marks up,  Go ahead and color you image, add glitter to your bats and assemble.  Easy Peasy right? 

So, just fyi you can use distress ink with one color and oxide for the other to give a darker lighter look, you can also use sprays.    This is a great way to add texture and color to a background, I really hope if you've not done this before you give it a try, and if you have not done it in a while play around with it.   

That's all I have for you today.   Go ahead and hop along and be sure to share what you create on the show and tell board.  

If you need to start the hop from the beginning go visit Crystal here!

Next on the hop is Rachel you can visit her HERE!

Supply List, Stencil is Simple Stories, Bats are Tim Holtz sizzix covered in Tim Holtz black glitter, Distress oxide Ink, Bristol smooth paper, Ranger Texture paste, Stamp Image is COUNT, from Unity Stamp Co.  Simply colored with Copic Markers. Sentiment is Simon Says Stamp.

  

Thank you for Visiting me today,

Dawn Bryson

Friends of Unity September 2021 blog hop!

 

This month we have a color challenge for you.  Using kraft is one of my favorite neutral colors to use when crafting so this wasn't much of a challenge!  wink

I used a few sets for this one, I really love this new tin tile background, so I stamped that on the kraft paper in versamark.  When I first saw this stamp I thought Christmas right away.  The girl is perfect girl and she's brand new.   I really liked her and used her a few days ago for a fall card.   I think she goes well with winter as well so I went with her.   For the sentiment I used gotta love sentiments.   I added a snowflake.    Really simple coloring.    

I hope you enjoy this months hop, and I would love to see what you come up with and share it on the Unity show and tell page.

To start off the hop go to Crystals blog HERE

Next in line is my good friend Alaine, visit her HERE!

Happy Stampin, I hope to see you soon on the show N Tell Page with your Kraft and sage creations.

Dawn Bryson

Welcome to the July Friends of Unity blog hop! SUMMER Vacation!

 I am so loving this theme, and with Summer in  full swing and tomorrow being the 4th of July.  It's a great way to get some inspiration.   

  I live at the Jersey Shore, in a beach town so many many many people vacation here, and the 4th of July is absolutely insane here, we basically stay in and hide.  LOL  

  I thought it would be fitting to do a forth of July themed card.   So here is this little gnome guy celebrating!

For this card, I simply did red and blue oxide wash, an added a fun die that in this situation looks like fireworks.  Added a sentiment and a few red white and blue sequins and that is that.  Real quick card.

I hope you all have a safe and Happy 4th of July!

If you would like to start from the start of the hop Please go visit my dear friend Crystal HERE!

Next on the list is the amazing Rachell (who does fun videos on tik tok by the way!) you can visit her HERE!

Thank you for hopping along,

Dawn Bryson

Friends of Unity June Masculine card hop!

 

With Fathers day just a few days away,  This challenge was perfect.   Masculine cards can be hard for a lot of us card makers, I don't know why but it is.   I went super simple with this car image.  Images like this make masculine cards super easy.  Can be used for Birthday or Fathers day!  I hope this Hop inspires you to send cards to those men in your life.

For my second card I used these moths from Junes kit of month.    Minimal colors are needed and the images are simple.   For masculine cards I tend to be more simple.

Car stamp is from set called  Good Ole Days!  I simply colored it with muted colors, the water colors are Karin markers.

The moths were colored simply with copic markers.

Thats all I have for this time.  I hope you enjoy the hop.  Please leave a comment so we know your here!

Thanks for stopping by.

If you would like to start at the beginning of the hop please go visit my Friend Crystal Minkler HERE!

Next up on the hop is the wonderful Bobbie Sue and you can visit her HERE!

Happy Crafting,

Dawn

May 2021 Friends of Unity Blog Hop!

This was an easy month for me, as I personally feel as if Unity has some of the very very best Floral stamps.  So, of course I went with floral for my card for today!   I was also really excited to use this NEW stamp that was released Thursday.   It was perfect to pair with a Mothers day card!

For this card I cut the shape using a Gina Marie die, I then covered the outside with purple tape, and add the yellow with a Tim Holtz stencil.   I am actually really happy with the way this turned out.  I added my flowers and colored them with copic.   Super fun card, I am loving slimline and expecially mini slim line.

To start at the beginning go visit my friend Crystal, who devotes so much to this little group!  Give her some love and visit her blog HERE!

Now that your done here go visit the Lovely Eileen.  You can visit her blog HERE!

Thank you for Visiting,

Dawn Bryson

April Friends of Unity Blog Hop!

Happy April, I am so happy that spring is here!   This month has been a busy one.   Unity, released this great gnome set, so I just had to use it for this months card.  

  For the background I smooshed some distress ink and oxides.   Simply stamped some little plus signs.   Then added stickle paste through a honeycomb stencil.    Super easy to do and I love to get inky.

Next on the HOP is Colleen you can visit her HERE!

 I wish you all a Happy Easter if you celebrate, Happy Spring, I'll see you next month.

Dawn Bryson

March Friends Of Unity, blog hop!

Welcome to the March Friends of Unity blog hop, this month we have a sketch challenge for you.  This nice things about sketches is that they help you think a little differently when creating.   Since it's March I thought it would be fun to do a St. Patricks day card.  Lucky for me, Unity released this adorable Shenanigans  Gnome a few weeks ago.  I knew he would be perfect for this sketch

    

I hope this hop brings you inspiration!  If you would like to start at the top go visit the lovely Crystal 

Next on the hop is the always creative Colleen!!!!

Thank you for stopping by, Happy March!

Dawn

The details,  simple copic coloring, added shamrocks from Taylored expressions, added a little lucky clover distress ink on the shamrocks and background.   I added the lovely enamal dots from Gina Marie the washi is from my collection.

February Friends with Unity blog hop Paper Piercing.

Happy February friends,

 This month we have some paper piercing projects for you, It's not something I do often.  But it was fun!

   Created this card with the set Seasons of life, I really like the sentiments with this once.   I simply colored the image with copic markers, Helpful hint I learned the hard way, color before you glue down your pattern paper.  I stamped the snowflakes around the edge and blended some speckled egg distress oxide around the edge.  I then splashed some of the same colors spray on it for a little contrast.

That is it, easy card but so pretty.

Have a great weekend,

Dawn

Next on the hop is. The amazing Dawn Fields  go see her HERE!

if you would like to start from the beginning you can go HERE!