October already!

Where has the year gone!  My daughter has just returned to school this week and has only 7 weeks of Grade 3 left, I am sure she was only a toddler a year ago!  We had a lovely week in Ballarat with family only it was very cold and stormy which caused havoc across the southern states.

Anyway to a few challenges I have had my eye on this week.  I have finished my daughter's birthday invitations which I will put up next week when they have been sent, just need to work on the take home gift now.

This first card combines the gorgeous colours of the Shabby Tea Rooms latest challenge and the Sweet Stop's latest design.

This patterned paper would be my favourite of all the PTI papers but I always forget to use it.  

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white, new leaf;  SU Early Espresso

Patterned paper - Autumn Abundance

Stamps - PTI Turning a New Leaf, Beautiful Blooms 2;  SU Curly Cute

Ink - SU Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso (and marker)

Ribbon - ? American Crafts

Gems - Kaisercraft

The second challenge that caught my attention was Cards for Men utilising something sporty.  I have had this Snoopy stamp for a few years, my husband being a soccer fan, but never used it.  Well he has his Man Utd kit on and he is ready to play ball

What you need

Cardstock - SU black, white

Patterned paper - Kaisercraft Shaken not Stirred

Stamps - PTI Inside and Out:  Birthday;  Stampabilities Snoopy the Hot Shot

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black;  SU Real Red

Copic Markers

And finally for now, one for the Daring Cardmakers challenge - a card featuring a foreign language.  I paired this with SU's new Beau Chateau DSP.

What you need

Cardstock - SU Soft Suede, Pink Pirouette, Vanilla

Patterned paper - SU Beau Chateau

Stamps  - SUCarte Postale

Ink - SU Soft Suede;  Versamagic Aegean Blue (reasonable match for Marina Mist)

Ribbon - SU Pink Pirouette striped grosgrain

Pearls - Kaisercraft

You can find links to all these challenges and more on the right hand sidebar.

Daring Cardmakers - So Kawaii

So, what does this mean:  Kawaii means anything that is lovable, hug-able and basically cute! Think Hello Kitty and food with smiley faces. Most of the colours in kawaii are sugary, fun and bright.

I cannot claim to have thought of this, my aunt sent me a card with the prototype on it and I just had to copy it.  As a hoarder of Japanese washi paper, I jumped at the chance to be able to incorporate it in a card.  

I am not really sure who will be the recipient of this card, my daughter may think it a bit passe for 8 to 9 year olds, maybe someone a little younger.  It was alot of fun to make.

What you need

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics pinks and reds;  ? Canson shimmer card;  SU Very Vanilla, black

Patterned paper - Doodlebug Love Blooms

Stamp - SU Curly Cute

Ink - Rose Red

Washi paper

Jewel flowers - Kaisercraft

Today we are off to my In-Laws 50th wedding anniversary celebration.  We are in charge of desserts and knowing that my husband's family have a collective sweet tooth, I have gone with Pavlova (a delicacy (?) from this part of the southern hemisphere), baked cheesecake (a wonderful never-fail recipe from Gordon Ramsey) and Tiramisu (my aunt sent me this recipe in a plea for help).

I don't think I have shared the invitation design on this blog.  I did space it out alittle more when I made them up and it did take a bit of convincing to use black ink (MIL was a florist in a previous life so it has some significance).

The card we are giving them is one from a submission call but as it is quite big, it can only be hand delivered.