Make It Monday over at C.C.D.!

Hi all!!
 

It's Corinne, and it's my first ever MIM over at the C.C. Designs blog.
 

I'll be showing you how to use water colors with your stamps! I am usually a Copics Lover, but I have been intrigued by different mediums lately, especially watercolors.
 

To start off with, I grabbed:
 

1. some watercolor paper (I used a different brand here, but C.C.Designs sells one at the store).
 

2. ink for the stamp (Memento Ink in rich cocoa).
 

3. Sweet November Mermaids Rubber Stamps.
 

4. For the watercolors, I used Le Plumme II watercolor pens and water color from the Art District -- it's what I already have at home. Christine has a great selection over here.
 

5. Water, small brushes, watercolor pan.

 

I first laid ink from the markers or tubes on the watercolor pan. 

 

I, then, start coloring using my brush and taking into account where the light source is. 

 

I take the marker and use it right on the watercolor paper where the shadows of her face would be.    And then I blend well with my brush.

 

I have yet to master coloring hair, but you can show dimensions here by using different colors or making it lighter by using more water.   

I did the same technique with the background / sea.  By using different colors or shades, you show depth and aspects. 

I kept it pretty simple and  just added bubbles and hand-wrote the sentiment.

Thanks so much for visiting! 

Last Preview Day for C.C.Designs' March releases.

Top of the mornin' to ya!!

Today's the last day of March previews over at C.C. Designs, and it's Sweet November time!

Amy Young's Sweet November Bunny Tails are truly perfect for Spring and Easter. So much so that I wanted to include them in my Project Life*. This project is a 4x6 journal card.



I was mostly inspired by these colorful bunny Peeps I spotted online. I was drooling over them as I am trying a low carb lifestyle right now, and also admiring how pretty they were! Enter Copics and these images and voila! My very own Easter low carb option :).

Since I already had Shanna Noel's Print Shop papers out for another CCD project, I used up the scallop designed paper. The colors pretty much matched up although I truly didn't plan it that way. I thought it was quite pleasing to the eye and was a nice surprise!



Added some cute stickers and of course, the flowers had to show up somewhere -- it is a Spring card afterall! Used a date stamp to document when Easter would be in my Project Life album.

*(If you haven't heard of PL, it's basically a different way of scrapbooking. Created by Becky Higgins, it's mostly putting in cards in a pocket protector system. You can view more info here).


Hope y'all have a stellar day!!

Announcement for C.C. Designs!

***If you are looking for my TGF GDT post on the Berry Sweet Digi Print and Cut kits, please click HERE or just scroll below to the previous post.****



Hi all,

I've got some great news to announce!! I've made it to be one of the new Design Team members at C.C. Designs!! C.C. Designs was also known as All That Scraps but the store and blog name reflect the stamp brand now. Anyway, I am super STOKED when I got Christine's acceptance email a few weeks ago! I love C.C. Designs stamps, and I also admire how her store carries different brands as well!



For my project today, I wanted to use the Sweet November Love Bug Fun Digi Images by Amy Young. I think they'd be perfect for some Valentine's Day themed Project Life cards!



Those lady bugs are so cute, and they are the perfect embellishments for PL journal cards. I had vowed to combine my love for scrapbooking and stamping so I'm thinking I'm on my way, right?! :)

For the cards, I used a lot of supplies from Studio Calico's Sugar Rush kit. But the sentiments (the cut-out hearts) and stamps are from C.C. Designs. Btw, they were so much fun to color!!








Can't wait to use them in my V-Day lay-outs! <3 Toot-a-loo!

Some Magic!

Good morning, everyone!

And Happy Mother's Day!

For Christmas Card Challenges, it's all about a color scheme this week (#24). The challenge is to make a Holiday card in teal, brown, and cream. These always prove difficult for me because I am neurotic about only using those colors and was even hesitant about putting any color on her lips! Haha!

I also colored this beautiful Sweet November Noelle stamp (created by Amy Young) super early and totally forgot about the challenge at first. So I had adhered her on a card, and then I totally remembered. Luckily, she didn't come apart when I took her off.

The sentiment is a stamp from Kelly Purkey. Remember how when I first started card-making, I thought sentiments were a waste and I would just hand-write them? I love them now!!



Have a wonderful day!

Sketch time for CCC!

Hiya folks!

I hope you are all having a great weekend. Can you believe that Christmas was just last month? It seems like everyone has returned to their usual routine and that the Holidays were so long ago!

What sure has kept me still in the spirit of things is the tree that is still in my living room. *GASP* you probably said! Yes, it's true... it's still there. The ornaments have been put away and the tree taken apart. But I haven't put any of the boxes away... or at least the tree in the boxes. Tee hee!

Anyway, I am one of the lucky few in this world (elves, ornament makers, etc) who have a "Holiday job" all year long. That is, as part of the Design Team over at Christmas Card Challenges, I will be making Christmas cards in the summer!!

A little challenge like this one should be the key to motivation...here's a sketch!

I tweaked it a little and rotated it, and I didn't do the circle, I stuck with a square.



Hope you get to visit the other design team for some inspiration! Stamp image Sweet November Harmony is from All That Scraps and drawn by Amy Young.

See you later!

Small Things for Sandy Hook.

If you are like me, you are probably still distraught over the happenings of Newtown CT. The shooting and those children are always in my thoughts. I even have nightmares about it. I knew that I wanted to make cards and send them to the families/ community somehow. Above are pics of the stamps I chose from my collection for cards. I am very much saddened by the cute images.

I know a lot of us feel helpless during these trying times. You can affect so much just by doing something small. A friend helped me discover this article. I just copied and pasted word for word.

From CNN.com:

"11 Small Acts That Can Have a Huge Impact.

1. When the children of Sandy Hook Elementary go back to school, the National Parent Teacher Association wants them to be greeted by a winter wonderland. You and your child can help welcome the students back to school, which will be in a new building, by making unique snowflakes! The snowflakes are due by January 12. Please send them to:

Connecticut PTSA

60 Connolly Parkway

Building 12, Suite 103 Hamden, CT 06514

2. You can also share your kind words of condolence by sending the community of Newtown a condolence letter:

Message of Condolence

PO Box 3700

Newtown, CT 06470

3. Some of the victim’s families have also set up specific pages for you to leave condolences online. Click on the names to leave your thoughts for the family of Dawn Hochsprung, Emilie Parker, Noah Pozner and Benjamin Wheeler.

4. Messages are also being collected on Evergram. They will be given to the family at a later date.

5. You can also do something you may have been putting off for a while. Go around your house with your child and find the toys they don’t play with anymore. Then donate them to a local charity.

6. You can also make a commitment as a family to volunteer at your school or community center.

7. Make sure this information gets out to the people who need it. Just hit the retweet button or copy and paste the information to post it on other social networks.

8. If you need a little inspiration for more creative ways to help your community and do good, check out this conversation happening on Twitter. People are labeling their Twitter updates with the hashtag #26acts – a kind act for each of the people who died at the school.

9. Find other people in your community who are pledging to walk for 27 minutes on Friday 12/21 at 9:30 a.m.

10. If you have a blog, write about a cookie recipe or craft and include a tribute to the victims. You can find other people’s blog post through the Twitter hashtag #BloggersForSandyHook

11. Some online gamers are also suspending online shooting for one day, Friday, Dec. 21."

Blonde Twisted Sister

Hi everyone!

Hope you're not yet tired of seeing my Twisted Sisters projects. :)

When I color my images, I try to make them look like the recipient. Do you do the same? Here's one of MK's main preschool teachers.

Here's a different take on TS Oleander, this time with blonde hair.

All of the supplies except for the CS, twine, and pearls are from Reminisce. Sorry to cut so short. Got a busy day today! But I'll see you tonight - 9 pm PST for another post!

Hugs,

Twisted Sisters Return!

I decided to make some Halloween goodies afterall. Now that my sonny-boy is going to pre-school, I'm going to be creating some small tokens of appreciation for his teacher, aides, and the secretary up front.

As I have been cleaning out and organizing my craft room, I'm realizing that there are pros and cons to this:

Pros-
1. I'm discovering older stamps and supplies.
2. I'm getting to know where everything is.
3. I won't be shopping any time soon.
4. It feels good to get rid of old stuff and even make a donation pile. (Maybe even a blog candy pile?).

Cons-
1. I feel so guilty because I have tons of supplies.
2. I won't be shopping any time soon. :)

For my project, I got these Godiva chocolate bars which are on sale this week at the local Target. I planned to use my Twisted Sisters stamps from Amy's Sweet November line over at All That Scraps.

About a year ago, I was a Sweet November Gal and I was so ecstatic (still am)! I had to re-read my post back in September '10.

So I had to pay homage to these sets of stamps again because it was truly an honor being able to help showcase them. For my first 'candy wrapper,' I chose my fave of the group, Twisted Sister Oleander.



How funny that she looks similar yet different as the first time I colored her. She looks super sweet here, even shy (and she looked kinda sassy at the other post). Oh, but she looks so adorable with her tattered bow and her striped tights and her batty wings.

I used Bazzill and Neenah for the Cardstock; Reminisce for all the other paper embellies; House of 3 (Pink Paislee) for the twine; the buttons were from my stash.

Ah, I'll be showing you some more of the other ones I did. I think these TS are perfect for their gifts. They are mostly young women and these stamps capture their youth yet are also sophisticated.

Thanks for visiting!

Hi FairWee Daphne!

*** If you're looking for Jo's Birthday Blog Hop and/ or to win MULTIPLE blog candies, please go HERE! ***





Good morning, folks!

I felt like making a card with lots and lots of textures. I just got the Martha Stewart Fringe Scissors and wanted to create some grass and a scene.

Colored up Fairwee Daphne and added the American Crafts' PP (clouds) with the Doodlebug Designs Inc (grass). I, then, made a sun out of buttons and added some flowers.

This card is for two challenges:
1. Flutter By Wednesday # 170 - open challenge but use butterfly, fairy, or angel.
2. ATS Wednesday Challenges week 93 - this week, it's anything goes.

Sorry so short. I am super tired. The tater tot is on his way to full recovery but the newbie got immunizations too and has been fussy.

I usually pre-schedule my posts to go up at midnight or in the early hours of the day. And then I go back to link my projects. But today, you'll just get two posts...one early, and one at 11 pm... LOL! I'll be waking up to feed the baby but this way, I can skip the computer ;).

XO!

Here Comes the Bride...

I really like it when brides choose unconventional colors for their weddings. Maybe because I chose orange (more like coral), pink, and green for mine. :)

I have a dear friend who is young, hip, and modern. She chose royal blue/ cobalt and raspberry as her wedding colors. The true colors of a regal male meets feminine gal.

We are throwing her a shower, and I wanted to make her a card that isn't your typical bridal shower card for our co-workers to sign.

Tried to match her colors perfectly but didn't have the right PP. Mixed old and new supplies here.

Supplies:
CS- Bazzill
PP- American Crafts (Dear Lizzy) polka dot fabric paper. Bo Bunny blue paper.
Accessories- Hambly washi tape. Pink Paislee twine and flag sticker. American Crafts (Margarita Getaway) layered embellishment.
Stamp- Amy's Sweet November Scorpio.

See ya later,

Magical Day

helllllloooooooooo!

Hope you all aren't too bored with my simple cards lately!

For this one, I've combined Amy's Sweet November stamp Meadow with a couple of the Emo kids' friends from Simply Betty.

They are all so awesome and cute!!

XO,

You Must Be my Lucky Star...

This was my first card for the Sweet November March release bloghop yesterday. I decided to do another card because I wasn't totally happy with her eyes. They still look a little spooky!!! But, hey, it has been a while since I've colored, let alone, made a card so I wasn't about to waste a colored image :).

Don't forget that the Sweet November Zodiac girls will be available at ATS on March 7th. They are all super pretty and fun! Amy has really captured the essence of each sign.

See you manana! I have another card to show!

Scorpions are magnetic....

Welcome to my blog, everyone, for the fourth day of the Sweet November Horoscope girls release!

I have Scorpio to showcase. When I looked her up, I found out that she is passionate, powerful, and intense. She is beautiful and very deep. Scorpio is also my DH's sign.

Because of these magnetic and mysterious characteristics, I chose rubies, reds, and rusts as the colors of the card. I also colored her hair black to show her power (but I also tend to use dark hair a lot to represent my ethnic background :)).

Amy Young's SN Zodiac girls will be available on March 7th at All That Scraps.

Don't forget to visit Amy's blog for more inspiration and a chance to win! Nancy and Rachel are also playing along!

Thanks for stopping by!

XO,

Happy Birthday Sweet November!

Hello and welcome to Sweet November's Sweet Celebration Birthday blog hop!

Yep, it has been one year since the characters who reside in Sweet November Land have come out to play and a few of them have gotten all decked out for a grand birthday party today!

All of the wonderful SN Gals and Guest Gals, as well as some of the ATS design team have come together to showcase these new cuties with a hop! And you won't want to miss a single blog because not only are the cards super cute and totally inspiring but there are also four birthday candy kits hidden along the way... think of them as fun birthday presents for you to win!

We are kicking things off at the ATS blog where you can find the complete list of everyone's blogs and if you have come here from Amy Gould, then you're doing great!

I was thrilled to work with this cute birthday boy stamp! He reminds me of my own toddler, and I was inspired to make a scene for a birthday party. Used October Afternoon Seaside papers (one of my faves right now!). And these adorable K & Company stickers were perfect -- I wanted the scene to be really fun, colorful, and almost chaotic. Just like a real birthday party!! :)

All four of these new Sweet November stamps will be available in the ATS store on Monday, November 15th... which is the same day that the birthday candy winners will be announced on Amy Young's blog.

Now you're next stop in the hop is Donna. Thanks so much for joining our Sweet Celebration!

Here's the complete SN Sweet Celebration Birthday blog hop list:

ATS Blog

Traci Porter

Lisa Gobea

Jenn Royal

Kelly Booth

Elaine Hughes

Rachel Schneider

Amy Gould

Corinne Mercado <---- You Are Here!

Donna Mikasa

Maire Elli Serafiia Yla Tuuhonen

Ria van Son

Janneke de Jong

Amy Young

XO,

Vacay Withdrawals

You know when you get into a funk the day(s) after a vacation? I always go into withdrawal mode! The longer the get-away is, the harder it is to stop daydreaming about the shenanigans I've done during the previous days.

But it also feels good to be home. Back to the routine. And I'm thankful to have one more day off before hitting the grind tomorrow. So about our trip to Lake Tahoe -- Let's see....there were nice days in the snow, lots of picture taking, great time with friends, yummy food. But unfortunately, no jacuzzi dips :(.

I forgot a bunch of things. Like my bathing suit. I was not about to go in there in my underwear. Or my long johns.

I forgot the white noise maker which we specifically bought for our trip. Bummer! Good thing Mattie didn't really wake up when the crowd went wild at night. Not party-wild. More like wild over Cranium and Twilight board games. Am a Twilight fan, but I have to say Cranium was so much fun!

I'm getting old. Hehehe.

Anyway, my card today features the cute little Baby Bunnies Chick from Amy's Sweet November Line. ATS had so many Easter stamps to choose from. But chicks have a soft spot in my heart. They remind me of the chicks I used to play with at my Grandfather's farm!

Uh-oh, I hear the babe calling me.. See you tomorrow!