Enamel Pin Updates

The NCT Johnny “Not My Problem” pin is sold out and will be restocked in early 2022. A new NCT Doyoung “Now I Know” enamel pin will also be produced in early 2022.

Sticker Production Delays

The NCT Iconic Memes Sticker set is sold out! Due to unforeseen circumstances, production on all sticker sets is currently delayed. Limited quantities of the Neo Pose and the Iconic Memes Pt. 2 sets are available but selling fast.

Sign up for my e-newsletter for updates on these items and more!

The post Enamel Pin Updates and Sticker Production Delays appeared first on Making it Sweet.

A new sticker set is in production! The Iconic Memes Sticker set was so well-received and had great customer feedback that I decided to commemorate more NCT memes in sticker form!

This new set will feature:

• Taeil: “Let’s Get IT!” — His iconic line to hype up his teammates, featuring his pose from his “Master Moon” cooking series
• Yuta: “I have no money” from Johnny and Marky’s Lemonade Stand
• Haechan: “It’s a BOP” from the Coming Home Uncut
• Jungwoo: “IDKWTD – I don’t know what to do” from Help! with Johnny and Marky

100 Sales!!

Thank you for the support for my store both here and on Etsy! It’s been a fun ride so far and a great learning experience. I get so much joy knowing that my products are being used all around the world!

So far, products have been sent internationally to the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Spain, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and Great Britain! Of course, I’m ever so thankful to my U.S. customers as well! It is a pleasure to know that the work I’ve put into the store is getting validated through your purchases.

100 sales may seem like small potatoes for some but it’s a huge deal for me with only having a small product line. Know that each and every one of those purchases were sent with a lot of love and appreciation.

I will work harder to bring you items that will spark some JOY in your life!

Thank You. Thank You. THANK YOU!!

Christmas Downloads and Maybe Products

Christmas is coming and now is the time to start crafting! Soon I will be selling the patterns for my Glitter Houses — even the ones that weren’t posted! I’m also putting out feelers to see if you would like me to sell Glitter House Kits made from repurposed materials (used cardboard boxes). It will come with everything you need to assemble and decorate a glitter house, except for hot glue. Let me know in the comments if you would like to see this in store!!

The post New Sticker Set, Sales Milestone, Christmas Downloads appeared first on Making it Sweet.

October 5, 2021

FULL ALBUM REVIEW: STICKER – NCT 127

by leese

My full album review of NCT 127’s 3rd Album “Sticker.”

After a year and half, NCT 127 came back with their 3rd Album, “Sticker.” I had high hopes for this album, especially since I still haven’t gotten over “Neozone.” “Sticker” demonstrates the growth of the group’s vocal maturity and artistry. Each song is uniquely “SM” (for SM Entertainment). It’s a sound that I can only describe as “lush.” Yet 127 adds their own flair with their unique powerhouse vocals, fresh rapping and energy. Each song is performance-worthy and the album offers something for everyone.

Sticker (Title Track)

Let’s start off with the most controversial track…

I think that watching the music video as an introduction to this song caught me off guard. I have to admit, I was distracted by the visuals, combined with the sound effects and the “unique” flute sound. It was sensory overload!

The track sounds like a few songs put together (typical of SM). After I put on my earbuds and listened to the actual track without distractions, I was able to ride the beat and my mind was blown.

Do not listen to this song with just one earbud in. Put on both headphones and surround-sound and listen to this song — the production is impeccable. The play between left and right channels will make your brain dance starting with the “Sticker tagging tagging tagging” in the left channel while the right channel has the “tongue rolling” ad-lib. Some may think that the effects to the vocal tracks might be off-putting, but I think it adds to the flavor of the song.

The song features a flute that is reminiscent of a Western film’s stand-off with a Latin jazz groove and a consistent whirly bass. The group’s vocals were highlighted with the rich harmonies, runs, and ad-libs, and the chorus will make sense out of that “flute sound.” Once you hear it, you can’t un-hear it.

“Sticker” is uniquely NCT 127. It is daring, impactful and gets even better the more you listen to it.

Lemonade

Breakfast

Focus

The Rainy Night

Far

Bring the Noize

Magic Carpet Ride

Road Trip

Dreamer

Promise You

As you might have noticed (based on the products in my store) I’m a huge fan of this group and NCT (including WayV) in general. For those who don’t know about K-Pop or want to hear a sample of the music, I always recommend NCT 127 because of the diversity in their discography. Their albums are so dynamic that you won’t get tired of “one sound.” The vocals and rapping from this group are top-tier — not to mention their performances are always fun to watch.

The post FULL ALBUM REVIEW: STICKER – NCT 127 appeared first on Making it Sweet.

September 17, 2021

New NCT Sticker Set Coming Soon!

by leese

New NCT sticker set featuring the members’ questionable/interesting poses.

I may or may not have purposely posted on the same day as NCT 127’s “Sticker” comeback…

Coming soon to the shop – NCT “Being Neo” Sticker Set! It features Johnny’s “Downward Dog” (teasing Doyoung), Yuta sitting properly, Sungchan reclining, and Lucas peering through binoculars.

Stickers are currently being produced and will be available in the shop by 9/30.

Leave a comment below if you’re looking forward to this set and what other items you would like to see in store!!

The post New NCT Sticker Set Coming Soon! appeared first on Making it Sweet.

September 14, 2021

Restocks and New Products

by leese

Sold out products, apparel, and a work in progress.

• The NCT Iconic Memes sticker set have sold out! I will be restocking sometime this week so stay tuned!
• I’ve added a Halloween T-shirt to the store and will branch out to more apparel.
• See that image of my work in progress? Can you guess who it is? Something fun is coming soon!

I can’t thank you enough for your support of my little shop. Even with the minimal amount of products that I have, it’s heart-warming to know that they are well-received.

The post Restocks and New Products appeared first on Making it Sweet.

September 13, 2021

NCT Iconic Memes Sticker Set to be restocked

by leese

Sticker sets will be available by 9/22/2021.

As of 9/13/2021 only 1 sticker set is left in the Etsy shop!! NCT memes prove to be a super-popular item! I have re-ordered more stickers with a few modifications. Sticker sets will be available for sale by 9/22/2021, if not earlier.

Subscribe below to receive the latest news about product updates and the latest posts!

The post NCT Iconic Memes Sticker Set to be restocked appeared first on Making it Sweet.

September 13, 2021

The Shop is Open!

by leese

I finally bit the bullet and opened up my online shop!

After so many years of contemplating whether or not I should open up an online shop, I finally did it! Right now there’s only a few items — mostly K-Pop / K-Drama related (hey, I need a niche market to get started) but eventually I will sell downloadable patterns and SVGs of my existing templates that are on this site.

Why now?

I have to admit, the pandemic has got me a little stir-crazy and I needed a distraction from what I normally do for our business. Yes, it’s still design-related, but now I have a little more creative freedom to come up with my own designs versus regular client-work.

K-Pop related items were a good start since my daughter and her friends are in “that market” and I could see what people would want. Plus, it’s fun and I enjoy the music — so why not? As of this post, I’m almost sold-out of one of my products so it’s good to know that people are enjoying what I’m creating.

Etsy, too?

I currently have products listed on Etsy and on this website. Many buyers trust Etsy’s purchase protection — I offer that here as well. I split inventory between stores so if it’s sold out on Etsy, I will most likely have more on this website. Of course, I’d prefer that you stay on my site to purchase — you will most likely get a better deal like reduced pricing and free shipping.

Keeping You Posted

I will keep buyers posted on latest products, designs, and product updates on this website. It will be under Shop Updates. Don’t worry, there will still be my “regular” posts about food, crafts, lifestyle and DIYs.

I would also like to hear from you! Let me know what you’d like to see in my shop — I’m a “Jill of all trades” after all.

Visit my shop!

So far, my products have been well-received having both international and domestic sales. I’m so excited to see where my products get shipped. I ship quickly — within 1-2 business days. You can visit my shop(s) by clicking the buttons below.

If you’ve previously purchased from my on Etsy or on this website, THANK YOU! It means a lot to have your support.

The post The Shop is Open! appeared first on Making it Sweet.

May 6, 2021

Munggo Guisado – Filipino Mung Bean Stew

by leese

Commonly known as “munggo” this hearty dish is made with mung beans, tomatoes, bacon, greens, and shrimp, making it a favorite Filipino comfort food.

Jump to Recipe

Ah, the mung bean – a tiny, olive-colored, pill-shaped bean that can be disguised in a sweet or savory dish. They’re quick to cook and hearty, making it the main ingredient of one of my favorite comfort foods.

Munggo guisado (mung bean stew) or “munggo” is a mung bean dish that’s stewed with pork belly or bacon, onions, garlic, tomatoes, shrimp and some kind of greens (like bok choy, spinach, or even bittermelon leaves). A garnish of crushed pork rinds gives this dish a nice texture (when eaten immediately). It’s slightly salty, flavored with patis (fish sauce) and usually eaten with rice. It’s a simple dish that’s packed with flavor.

As with most Filipino recipes, the ingredients vary from family to family. My parents always cooked this with bacon because it’s what we had on hand. Frozen shrimp was sometimes replaced with tiny dried shrimp that had more of an intense flavor. Instead of shrimp, I’ve cooked this with bonito flakes and it was just as delicious.

Prepare the Beans

If you plan on making this dish, give yourself about 1- 1.5 hours total. There’s no need to soak the beans but you will need to boil them for about 30 – 45 minutes until the most of the beans burst and are softened.

These beans expand dramatically. I boil 4 – 5 cups of water to 1 cup of beans, keeping watch every now and then to make sure that the beans don’t dry out. If you’re using dried shrimp instead of fresh (frozen) shrimp, boil the shrimp along with the beans to infuse more flavor.

Prep Your Ingredients

I can’t emphasize how important it is to prepare your ingredients before cooking. It makes the cooking process faster and more enjoyable. This photo shows how I keep my ingredients separated, slightly based on the order that they go in the pot.

When preparing leafy greens, cut off the ends, chop then and soak them in a bowl of water so that all the dirt falls out of the leaves. I usually use my hands to grab the greens and transfer them to a strainer versus pouring everything into a strainer. That way, you’re not pouring the dirt that has fallen off the greens back on top of them. Give it a final rinse, and you should not have anything gritty in your food.

I have to peel my shrimp since I get a slight allergic reaction to the shells. But you can leave your shrimp in its shell for more flavor. If using cooked frozen shrimp, there’s no need to thaw. If using raw frozen shrimp, you can thaw it for a quicker, more even cooking.

The Best Part of Cooking

This will smell so good when you start cooking… Render the bacon and add onions and garlic until softened, followed by tomatoes. When the tomatoes have softened, you add the cooked beans (no need to drain) and boil it for a few minutes.

Add the greens and cook until wilted, then toss in the shrimp last, so not to over cook it. The shrimp should only take a couple minutes to cook. If using pre-cooked (frozen) shrimp, then just toss it in after you turn off the heat, it really only needs to thaw. There’s nothing worse than chewy, overcooked shrimp.

Patis – Essential to Filipino Cooking

The final step is to season with patis (fish sauce) and ground pepper. Fish sauce really elevates this dish but if you don’t have it, just use salt. I haven’t tried this with soy sauce, but I don’t recommend it, as it would really alter the flavor of the dish.

Fish sauce varies from brand to brand (especially based on which country it’s from). Start with a tablespoon and add more if needed. I use Rufina brand fish sauce — It’s what I grew up with and the flavor brings back a taste of home.

Some people are afraid to use fish sauce because of the smell — it really doesn’t smell good. But I tell you, when added as an ingredient, you don’t even “taste the smell.” Fish sauce gives a dish that extra “umph” or umami. Use the fish sauce as a condiment for this dish. You might need to add a little more when you eat it with rice.

Kain Na! (Eat now!)

Munggo is eaten with steamed rice, usually Jasmine or a short-grain rice. Please, for the sanity of Asians everywhere, do not eat this with “American-style” rice. I’m talking about the buttered or boil-in-a-bag kind of rice. I like to top this dish with crushed chicharron. It adds a fun crunch to when eaten immediately and as it gets soft, it gives the meal a little bounce. Add patis as needed and enjoy!

Print

Munggo Guisado – Filipino Mung Bean Stew

A hearty Filipino dish of mung beans, pork, shrimp, tomatoes and greens. Measurements are approximate — the recipe ingredient amounts can be adjusted to your taste.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Asian, Filipino

Keyword filipino, mung beans, soup, stew

Prep Time 45 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Melissa Hiatt

Equipment

• Medium Pot
• Large Pot

Ingredients

• 1 cup Dried Mung Beans
• 5 cups Water
• 1 tsp Salt (Omit if using dried shrimp)
• 8 oz Bacon
• 1 medium onion, minced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup chopped tomatoes
• 4 cups Baby Bok Choy (You can use any cooking greens such as spinach, bok choy, bittermelon leaves, etc.)
• 1 cup peeled shrimp* raw or pre-cooked
• Patis (Fish Sauce) and black pepper to taste
• Crushed Chicharron / Pork Rinds (optional)

Instructions

• In a medium pot, bring water, salt and mung beans to a boil, uncovered, on medium-high heat. If using dried shrimp, omit the salt and boil the shrimp with the beans.

  Reduce heat to low and boil for 30-45 minutes. Check water level every 10 minutes, making sure that the water has not been fully absorbed. Add more water if necessary, only adding enough to level with the beans.

  Beans are cooked when they slightly burst and are softened. Remove from heat and set aside.
• In a large pot, on medium heat, add bacon and cook until fat is rendered out. Add onions and garlic and sauté until softened. Add tomatoes and sauté until slightly evaporated and softened.
• Add the undrained beans and simmer until the stew has thickened. You can add more water if you prefer a more soupy dish.
• Add bok choy (or preferred greens) and cook until wilted. Add shrimp and cook for about 2 minutes until the shrimp just turns opaque. If using pre-cooked shrimp. Turn off heat and add the pre-cooked shrimp and serve once the shrimp is thawed.

  Season with patis until desired saltiness is achieved. Add pepper to taste.
• Serve over steamed rice, preferably Jasmine or a short grain rice, and top with crushed pork rinds if desired.

Notes

* Reduce shrimp to 3 tablespoons If using mini dried shrimp. Dried shrimp has an intense, salty flavor.

To save time, cook rice and prep your ingredients while the beans are boiling. 

Products used:

The post Munggo Guisado – Filipino Mung Bean Stew appeared first on Making it Sweet.

April 2, 2021

SHINee Comeback Cake – Don’t Call Me

by leese

A double-sided themed cake for SHINee’s comeback using new (to me) cake decorating techniques.

SHINee’s BACK! Three members of this legendary K-Pop group came back from military service and managed to squeeze in an album (and soon-to-be album repackage) before the last one gets his turn in the mandatory service. Their title track is a little more aggressive that what we’re used to hearing from them, but nonetheless, it’s a bop.

Fake Reality

I’ve always wanted to try decorating a cake with a palette knife and thought I’d use this “comeback cake” as my chance to do so. Working off teaser images from both versions of the album, I artistically and abstractly painted on the “fake reality” scene with the house and trees.

The base “canvas” was frosted on first and refrigerated to firm up the icing so that I had something to work on. I was so nervous about getting it right, working with little bits of icing at a time, that the cake got too warm at certain points that I had to put it back in the fridge so the icing colors won’t smear into each other.

I learned quickly that I probably used the wrong icing. I’m a new convert to Ermine frosting which is basically a pudding base that’s whipped into room temperature butter. Although it tastes good, it was a struggle to work with using this technique. I think a basic (firmer) buttercream would have been better.

Reality Side

The “reality side” is still a little more abstract and didn’t have a firm concept so I just took the color queues from the darker images that featured an urban setting. The “flowers” came from one of the pictorials in the book. I wanted to incorporate them somehow. I also made a rice paper flower as a topper and lined the edges with silver lustre dust. The last step was to add shards of candy melt as a transition for both sides.

I think it turned out okay. Not what I had in mind but fun to make nonetheless. Next time I think I’ll take my time to think the concept through and practice some techniques a little more.

Go check out SHINee’s new album, “Don’t Call Me.” The whole discography is enjoyable ranging from R&B to raggae beats and dancehall.

The post SHINee Comeback Cake – Don’t Call Me appeared first on Making it Sweet.

I’ve got a few songs stuck in my head lately. This week my vibe is kind of eclectic.

Bambi – Baekhyun

Baekhyun never disappoints. He flexes his soulful vocals on this latest comeback. It’s a perfect song to drink wine to. The mini-album is a gem as well. All the songs are good and really focuses on his vocal gymnastics. Oh, to riff like him…

Leave the Door Open – Silk Sonic (Anderson .Paak & Bruno Mars)

I love everything about this song – the performance, the vocals, the harmonies and song progression that throws back to 70’s soul music. This is the sound of my childhood and I’m loving it.

Action Figure – WayV

I tend to like B-sides more than the title tracks. The horns, the hook, harmonies and the beat just make me want to dance. I’ve been singing “so drippy, so drippy” all week.

Mentiras – Alaina Castillo

This is not necessarily a new song, but every time I start cooking, cleaning or even when I look at my guitar, I want to sing this song. Her delivery is so passionate and soft at some points and the Latin guitar is such a beautiful touch. The song is way too short in my opinion.

Teka Lang – Emman

I have yet to find some good Filipino Pop music (P-Pop) but I’ve been enjoying quite a few Filipino R&B artists. Teka Lang translates to “just wait.” Although I’m not fluent when speaking Filipino/Tagalog, I can still understand the language. This song is a vibe and you can understand the meaning of the song without translations.

What kind of music do you listen to? Leave me a comment below if you want me to check out some of your favorite artists!!

The post What’s Playing – 4/1/21 appeared first on Making it Sweet.

Nerdy Stuff on this Site?

From time-to-time, I toy with the idea of creating some posts about programming tips, latest technologies, UX and graphic design trends, and sharing code. Being a woman in this field is starting to be less-rare but there is still a large gap to close in. However, my husband says I specialize in tech-speak which makes communicating to “lay people” a little difficult when it comes to this kind of stuff.

Going Simple

This site is a little more simple now. After viewing sites and blogs on various devices, I decided to cut out the crap that gets in the way. So this will be more photo and text-based as needed.

I also missed the “Blogspot” days were you could just write whatever’s on your mind. I know there’s Tumblr for that now, but I would rather have my own space and cut out the noise.

I’m sure there’s some technical stuff that needs to be ironed out. But I figure that I should get something up quickly or else my planned posts that I have in line will be delayed.

Small Things, Great Love?

These posts are intended to be a quick read and not necessarily a full DIY / photo-heavy post. So I hope you look forward to it!

The post I finally updated the site! appeared first on Making it Sweet.

March 31, 2021

Succulent Garden Refresh

by leese

Haphazardly-placed succulents in the front garden get a refresh. Here’s my step-by-step process.

It’s been about three years since I started overhauling our front and back yards from a (dead) lawn to water-wise plants. The front yard, especially, has gone through a lot of iterations since I basically throw plants in and see what works with the different microclimates in the yard. I’ve lost a few plants and I’ve seen many thrive. I finally found some plants that do well in this shaded, north-facing part of our yard.

Why Succulents?

Living in an arid climate, I decided not to fight the weather when it comes to my garden. San Diego gets about 10-12 inches of rain per year on average. Succulents hold water in their leaves and stems and can survive through periods of dryness. They grow practically everywhere here and the varieties are so diverse and interesting. Plus, they’re easy to plant, you literally stick stems in the ground and they will form roots and grow.

Time to Refresh

The entryway to our house was basically a “hospital” for succulents. It stays shady throughout the year but gets a peek of sun in the afternoon. I did my best to artfully arrange plants as I placed the sun-beaten ones in this area. With the nature of succulents, when they thrive, THEY THRIVE. Smaller plants get overtaken by the larger ones which led to some pest issues as the bugs tend to target the “sicker” plants. Not to mention that plants growing wildly look like a big mess.

Step 1: Clear the area

I decided to start fresh and look at the area as a blank slate. Because of the forgiving nature of succulents, I didn’t have to worry about root shock while ripping everything out.

Once the area was cleared, I added more soil where needed. I re-mounded the soil for proper drainage and visual interest. This part of the yard in particular is known to flood when it rains and drain into our walkway. Succulents can rot if given too much water. Creating berms help to redirect the water flow and allow the plants to sit higher to properly drain.

Step 2: Plant Placement

The fun part is replacing the plants. After learning the growth habits of the plants that were here, I placed the larger ones towards the back and grouped a bunch of smaller ones. I don’t worry about how close the little ones are planted together. They seem to thrive together, whether it’s because of root competition or the fact that a little more ground moisture is reserved because the soil underneath is shaded (or both).

Step 3: Reset Water Lines and Replace Rock

Now that the plants are in place, I re-routed the drip lines and replaced the rock. (I’m one of those people who actually enjoy separating little bits of things. I do it with Skittles, M&Ms and now rocks.) I’ve added some black lava rock to accent the colors a bit more. When working with black lava rock, placement in relation to the sun is important. The heat that’s absorbed by black rocks can fry your plants if placed in an area that has blazing sun — especially in the summertime.

Working with cuttings

Depending on your region, you might want to wait for succulent cuttings to “harden-off” before planting them in the ground. This prevents any rotting on the stem. Here, in Southern California, we’re pretty safe to just stick fresh cuttings in dry ground. Usually, I wait about a week to water, just to make sure that it gets established.

More Succulent Inspiration

While I was renovating our garden a few years ago, my neighbor told me about Design for Serenity / Laura Eubanks. Laura Eubanks has a YouTube channel that is very educational and has giving me inspiration and tips on making my garden.

Also the “queen” of all things succulents is Debra Lee Baldwin. She has authored books on succulents and also has her own YouTube channel.

What I like most about these two women is that they’re based in San Diego / San Diego County. So I know that the plants they use and the tips that they give apply to my area. If you’re in a different zone, you might want to look up local succulent YouTubers in your area for planting advice.

Sharing is Caring

I’m part of the San Diego Succulent Swap group where locals share the bounty of their gardens at nearby swap tables. It is a private Facebook group and there’s a bunch of great “plant people.” I started my garden with cuttings from my sweet friend, Mattie, before I found the group. Now that my garden has flourished, I often take my trimmings to swap tables to pass along the wealth. I have saved so much money on succulents because of this group!

Go and Get Dirty

I hope you find that the process of refreshing a garden is not as daunting as you think! Now go out and get your hands dirty!

The post Succulent Garden Refresh appeared first on Making it Sweet.

November 21, 2020

BTS Sugar Cookies

by leese

A special occasion warrants some special cookies. This is my second attempt at making “face cookies” featuring the K-Pop group, BTS.

Yes, I know. I said I probably wouldn’t attempt people cookies again but this was a special occasion. My daughter requested that I make the cookies for her friend’s 12th birthday. Her friend likes BTS and was even planning on attending the concert at the Rose Bowl back in May. However, due to the pandemic, the tour was cancelled.

BTS’ latest comeback would have made for uninteresting cookies because of the overall colors. Our resident K-Pop expert (the teenager) said to use the “Idol era” since everything was colorful back then.

I tried a different method and used food markers, but as you can see, it left some remnants. I feel like I should just trust my own skills but my hand is still not 100%. Another mistake I made was making the icing too watery. The bolder colors started to bleed into the light colors.

Overall, I know I could do better. Maybe I’ll try it again. I do have to say that 8 cookies were easier to pull off than 23.

For those who don’t know BTS…

First off, where have you been?! BTS is the most popular and most recognized K-Pop group in the world right now. BTS’ music video premieres trend #1 on YouTube and reach 100 Million views within a day or two. They play their music on the US airwaves and sell out huge stadiums within hours. Our teen found out about BTS (and K-Pop) in early 2016.

Back then BTS looked and sounded like this:

And now:

BTS was pretty much a gateway into other K-Pop groups. Our daughter has since moved on from being and “ARMY” to a “multi-stan” and her album collection shows it.

And now, here I am, writing about K-Pop — who would have thought?

Truthfully, I enjoy BTS’ earlier music than what’s been recently released within the past year. Back then, the group felt and sounded so raw. Now, with their popularity increasing, the group is a lot more polished which some people (especially western cultures) like more. I think that it’s great that BTS is opening ears to K-Pop music. Most of the stuff on the radio is trash these days (yes, I am showing my age) so it’s nice to have something to play.

The post BTS Sugar Cookies appeared first on Making it Sweet.

October 23, 2020

NCT 2020 Comeback Cookies – Resonance Pt. 1

by leese

I made “comeback cookies” to celebrate NCT 2020’s new album, Resonance Pt. 1.

Welcome to an episode of “It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time” starring Yours Truly.

Why did I think I could pull this off? Because I saw something on YouTube — that’s why. Now, here we are with a set of sugar cookies that took 5 days to decorate and I’m not satisfied with the result. I’m sure it would have taken less time if I blocked off some time for it, but I did it little-by-little in between work projects and taking care of the family.

NCT 2020

NCT is my favorite K-Pop group, without a doubt. Their music is experimental/diverse which makes the albums enjoyable to listen to. On top of that, they are such charismatic performers (and having handsome members helps, too). NCT is currently a 23-member group that’s divided into 4 units: NCT 127 (Seoul-based), NCT Dream (young’uns), WayV (China-focused), and NCT U (rotational group that pulls members from each unit based on the song concept). NCT 2020 combines all units for their album, Resonance (the last one was in 2018 when they had 18 members).

I figured that if I were to make “face cookies” I better do it now before there are 50 members (23 is manageable). I’ll admit, I didn’t do a meticulous job with these cookies. In fact, I did a few of them dirty (sorry, Johnny, Jeno and Jaehyun). My recent wrist/hand issues that made it difficult to hold a piping bag and other tools and I had to let a lot of mistakes go.

I kind of felt bad not making them nicer. This group is getting me through the pandemic with their almost-daily content that makes me laugh, dance and sing. Because of them, I have walked through the grocery store with a block of cheese (because that’s the queso) to make my kids cringe.

To make up for the sub-par cookies, NCT, if you ever are in San Diego I’d be happy to cook you good meal followed by a bunch of delicious home-made desserts.

On to the Cookies…

To make the faces, I traced a photo on my iPad using Adobe Fresco and then imported the files to Illustrator on my laptop for layout and sizing. After printing out and cutting each person, the cookie dough was hand-cut and baked.

My intention was to use a food marker to trace the faces but I found that most of the tips on my food markers were ruined so I had to scratch the hair, eyes and eyebrows onto the cookies. As a result, fought with light the whole time as it’s not easy to see the lines with artificial light.

The faces were piped, followed by the eyebrows, eyes, hair and outfits. The photos below are the better cookies — I’m too embarrassed to show a closeup of the others.

Celebrating Creativity

What I learned from all this…

I should plan a project like this when I have a good chunk of time over a few days to work on just cookies. But alas, that’s always a challenge. I’m pretty bummed about my hand/wrist, too. As a person whose hands are vital to make a living, it’s a little discouraging to be in pain. It just taught me to enjoy the process and to take breaks when needed.

Will I do this again?

Probably not.

Who knows.

Maybe.

Resonance Part 2 is coming out in November so we’ll see if I do something.

Anyway, stan NCT for clear skin. You won’t regret it.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links where I receive a small commission from purchases.

The post NCT 2020 Comeback Cookies – Resonance Pt. 1 appeared first on Making it Sweet.

October 1, 2020

SuperM Comeback Cake – Super One

by leese

My step-by-step process of making a 3-feature cake to celebrate the latest comeback for the K-Pop group, SuperM.

I have been anticipating this SuperM comeback. Having seen them live this past January, I knew that they would put out something amazing on their next album. My daughter wanted to throw a small get together for this comeback to unbox the albums together and watch a replay of one of the Beyond Live concerts. (Don’t worry Covid police, it was only two friends.)

Making these cakes have been a creative release. I’ve been incredibly busy programming several projects and making cakes forces me away from the screen and keyboard.

The Concept

The concept of the cake came from the two videos that came out before the album release, 100 and Tiger Inside.

The final part was the title track, One (Monster & Infinity):

The Process

The first layer featured the “new” SuperM logo that looks like a car emblem and the second layer had a cave with a tiger inside.

I tried my best to find a toy tiger figure but came up short. I did the next best thing and made a tiger head out of home-made marshmallow fondant. I’m not a sculptor by any means and my tools are pretty rudimentary (a metal chopstick and a toothpick).

I painted on the stripes with black food coloring and made eyes out of some large nonpareils that I painted with blue food coloring.

The “cave” was made from dowels glued onto a foam board and covered with fondant. I painted the blue with food coloring. A note on painting with food coloring: I mix food colors with vodka since the alcohol evaporates. If you use water, the fondant breaks down and becomes sticky.

The top layer was a challenge since it’s hard to gather materials without knowing what the video would look like. Had I had more time, I would probably filled the top with little black pyramids, but instead I chose to make the stage area and feature the “breakthrough” part of the video using candy.

Red rock candy was hard to find so I made my own candy using water, sugar and corn syrup with red food coloring.

I poured the mixture onto a silicone mat to harden. I took out most of the air bubbles by taking a torch to the sugar before it hardened.

Once hardened, it was too thick to break by hand, so I covered it with plastic wrap and smashed it with a meat tenderizer. In hindsight, I should have used parchment since most of the candy stuck to the plastic wrap.

What I’ve learned

I felt like I was winging this whole cake. This cake was fun, although I know I could have refined it a bit more had I more time. I was literally finishing the top layer when one of my daughter’s guests came over.

I didn’t have the materials that I thought I would have. My frugal nature forced me to be creative and use the things that I did have or could make at home.

What’s next?

Well, there’s a huge comeback (literally) in a little over a week. I’ve been seeing teaser photos and it’s pretty exciting. I’m not sure how it would be translated to dessert.

However, it’s birthday season in our household. My husband just celebrated his birthday and my three kids birthdays are each two weeks apart. So we’ll see what I can come up with.

The post SuperM Comeback Cake – Super One appeared first on Making it Sweet.

I recently said goodbye to Pam, a dear friend of mine, who I’ve mentioned many times on my blog. In the eulogy at her memorial service, I spoke of the time where she had made my sugar cookie recipe with 1/4 cup of salt instead of 1/4 teaspoon. You would expect the dough to be ruined, but we decided to bake it and ice it anyway. It turned out to be complex in flavor and a wonderful balance when paired with the royal icing.

To keep this memory alive, I decided to make sugar cookies for her reception that reflected her love of primitive quilts. As I was searching my blog, I found that I had deleted the plugin that was used to create the recipe — the recipe was gone. The site where I had gotten the recipe from changed the original ingredient quantities and of course, I had thrown away the paper printout from many years ago. Recalling the moment that Pam made the salty batch, I searched my old emails and there it was — my recipe for sugar cookies, sent to Pam —the only sugar cookie recipe that I sent via email.

Even in heaven, Pam is still doing good work.

Primitive Quilt Cookies

Pam loved making primitive quilts. Primitive quilts are identified by their muted colors, basic shapes, use of scrap materials (like old clothing or wool sweaters) and imagery that look like child had drawn them. While this may sound pretty basic, when put together, a primitive quilt can look quite intricate.

Everything about a primitive quilt was “so Pam.” She had a way of turning something basic or nearly-discarded into to something beautiful. At any given moment, she would have a pile of old shirts, curtains or fabric sitting on the island in her studio. These would eventually get pieced out and turned into bags, toys, appliqués and obviously, quilts.

Even in the way she did things, she found potential in what would be considered simple. The first time I’ve ever traveled with her was for a convention in Buffalo, NY. One morning, while enjoying the complimentary continental breakfast, we discussed our lunch plans and came to the realization that everything around us could potentially be lunch. We took some rolls, hard-boiled eggs, packets of mayo, relish, salt, pepper and apples to bring back to our room. We had egg-salad sandwiches and apples for lunch and were even able to fit in a nap between convention sessions.

During that same trip, we encountered a farmers market during one of our breaks. We found some artisan bread, cheese, and salami. We also came upon a wine shop where we sampled some wines and bought a bottle of Zinfandel. It was one of my favorite evenings spent with her. Charcuterie, wine and great conversation about our families, faith, and fun ideas filled our night until our eyes got heavy.

Every time I buy a bottle of Zinfandel, I think of that precious time we spent together.

The Crow

I had digitized Pam’s business logo so that she could make labels for her quilts and small fabric tags for her smaller projects. One thing that struck me was her use of a crow for the logo.

During Pam’s memorial reception, her friend, Barb, asked if I knew the meaning behind the crow that Pam used for her logo and in her quilts (and decor). While I didn’t have a solid answer I relayed the synopsis of the following video:

Everything about the crow shouted Pam: Methodical, persistent, always willing to learn, and a great problem-solver.

As for the star hanging by a thread from the crow’s mouth, I recalled a story about a young girl who kept feeding the crows in her yard and in return, the crows would bring her random trinkets — even dropping them at her feet. I’d like to think that star represented a gift created by Pam’s hands.

Time Heals

It hurts to lose a good friend so suddenly. Even through suffering and sadness, God has planted a way to find beauty: Beauty in memories, beauty in lessons learned, and beauty in the time spent with others that at the time, may have seemed like a typical encounter. With time, these memories will transform from the pain of missing her to a deep fondness and appreciation that God has given us this time with her.

I was surprised at how often I mentioned her in my blog. At the same time, she was so much a part of my adult life. While some posts were not particularly about her, just the mention of her name showed how much her friendship meant to me. Here are the posts where I’ve mentioned her:

• Bobbin Buddies Win 1st Place at the American Quilt Show
• Sugar Cookie Bunnies
• Crafting with the San Diego Quilt Show
• Boston Cream Cupcake
• Tater Tot Hot Pot
• Advent Calendar — Off the Chain!
• Algonquin Shelf Basket
• Fiber Artist
• 1930’s Reproduction Tote Bag
• The Stripper
• Baby Shower Cupcakes
• Latest Treats — A Quick Post
• Card Table Playhouse
• Back from a Hiatus — Brayden’s Quilt
• The Machine (That Almost Killed the Cat)
• My First Sampler Quilt

I sorely miss Pam and I’m thankful for what she was in my life and in my family’s lives.

Print

Sugar Cookies

A sturdy sugar cookie dough great for making cutout cookies, sliced cookies and sugar cookie pops.

Course Dessert

Keyword cookies, sugar cookies

Prep Time 8 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Resting / Cutout Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 53 minutes minutes

Servings 36 3-inch cookies

Equipment

• Stand Mixer
• Cookie Cutters
• Baking Sheets
• Parchment Paper or Silicone Mat
• Large Mixing Bowl
• Plastic/Cling Wrap
• Cooling rack

Ingredients

• 3-1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 lb Unsalted Butter at room temperature (1/2 lb butter = 16 tbsp or 2 sticks)
• 1-1/2 cups Granulated Sugar
• 2 Large eggs at room temperature
• 1-1/2 tsp Vanilla extract

Instructions

Dough Prep

• In a large mixing bowl, mix together flour, salt, and baking powder and set aside.
• In the bowl of the stand mixer fixed with a paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy. Scrape the bowl as needed.
• Add eggs to the butter/sugar mixture, one at a time until incorporated followed by the vanilla extract.
• Set the stand mixer to its lowest setting and slowly add the flour mixture until just incorporated (do not overmix).
• Divide the dough into two equal pieces and wrap each piece in plastic wrap. Refrigerate dough for at least one hour.
• Alternatively, for sliced cookies, you may form the sugar cookies into a log, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour before slicing.

Cutting and Baking

• Take out the refrigerated dough and roll out to 1/4 inch. Cut out cookies with a cookie cutter. If you are making sliced cookies, slice logs into 1/4 inch slices.
• Line a few baking sheets with parchment or a silicone mat. Space the cookies about 1-1/2 to 2 inches apart. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer for at least 10 minutes to prevent spreading.
• While cookies are in the freezer preheat the oven to 375°F with the rack set in the middle
• Bake cookies, one sheet at a time for 12-15 minutes until edges are golden brown.
• Once baked, allow the cookie to sit on the sheet for 5 minutes then transfer them to a cooling rack.
• Ice cookies with Royal Icing

The post Quilt Sugar Cookies for Pam appeared first on Making it Sweet.

Ever since my daughter got into K-Pop, she gets excited for “comebacks” from her favorite groups. In K-Pop world, a “comeback” is when a group releases a new song/video. Apparently, it’s huge. The idea of a “comeback cake” started with the first group she liked — BTS. I believe it was their DNA comeback when I joked and said, “Maybe you should make some “Jung-cookies” (a play on one of their members, Jungkook’s, name). The cookies never came to fruition.

She recently started liking ONEUS and was quite excited for their new album and asked if I could make a “comeback cake.” She took over my Instagram feed so I could follow them for reference. Once the video was released I got inspiration for the cake to weave light and dark concepts.

Pan hack

I wanted to make a small cake since it would only be our family and maybe a friend or two eating it. The smallest cake pan on hand was 6-inches and I only had one. In order to make another layer I improvised a cake pan by layering two pieces of aluminum foil over the existing pan, forming it around the pan and rolling the edges for stability.

I placed the “foil pan” in a larger baking pan and filled it for baking.

By gosh, it worked.

Cake and Icing

The vanilla cake recipe came from Liv for Cake. I filled it with my go-to cream cheese filling and mangos that we recently purchased. I also used Minette Rushing’s Faux Swiss Meringue Buttercream icing. I think I have two new favorite recipes. The buttercream is much easier to make than the traditional version and it spread and piped beautifully.

After leveling the cake, I pipe a buttercream “dam” around the edge of the first layer to hold the filling in.

Although the filling is pretty sturdy on its own, it doesn’t make for good icing and will cause the cake edges to collapse if iced over. Making a “dam” is a sure way to prevent any filling “leakage.” I placed the filling and fruit then topped it with the second cake layer.

Decorating the cake

It was a constant battle with the heat in the kitchen as I made this. It has been humid and around 90°F during the day — quite unseasonal for San Diego. So I made use of the freezer, popping the cake in, when the icing started to get unmanageable.

When it comes to cake decorating, truth be told, half the time, I’m making things up as a I go. This cake was made at night, after a steep hike down a cliff to a beach and then back up. I probably would have been more detail-oriented if I was in better condition.

I made concrete-colored icing to spread over the crumb-coated cake. My intention was to make it completely smooth, but as I started working with it, I started to like the little holes and roughness.

I came up with a rough sketch of the cake and used a toothpick to scratch out the pattern. White sections were iced over then covered with sprinkles.

The dark vertical “ruffles” are added by using a petal tip with the “big opening” held towards the cake. Flowers were piped using a drop-flower tip. Leaves were then added using a small leaf tip.

“Gold sticks” are made from Pepero sticks. I initially thought I could dip them in yellow chocolate but my fear was realized when the existing chocolate on the Pepero stick started to melt after it was dipped. Instead, I had my daughter paint gold lustre dust on the sticks to create the gold effect.

The “blood drip” is made from coloring white chocolate ganache and spooning it onto the cake.

Of course, I included the album logo. A toothpick was used to draw out the lines on the icing. It’s less guesswork than trying to do it on the fly.

More to come?

I might just have to make these “comeback cakes” a thing. It was fun to do since I haven’t decorated a cake in a long while. Especially with the quarantine and lack of parties, I’ve had no occasion to make a special cake.

What would be a good group/concept for a “comeback cake?” Leave a comment below!

Tools used:

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links where I receive a small commission from purchases.

The post ONEUS “Comeback Cake” – To Be or Not to Be appeared first on Making it Sweet.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a recipe, right?

Quarantine has done things to me. Most notably, I’ve been taking in a lot of K-Pop content. Some how, some way, my daughter has influenced me to follow some groups that she “stans” and now I’m sucked in. It’s fun and there’s something to look forward to nearly every day. One of the groups that has quickly become my favorites is NCT (all units: 127, Dream, U and WayV). Because of the quarantine, I’ve been annoyed with how people tell their life stories before posting the recipe (I’m definitely guilty of that) so I’ll provide you a quick link before I go into some diatribe about how I came across this recipe.

You can read about my history with K-Pop here. But what really “sealed the deal” with me was chaperoning a Super M concert for my daughter and her friends. Wow, these boys (ahem, young men), are extremely talented and even better LIVE. I’ve watched quite a few concerts in my life including (N’Sync and NKOTB) but I was just as — if not, even more — entertained with watching a K-Pop concert. I realized I was singing/dancing along to the music that has been on repeat here at the house. I was impressed with all of the members of Super M, who came from different K-Pop groups — one group being NCT 127.

Back to the K-Pop content…

One of the things that the NCT “universe” does is post content on their YouTube channel to keep their fans entertained. It can range from covers of songs, teaching a member how to write to Stephen Curry, dance practices, to bringing awkward members closer together. Recently they had one of their members, Taeil (a.k.a. “Master Moon”) star in a “cooking show” of sorts. I was intrigued by his recipe of “Tael-Guel Tael-Geul” (Chewy Chewy) Pasta. It merged East and West using pasta and Asian ingredients (Korean Peppers, Soy Sauce) to create a “fusion dish” of sorts. The recipe was quite vague and written in Korean (Hangeul). So with the help of closed captioning, Google translate, and my own measurements, I’ve come up with a translated recipe for you to try out.

Struggle Meal?

Aside from the pork belly/bacon, this can seriously be a “struggle meal.” The ingredients are easy to obtain. The recipe calls for pork belly, green Korean chili peppers (gochu), onions, garlic, soy sauce, sugar, spaghetti noodles, and Parmesan cheese. If you don’t have pork belly, bacon can be substituted and your dish will have a more “smoky” flavor. As for the Korean pepper, you can use green bell pepper in its place. I learned that the green chili pepper is not as spicy as it’s ripened (red) version. Luckily, we have a Korean market in town and I was able to obtain these special ingredients, but you can easily find their substitutions at any grocery store.

As I was prepping the food, I started to change the quantities from what’s pictured since I was cooking for five. To prepare your mise en place, slice the onions and garlic, finely mince the Korean chili, chop the slabs of pork belly into 1/2-inch pieces.

To modify or not…

When I first watched the video, I thought that it’d be better to fry the pork belly and use the fat to cook up the onions and garlic. But I quickly realized that the pork belly doesn’t render a lot of fat. So it’s best to use a light-flavored oil to cook up the onions and garlic in order to infuse more flavor into the pork belly. If it were bacon, I’d cook the bacon first, render the fat and pour out the excess, then add the garlic and onions. It’s almost like a carbonara pasta… but with an Asian spin.

How does it taste?

At first bite, it’s interesting. My mind was expecting something tomato-based but my taste buds were brought back to how my dad prepared pancit using thick chow-mein noodles (pasta is believed to originate from Asia, after-all). So it wasn’t much of a shock for me, personally. What created the “umami” effect (without the MSG) was topping the noodles with cheese. It became slightly addicting and I had to hold myself back for seconds (and more). My family enjoyed it — but then again, my family eats practically anything.

If you make the recipe, let me know your thoughts in the comments below! And if you haven’t checked out NCT 127, you’re missing out (especially Moon Taeil’s amazing vocals)!

On to the recipe…

Print

Chewy Chewy Pasta (Tael-Geul Tael-Guel Pasta)

A recipe adapted from NCT 127's Moon Taeil's YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/pn3HTVK2aJg

Course Main Course

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 8 oz Spaghetti Noodles
• 1/4 cup Soy Sauce
• 2 tbsp Sugar
• 4 cloves Garlic Sliced
• 1 Medium Onion Sliced
• 4 pcs Sliced Pork Belly or Thick-Cut Bacon Cut to 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 Korean Chili Pepper (or 1/4 of a Green Bell Pepper) Chopped
• 3 tbsp Vegetable Oil Omit if using bacon instead of pork belly
• Parmesan Cheese optional

Instructions

• Salt the Pork belly. (Do not salt the bacon)
• Stir together soy sauce and sugar.
• Boil the spaghetti noodles in salted water until al dente (firm enough to bite)
• If using Bacon, cook the bacon until brown and the fat is rendered out. Drain some of the fat and set aside the bacon.

  If using Pork Belly, add vegetable oil to a skillet on medium heat.
• Cook the garlic until fragrant and add the onions and cook until translucent.
• Add the pork belly and thoroughly cook (or add the bacon) followed by the peppers.
• Once the noodles are cooked, do not drain. Instead, transfer noodles to the skillet using tongs. Add about 1/4 cup of the pasta water to the skillet.
• Add the soy sauce mixture and fold over the noodles until all the ingredients are mixed.
• Serve and top with Parmesan Cheese if desired.

Notes

You may adjust the soy sauce mixture to your taste.

Products featured:

 Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links where I receive a small commission from purchases.

The post Master Moon’s “Tael Guel Tael Geul” Pasta (Chewy Chewy Pasta) appeared first on Making it Sweet.

This post is a part of a series of K-Pop Color Palettes. You can find a full list in the original post: Colors of K-Pop.

TAEYONG – Long Flight

This quickly became one of my favorite “chill tracks.” The distorted neo-soul chords and plucky synths followed by a smooth bass-line and light strings set the mood to make you want to sit back and enjoy the summer. The cool colors are reminiscent of the color-changing sky and are paired with complementary colors to add a little pop.

DPR Live – Martini Blue

DPR Live = exquisite videography and music. This track is a perfect summer vibe. Living in San Diego, we catch the sunset over the ocean and this video encapsulates that feeling (but in Greece?) — people gradually retreat into the shadows, hues in the landscape and building become more muted and the ocean seems to get darker and deeper.

Hoody & Bronze – Submarine

This song gives off a funky 80’s feel-good vibe. I’ve had Hoody’s music mixed in my playlist and recently discovered this gem of a song — it just “feels so good.” The video is a nice departure from a typical MV. The illustration plays homage to fauvism and is almost Henri Matisse-like in color and concept.

There were so many other “summer chill” songs that I wanted to include, but they either didn’t have a video, or the video was too monochrome for a good summery palette. Do you have a favorite k-pop summer song? Leave it in the comments below!

The post K-Pop Colors: Summer Chill appeared first on Making it Sweet.

This post is a part of a series of K-Pop Color Palettes. You can find a full list in the original post: Colors of K-Pop.

Oh My Girl – Secret Garden

With delicate vocals, digital orchestration, and dreamy imagery, this video transports you to another world. The soft colors give a sense of airiness while the bolder tones give a little weight and contrast while complementing this dream land.

VIXX Shangri-la

This video immediately entrances you with its crisp, stunning visuals. Each pause in the music reminds you to breathe and take in this beautiful video. The contrasting spring colors go from fresh to mysterious creating a cohesive bond with the lyrics and music.

Wanna One – Spring Breeze

This sentimental song contrasts playfulness with contemplation. The connection between imaginary and reality is very apparent through the color connection in this video. The muted floral color scheme in the candid group scenes coincide with a solid color in the more fantasy-like scenes.

The post K-Pop Colors: Spring Blooms appeared first on Making it Sweet.

This post is a part of a series of K-Pop Color Palettes. You can find a full list in the original post: Colors of K-Pop.

Wonder Girls – I Feel You

This song screams 80’s synth pop reminiscent of Exposé’s “Point of No Return” and the visuals of Robert Palmer’s “Simply Irresistible.” (I realize I’m dating myself.) The “Barbie” pastels and neon lights color the set to blues and berry that compliment the ladies’ deadpan / doll-like moves, while red lends a sultry contrast.

Yesung – Pink Magic

Yesung’s airy vocals create a sweet atmosphere to this 80’s-influenced bubblegum pop song. The colors fit the feel-good bop with bright pinks, teals, pastel yellow, and cantaloupe — It’s as if they pulled the colors out of an episode of Saved by the Bell.

Day6 – Days Gone By

Day6 does not disappoint with this 80’s aesthetic. It’s as if you are transported back in time when New Wave music was getting popular with it’s heavy synth on keys and percussion. The colors contrast iridescence and bold hues just like the song moves from happy major to contemplative minor chords.

Do you have any suggestions for Throwback color palettes? Comment below!

The post K-Pop Colors: Rockin’ 80’s appeared first on Making it Sweet.

This post is a part of a series of K-Pop Color Palettes. You can find a full list in the original post: Colors of K-Pop.

Taemin – Move

Taemin’s voice is soft and seductive and accompanied with a punchy bass line that gives the song some rawness. The video juxtaposes fine-tuned movements with a rainy street scene that dampens the sense of perfection. Dull blues sets a cool, slow attraction and a hint of mauve becomes a warm lure.

Day 6 – Shoot Me

The light raggae rhythm and rollercoaster, minor-key melody at the beginning of this song sets the tone for a looming danger that builds to a literal, “bang!” The video is slightly macabre where blue tones create a melancholy scene. Greens and reds act like defiant traffic lights as it cuts through pain and sadness screaming, “go ahead and hurt me, but stop.”

MAX (Changmin) – Chocolate

Max’s powerful, piercing voice immediately commits you to the song and video. You’re taken through steely-blue interrogation scenes, wondering what nefarious activity has taken place. The hook turns into complimentary “chocolate” brown colors reveal a backstory of desire.

What “moody” K-Pop concepts are your favorites? Comment below!

The post K-Pop Colors: Moody Blues appeared first on Making it Sweet.

This post is a part of a series of K-Pop Color Palettes. You can find a full list in the original post: Colors of K-Pop.

BTS – Spring Day

BTS does not disappoint when it comes to aesthetically pleasing visuals. This video slowly melts away a cold past to reveal the beginnings of a new season in life. The colors are like an Instagram filter, blurring the contrast between winter and spring where the whites are not quite white and the bolder spring colors are at a point of just emerging.

Yeri – Dear Diary

This song is so calming it’s like being enveloped in a warm sweater. The soft colors in the video are wistful and homey, like an old friend greeting you. The muted pinks, yellow, purple, green and teal are gentle and reminiscent of natural food coloring mixed with buttercream icing. It’s sweet and good for your conscience.

BigBang – Let’s Not Fall in Love

This video gave me all the feels… Oh, the memories of a budding love that you don’t want to mess up because your relationship is innocent and fun. The aqua filter in this video distorts the bright pinks, yellow and cream colors — giving the effect of looking at the world through a somber realization of what could be.

Do you have any recommendations of K-pop videos that would have a seasonal theme? Comment below!

The post K-Pop Colors: Emerging Spring appeared first on Making it Sweet.

This post is a part of a series of K-Pop Color Palettes. You can find a full list in the original post: Colors of K-Pop.

MAMAMOO – Hip

It’s interesting what comes up when researching these videos. I came across this boppy, empowering song and I’m really digging it — especially how the dance moves weren’t too “girly” yet they were still feminine. In this video, red and black are the commanding colors contrasted by shades of gray and a pop of blue.

NCT 127 – Kick It

This was the first video that came to mind when I thought about bold primary colors. This banger of a song and video appropriately uses yellow and black to pay homage to Bruce Lee (and modern references to Kill Bill). The high-contrast yellows and blacks, accented with rich golds and silvers, followed by a bold red emphasizes the martial arts theme.

Ha Sung Woon – Blue

This song and video gave me a feeling of sentimentality and longing. After re-watching with captions, I realized how music and visuals can transcend language. The main blue is electric and highlights a luring deepness and shifts in tone to become more grounded.

What other bold-colored K-pop videos have you seen? Leave it in the comments below!

The post K-Pop Colors: Bold Primary appeared first on Making it Sweet.

This post is a part of a series of K-Pop Color Palettes. You can find a full list in the original post: Colors of K-Pop.

BLACKPINK: BOOMBAYAH

This electro-pop dance song’s deep bass has the perfect dark undertone to the sassy, bumpy melody. The video transitions from dark pinks and purples to colorful scenes as the song becomes more lyrical.

EXO: Monster

EXO are real mood-makers… Monster is a sultry song with a sense of urgency – you can’t help but feel like you’re being hunted. The chiaroscuro effect from deep purple to bright magenta highlights the creeping effect.

Block B – Jackpot

This song has a mischievous and teasing tone to it — you can tell what’s coming from the opening scene with the scary clowns. The vintage carnival scenes use underlying pinks and purples to give a sense of royalty and levity.

Do you have any other videos in mind that have moody color palettes? Leave them in the comments below!

The post K-Pop Colors: Moody Magentas appeared first on Making it Sweet.