Best Start to my Birthday Month!

Good monday morning, everyone!!!

I've got some BIG news today!! I've been jumping up and down since I found out and am so glad I no longer have to keep it a secret! This really has been the best news everrrrr!!!

I'm now an Oddie!!!




I'm on the Some Odd Girl Design Team! Woohoooo!!! It's announced today at the SOG blog too!

I first found out when I was in line for a Harry Potter ride in the Orlando Universal Studios. I grabbed my sister's arm and kept saying, "Oh my God, oh my God...can you read this email?" I even sent the email to JoAnn to make sure I wasn't dreaming. LOL! She knows how much I love love LOVE Kristy's stamps.

I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason, and it must have been the right time for moi. I had been applying forever, teehee! After lots and lots of usage and practice and determination...well, it truly is a dream come true! But ****SQUEAL*****, I'm still pinching myself!!!!!

(Okay, I am trying to prevent myself from sounding like a total idiot so let me calm down for a moment :)....) *big breath in, big breath out*

Anyway, back to the task at hand. Today marks a new sketch challenge for the month of April.



And here's my take on it:



I used Love Letter Mae - isn't she beautiful and romantic? The very first time I saw her, I couldn't wait to color up that hair! I paired her up with these papers from the new Dear Lizzy's Lucky Charm. I thought the ones with the handwriting were perfect. The banners were from Amy Tangerine's new line too. And I used the crinkled ribbon that Amy had given me. I added some eyeshadow to Mae and doodling along the borders for more "writing" effect.


I hope you play along! This sketch was wonderful to work with! Please see the SOG Blog for more deets and inspiration!

And to the people in line with me that one Friday morning in Orlando, I'm so sorry for the random squealing you heard. (You may also have seen my jumping up and down, BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!).



Toodles,

Karber DT Announcement!

Happy Monday! Am super glad I'm off! For those of you living in the U.S., Happy Labor Day! It's so weird that nowadays, kids start school before Labor Day, even in August! When I was a kid/teen, I remember that back-to-school days always started after Labor Day.

Anyway, I've got an announcement to make! I'm sooo excited to say that I am now part of the Karber Design Team!

For those of you not familiar with Karber, it's a company full of adorable digi stamps! Its cute and happy characters are just my style! You may remember that I was part of the Karber DT with Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps last year. It already holds a special place in my heart!

For my debut card, I decided to go with Jenny Handcraft. You may remember this cutie from an old post (click here).



TEE-HEE-HEE!! She totally reminds me of myself...the full cheeks and Asian eyes :).

And my favorite part is she's crafting! Card-making, scrapping, stamping, coloring?? I LOVE IT!

I paired her with a bunch of my favorites! The Everyday Ecclectic papers from Echo Park, Kelly Purkey stamps, and even a cut-out heart from Amy Tangerine's line.



I am obsessed with chevrons right now...and I mixed that pattern with the colorful, graphic shapes and cameras (for my love of photography). And I love KP's stamps because they explain perfectly how I feel about my hobby.

And you know what is so good about Karber digital stamps? They are super cheap and a lot are on sale right now!

Anyway, thank you so much for visiting and reading about my news! Hope you visit the Karber blog to meet the other DT members.

Tata!

My Second Card Pub.

***Please click here for the Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps 2nd Anniversary Blog Hop!***


****Please go HERE for my CatShy Crafts felt flowers GiveAway.****

It's been a month since the magazine came out so I am allowed to finally make the announcement! The June/ July 2012 Designed to Color magazine featured one of my cards!!! Woot woot!

I turned in a card for their Trends section on Washi tape and I got my second publication!



Washi tapes are so much fun to use! I love how they come plain or patterned and that you don't need scissors or adhesive to cut or paste them. For this card, I layered and lined them up to create my own background! It came out very festive and bright, which I wanted for this Some Odd Girl image: Spectacular Soiree



I added some wash tape to the corners of the image- don't they look like confetti? And sequins sewed in finished up this party!!

Have a wonderful day!

Please visit my last three posts for my Christmas Card Challenge card, Sparkle Creations Anni Blog Hop, and my felt flowers giveaway!!!!

My First Published Card.

The day has finally arrived when I can announce that I am a published crafter! Woot-woot!!!
We were told to wait one month after publication to announce, facebook or tweet about it. And it was hard to keep quiet, but now I can shout it out loud!!! One of my cards got picked up for the April/May 2012 issue of Designed to Color, "a magazine devoted to stamping, coloring, and paper crafting!"

Open publication - Free publishing

I really have to give props to Design to Color - it really is for the crafter who's just like me. My style of cards mostly involve coloring. It's the first of its kind! Other magazines mostly focus on just stamping so I am truly honored to be part of DTC's second issue! And what's great is you can now order it in print! Here's the link for more details and also how to subscribe.
Anybody out there also a believer that things happen for a reason? I do!
You see, I entered this card for a different publication call. It didn't get picked and I was sad. Then, I entered it for Design Team call. It was rejected and I was devastated. Along came the call from DTC and when I found out it got chosen, I was ecstatic!!
So don't ever give up!
Supplies list:
CS- Bazzill (brown). Neenah (white). DP- American Crafts (multi-colored flowered one). Crate Paper (yellow roses and striped ones). Stamp- Some Odd Girl's Noveau girl - Believe. Ribbon- Hero Arts. Quilled butterflies- Martha Stewart. Red Border- Crate Paper. Pins- House of 3s (Pink Paislee).
Please click on the issue above for details on the Copics I used. I'm on page 33.
Thanks for visiting!

My first DT!

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to write a quick post to make an announcement!!

I've made it to my first ever Design Team!!! WOOT WOOT!!!!

I just got a Card Design Team spot at Let's Capture Our Memories!



LCOM is an online community/ store/ gallery/ blog that has different challenges, both scrapbooking and card-making alike. We will have a card challenge every week, and I hope you play along with me and the rest of the CDT.

I'm really so happy about this -- I have wanted to shout it out from the rooftops ever since I've found out!!

This week, the challenge is simple -- make a birthday-themed card & link it by noon ADT next Saturday. The birthday bash card challenge goes along with our whole Birthday Bash Blog hop this week to honor the fabulous Tanya aka Tinkerbell.



We'll pick favorites and you'll get to post these award badges on your blog:




It was super cool that they allowed one of our DT application cards as our sample this week! You could see a familiar birthday card from me on the blog.

Now, meet the rest of the CDT:

Jerusha Borden
Danielle Casello
Anita Mulcahey
Corinne R. Mercado <----You are here :)
JJ Sobey
Emily Thompson
Melissa Wright
Sandi Johnson (CDT Coordinator)

Thanks for visiting!

Things To Do.

Things To Do Today (X's mean done!):

1. Class for work. X

2. Shop for birthday outfit for a photo session. X



3. Shop for nieces. My favorite local children's store closed :(. Found cute gifts at this store. X



4. Post office to mail out blog candy & get stamps. Aren't these art stamps lovely? I should save some! X



5. Get lunch (wild mushroom & grilled chicken pizza with whole wheat crust). Yumm-O! X

6. Make invitation for Mattie's party.

7. Work on favors.

8. Start on upcoming projects.

As you can see, I still have lots to do! So I'll make this post quick. Did a super-simple card. Coloring and embellies are minimal. I left my buttons naked.

Supplies are from Taylored Expressions' April Key Ingredients Kit (CS, PP, buttons), Sassafras (stickers), Two Scoops Rice Designs (stamps, sentiment).

I got my Sassafras stickers from Torendi. And one of my cards with those stickers is featured on their blog. Yay! :)

Peace Out! So excited for Glee tonight!

Hosting Monday Mania @ CA&F .... plus my Birthday Blog Candy!!!

The time has come for me to say WOOT WOOT!!!! I wanted to scream on top of the rooftops when Amy asked me to host this week's Monday Mania at Club Anya!!

For my challenge, I wanted to do something diffrent... something that hasn't been done before. Incorporate some type of paper ephemera or jewelry that is not your typical, run-of-the-mill paper crafting supply. Include such things as mementos, ticket stubs, price tags, packaging material... ANYTHING!

I am FOREVER collecting souvenirs or inspiring tidbits here and there. This card is actually for my preggo self last year. I'm probably going to include this on a scrapbooking lay-out.



The embellishments are:

1. an old earring bought at Etsy as an owl mobile.
2. a crib made out of incense sticks' ends.
3. clothing tags (whale, swaddled babe, and tag behind the sentiment).
4. a strip of a favorite handwriting (kol laj).
5. a drawn heart/initial by my niece, I.
6. picture of giraffes saved from party favors made by my sister.

The embellies were saved from my baby shower for MK. I am quite a pack-rat but am so happy I got to "recycle" these special items. I have enjoyed my pregnancy tremendously. And all the feelings associated with that bliss & promise of a new beginning for me are embedded in these mementos that I saved. Anyway, I am going to stop right there before I start tearing up. I'm corny like that!

I did want to add that I also like re-using old jewelry as charms. Isn't that owl 'mobile' darling? :)

I hope you all join in on the challenge at CA & F. Please upload your entry at the Gallery under Monday Mania. Select Rinne's ephemera. Can't wait to see your creations!

And this *blissful* post, DRUMROLL please.........

Here's my birthday blog candy:



There are more than 40 items that include some of my favorite items -- Dear Lizzy rub-ons, Love Elsie stickers, kol laj papers, distressing inks, 6x6 patterned papers, small & big brads, a mini canvas and a cardboard album to name most of them.



Three stamps are also included -- an anime stamp from In Style, a ching chou kuick stamp from Sweet Pea, and a Cheeky stamp from TGF.

Please leave me a comment below and link back to my blog by April 25th, midnight Standard Pacific Time. I will pick a random winner by the afternoon of that day. If you can, please also post a pic of my blog candy on the side bar of your blog. I will ship ANYWHERE.

Thanks for visiting!!!

Let's REJOICE!

Good Wednesday morning! I have pre-scheduled this post because I am working my 12-hr shift today.

Today's card is a Xmas one, and hopefully, they'll all be Christmas-y from now on since I still have a few left to make before the holiday.

This Holly Starshine stamp is by Amy Young, and she is just the perfect embellishment for this card. It's Christmas morning and all is quiet. Holly zooms by, in a sort of sassy & quick way, and spreads holiday cheer right over people's heads while they are sleeping! LOL! I love it when you can make out a story when looking at a card scene!

I used Bazzill for the CS. The DSP with houses is Basic Grey, and the green and red ones are from Me & My Big Ideas. The Holly DSP cut-out is a scrap from a blog candy that I won. The pearls are from Recollections. Other miscellaneous supplies are Copics, TGF sentiment, Colorbok chalk ink, and Japanese masking tape.

Have a great day, everyone! And i am so THRILLED and GRATEFUL that I was an honorable mention here! My first TOOT at Club Anya!! :) And wasn't that blog hop so much fun?!!! I want to do it again! LOL!

Sparkle & Shine....at AFA

Yay! I get to be Guest Designer for two weeks at Anyone for Anya! Am so very excited! It's my first time designing and it is such an honor! Thanks so much for the opportunity, Dawny! This week's challenge is to make a card using pink + white + one other color - I picked purple. I seem to be using purple a lot nowadays... but previously, I always had a hard time. My cards must be mimicking what's trendy this fall season :).

For the card, I used your not-so-typical supplies. Went to one of my paper-crafting idols, Traci Bautista for this one.

The outer pink/purplish 'paper' is actually a dyed paper towel that I bought as part of Traci's previous "kol laj" art kits. You can see the edge of it on the third picture -- still crinkly!

The middle 'paper' was created from one of her many art workshops/ classes that I took at Scrapbook U about five years ago (see, sometimes it pays to be a pack rat! :)). It resulted from making a collage out of different textured papers, glitter, paint, crinkly glitter ribbons, paint flakes, modeling paste, and colorful powder. Traci is SUCH a genius!!

I also used Bazzill for the cardstock, Doodlebug Design Inc for the brads, and misc is a vintage-looking button! And I love this Showtime Anya! She is such a star! And she is colored by copic markers, of course!

Anyway, thanks so much for stopping by! Would love to hear from you! Tootaloo!!

DT entry

Here's my submission for the Anyone For Anya DT call.

The father of my close friend had passed away and so, I made her a card according to the sketch. I used the Angel Anya and made her look like my friend. I'm sure that there is nothing I could say that would erase her pain but I do hope she knows I am there for her during this difficult time. The service is in New Jersey. In lieu of the flowers I wanted to send, I picked a patterned paper that has them instead. I also thought writing out the sentiment would make it more personal. As far as supplies, I used American Crafts for the PP, the brads, and sticker. Everything else = unknown.

On a happier note, I can't believe my baby boy is growing up so fast. It seems like he gets bigger and bigger each day. And is it just me? But do all moms think their babies are the cutest. I may be biased but I think Mattie is sooooooo cute! :) I especially love his eyes and his lips. And this shirt is just too cute!!

Addicted to Anya (Anyone for Anya?)

There's a new DT call for Anyone For Anya?.

It's a challenge blog for The Greeting Farm stamps.

I think it's perfect for me!!! Why?

1. These stamps are my favorite stamps (and practically the only ones I use) for making cards.

2. It's an excuse to buy more Anya or other TGF stamps :).

3. I've been entering challenges at the TGF site anyway and this will just encourage me to continue and improve!

4. I'll get to meet more Anya fans!

...and lastly...

5. I hope to inspire and encourage others' creativity! :)

Wish me luck!

XOXO

This is Going to be a LOOOOONG One!!!!

Toot, Toot, TOOT for me! It's my favorite one for so far. I am Picture Me Perfect's Featured Scrapper of the Month!! I have been waiting and wanting it for so long, and my dream finally came true! Thanks, Suzy and Laurie!!

I've completed 2 of the 3 Garage Girl Assignments. I hope they don't mind that I'm posting them here:

The first assignment was to use one cardstock, at least one patterned paper, and the fun mini paper embellishments they provided. I thought this pic went well with the orange-ish cardstock and turquoise print that I picked from Autumn Leaves. The title "Turquoise" speaks for itself and the lay-out is of my friends, L, J, and baby J. I also used some ribbon and crackle paint. I loved the brads as well!

For the second one, they gave me chipboard to scrap with. I decided to do a Valentine's theme for the season and the month. I cut up the flower chipboard they gave me into hearts. I used Scenic Paper Route, stickers, rub-ons, crackle paint, and ribbon. The title is "Romance is in the Air" to tie in the hearts and the beautiful Hawaiian sky in the pics.

Then, I made this card for God-son, Jonah! Can't believe he is one as of yesterday!!


Oooooh, and we're getting stuff done for the wedding! Here's a couple of pics from my "Invitation Folding Par-tay," when really, it was an assembly sweatshop! My friends and sis were awesome...we had a great time, and I am so grateful!! They were even good sports when I joked about using my ribbon whip on them and restricting their bathroom usage as I played bridezilla!!! BUWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!!





And DUDE!!! The food tasting at our reception place was awesome!!! These pics are making my mouth water!!





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