December 2022 Friends of Unity Blog Hop

Hello, Hello, Hello and welcome to the Friends of Unity Blog hop.  I hope this season finds you full of the magical joys of Christmas.   I am super busy with all the fa la la.  I went real simple with the glitz, Some people may not like glitter (can you imagine) So, I thought I'd go simple by just adding a few gems around the card.  You may like bling and you don't have to go overboard with it, just a little something something to give a little sparkle, I also do a spray on almost all my cards of glitter it's subtle but it's that little something I like on my cards.     

Next up is my wonderful friend Gaylynn, you can visit her HERE!

As, 2022 comes to an end, I want to take a moment to thank you all for visiting month after month.   It's so much fun sharing my love of Unity, this was a big year for me creativity wise.  I had the opportunity to go to Minnesota and meet the Unity crew along with other design team members that I love so very much, so it was truly an amazing experience.  I will never forget it.  I was actually able to make a stamp set from beginning to end that was just a thrill.   I am so honored to be a part of this Unity family.   I hope you take a moment to leave some love on each of the girls blogs.    

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, heres to a year filled with art, color and love!

Dawn Bryson

November 2022 Friends Of Unity Blog Hop! ca

 Hello, and Happy November.  Isn't fall one of the very best seasons.  It can be the start of a very busy season for a lot of us, it's family time a great time to get creative and lots of wonderful fall activates.  I am finding it harder and harder to carve out creative time.  One was to make a quick card is to use watercolor.  I have a love hate relationship with watercolor.   I find it super simple and wonderful or a complete disaster.   If you have a lot of trouble water coloring a really easy way to play is to do a simple background.   This makes for fast and easy cards  one stamp two colors of distress ink and done.   With so many of us making many many cards for Christmas and Winter holidays, doing this can make your makes a breeze.    I used Love you snow much, which is huge and then lightly watercolor a background using two like colors keeps you from turning your masterpiece to mud.   give it a try and have fun with it.

Please go over to my friend Dawn Fields blog HERE and take a peek at her card, be sure to leave some love on everyone's blog!

Happy Crafting,'

Dawn Bryson

October 2022 friends of Unity Blog Hop Anything but a card!

Happy World Card Making Day!

Happy October or like I say Spooky season

Happy Friends of Unity blog hop day!

Today the Friends of Unity blog hoppers have a Anything but a card theme.   I had to make an ATC, this is a quick blog post but I wanted to share something.

I have been overwhelmingly busy with life, so I apologize for my short and sweet post.

For this ATC, I used Keep holding on by Phyllis Harris.  I did super simple watercolor added stickles to the winds and did a little texture place with yellow distress ink added in for the stars.   I like quick and easy when I need to make and am limited on time.  

If your new to ATC, you can visit my youtube for a beginner tutorial.  

If your looking for more fun, check out Unity stamp co this weekend for a few live cardmaking events.  I have it on good authority there will be prizes.  wink wink.

Unity is also having a pretty big sale so go check that out!

Please Hop along.....Next on the list is ROBYN you can visit her HERE!

September 2022 Friends of Unity bog hop!

 

Welcome September, I love every season, but Theres something special about the next few months .   I am so ready for fall makes so I went in that direction for this months prompt.   Sometimes, you gotta jump out of the box and have some fun right!

I used a few different things for this one.   I knew I wanted a Halloween theme, but couldn't figure out how to do that with the stamps I owned then this idea just jumped into my brain.

I used two unity stamp sets this month.  I used Coffee Components for the background with a little walnut stain ink.  I used the background stamp Smell My Feet for the band.  I colored that with villainous potion distress ink.   The ghost is from honey bee, and the hey boo! is from Simon says stamp.   I used pinecone versafine Clair ink and embossed that in clear.   That's pretty much it, didn't take me long once I knew what I wanted to do.  

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

Next on the hop is the absolutely amazing Gaylynn! you can visit her HERE!

Thank you for following along on our hop, if your here please say HI!

Happy Stamping,

Dawn Bryson

July 2022 Friends of Unity Blog Hop Stencils

 

I love stencils, they can dress up a card so much, and with inks, gels, and all sorts of yummy stuff you can do as much or as little as you want.

Today I just have one pretty simple card for you, Life proves it self to be busy as always and summers here at the Jersey Shore are always insane.

I used a stencil from my stash and added a bright green paste to the background.  I then used Playful Daisy and stamped the color with distress ink and distress oxide a light spritz with water to give some texture.  Popped up a sentiment and done.  Hello how easy is that.  quick and easy can be cute and fun.   I seem to always need to pop things out quick so cards like this pack a punch with little effort.  Hope you get out all those fun supplies we hoard and play along!

Thank you for hopping along, if you would like to start at the beginning please visit Crystal HERE!

next up is Robyn and you can visit her lovely blog HERE!

Hope you enjoyed the hop, and find lots of ideas you'll put to use on your next crafty session.

Dawn

June 2022 Friends of Unity Blog Hop!

 Happy June, I hope your finally seeing sunny warmer days.   This month we are hopping with a .  Masculine theme.   A lot of us are challenged by masculine cards.  I hope this hop  brings you lots of inspiration

When making masculine cards, think simple.   Most men (I am a mom of three grown boys) that I know that I have sent cards to, don't really care about all the fluff, so really keep it simple.  I tend to do more vintage looking stuff for masculine cards, like cars etc.  But, using a silly image like this dad looking bear is perfect way to keep things simple.   I paired it with darker colors and used a silly little hello sentiments.  Pretty easy if you ask me!  The image is a bit older but this bear has been a fav of mine, and I think he's perfect for guy/dad cards.  It's called Patience & Hugs.  It's a great little set to have.

 

I left a lot of space to the left of the image, I really wanted some of the paper to be seen here, Using this type of paper with rulers, maps etc...can be a great way to add color but keep the image "masculine"  Keeping the sentiment and everything together pulls your eye over to the image.  

 

I hope you all enjoy the hop, and I also hope that it gets your mojo flowing so that your all set to make those cards for dads day!

If you would like to start at the beginning of the hop Please visit my friend, Crystal!

To continue on your merry little way go visit the very talented Rachel!

Thanks for stopping by, if your here please leave a comment so we know your visiting.  Also, if you don't mind if you visit us on other social media platforms like Instagram or facebook give a like and follow.  We want to  follow you as well So, please say Hi  If you make a card and want us to see, you can Hashtag friendsofunitybloghoppers or tag us so we can spread the love as well.  Unity show n tell is also a great place for us to see your projects, feel free to tag any of us there as well.

Happy Stamping,

Dawn Bryson

PS. sorry about the wonky text I can't seem to fix it ;)

May 2022 Friends of Unity Blog Hop!

  I was so happy when Crystal, posted that May would be a Winged themed month.  I had a plan.....Then Unity had a birthday sale and this sweet adorable image came out and my plan went out the window.   I just had to make another card with this adorable image.   It's brand new and on sale.   You can find it HERE!  It's called One Kind Word.

  this card took no effort, I colored the image in yellow and green like a paraquet (kinda lol).  Used Unity dies to create the matt, added a little blue distress to the sky popped a cloud and added enamel dots.   Cute, easy and fast.   Sometimes, that is all we have time for and you know what that is okay.

On a side note, to all the women out there who have mothered (fur, human or other) Happy Mothers day, your amazing, your beautiful and you deserve a day just for you!

I also wanted to add, that It's Unity's Birthday and they are having a site wide sale, if you have been eyeing something you have seen on the hop, now is your time to get it!  Enjoy and have a wonderful day!

To start at the beginning of the hop, go visit the amazing Crystal Here!

last but not least is Robyns blog you can visit her HERE!

Have a great day,

Dawn Bryson

Friends of Unity 2022 blog hop PATTERN PAPER!

Okay, you know we all have tons and tons of pattern paper, I feel like with all the stencils and ink blending they kinda take a back seat.  We'll we the friends of Unity are here to inspire you to break out the hoarded I mean pack of pattern paper and USE it up.   We buy it because it's pretty or we have a specific card or scrapbook in mind.  Let me encourage you to use it, it's doing no good sitting in a pile.  I hope this post inspires you to play along, and if you do please share on social media and tag us.  I am the chatty stamper on facebook and Instagram.  Now, lets get to it!

So, one good tip about pattern paper is it is a great way to make a super quick card with little effort.  If you have a pattern that you really like and is busy you can do what I did hear on the first card but doing nothing much but adding a die cut.   I used unity say it big dies and a Tim holtz sentiment.  Takes no time at all focus' on the pretty paper.    This is a great way to utilize paper you don't want to cover with an image.    This is also a great way to make a card when your not really feeling creative.   

Now, this second card I really loved this paper but wasn't really sure what to do with it.  I added the huge hollyhock image and embossed added words from Tim's sticker pack..  This is another super quick card.  I've not had a lot of mojo lately and using these techniques makes it easy for anyone to make a very nice and fast card.   

Hope you all get a chance to play with some pattern paper soon.   IF you do break out some pretty paper be sure to share on the Unity show and tell page or hashtag us on Instagram #friendsofunitybloghoppers

To start the hop from the beginning go visit Crystal HERE!

next on the hop is the beautiful April visit her HERE!

Be sure to comment as it motivates the team!

Happy Crafting,

Dawn

March 2022 Friends of Unity blog hop

Hello, welcome to my blog.   Today we are hopping along with a color theme.   As you can see my cards are just a tad bit off of the color scheme.  I hope you don't mind me being a  bit off the mark.    

  I have written and deleted this blog post about a dozen times.   I want this to be a happy place for you all to visit, but I can't ignore the fact war rages at this time.    I will simply say, that I felt strongly to add the colors of the Ukraine flag today.   My heart is so heavy, and I had a hard time creating.   My prayers are with the people of Ukraine.   Thank you for understand!

On my cards today I used Tims, heavy stock kraft paper.  If you have not used this paper I highly recommend it.  Oxides work wonderfully on it. and it takes water well. I colored the sunflowers with copic markers, added sentiments and enamel dots.  These cards took no time at all.  

One more stop on this wonderful hop, go visit my friend Alaine HERE  and please leave some love to the other bloggers.

I hope you have a beautiful day,  Dawn

January 2022, Friends of Unity blog hop!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2022!

Welcome to the first blog hop of the New Year!   I can hardly believe it's 2022.  My hope for all of us is that it is a year of hope, less covid and some normal.

  This month we have a CAS, theme.... Clean And Simple!   After the busy holiday making season keeping things clean and simple is a welcome task.

I used this adorable little chic from Decembers Kit of the month.  Simply coloring adding wink of stella to the baloon and a few enamel dots and your done.  Does not get more simple than that.

I hope you all have a wonderful year, with lots of crafty time and plenty of mojo.

To start at the beginning of the hop Please visit Crystal our group leader who put so much in to these hops.  Please leave her some love. 

Next on the hop is my friend Dawn Fields you can visit her blog HERE

See ya next month.

Dawn Bryson

TheChattyStamper 

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!

October 2020 friends of unity blog hop!

  Happy October everyone, the most fabulous months of the year, the start of fall and for me the holiday season, not to mention it happens to be my birthday month as well.

  Today I focused on a fall themed birthday card, using fall colors.   I wish you could see the glimmer on this card.  

  I colored an angie girl with copic markers, I simply die cut the sentiment to match her shirt, the leaves were a lot of fun.    I used the new crackling fire distress spray with a little oxide brown spray and die cut.  They look so good irl.   that is really it guys super easy.  Hope you take a look at all the lovely stamps at Unity stamp co.   Remember birthday cards do not need to be all cupcakes and stuff.  It can be seasonal or really what ever you want.    Have a fabulous day.

If you would like to start at the beginning of the hop please go visit Crystal

Next on the hop is the lovely Alaine.

Happy fall, 

Dawn