clearance rack update

Hi Stampers,

Just wanted to keep you all updated on the amazing Clearance Rack sale with Stampin Up! Many items are getting snapped up straight away, I was so devastated to find out that the DSP Mocha Morning was sold out and I was online at 7:30am this morning! There were also some customers that had ordered Four the Holidays Stamp Set (great one for Christmas!), In-Colour Markers and the DSP In-Colours Paper Pack (which was a very good special!) and the Stampin Up favourite, Loads of Love and its accessories were also sold out. So... I'm just letting you know that if there is anything there that you would like, get your order in ASAP. I would like to draw your attention to my favourite (and I think my Niece's favourite too) stamp set SOMETHING SWEET at $17.00. That is a real bargain! I charge $6 per card... I'll let you do the maths there! :P

As a special incentive to get your orders in early, I am offering free postage on early orders. By that I mean, you place your order the day before the sale starts and I wont charge you postage. Now that is nice of me isn't it? Yeah that's what I thought.

Keep leaving your mark with some great specials,

Brooke

Clearance Rack Blitz

Hi Stampers,

I know it's been a while, things get mad this time of year! Christmas parties, birthdays and just life.

Here are some great deals that you just have to see. Some things are even 70% off. Ok, they might be retired, but they are still quality and well worth it!

Clearance Rack December 14 - December 20.

There are grosgrain ribbons $5.50, Stampin Markers $2.95, Stamp pads $4.50 and then there's the stamps - Something for Christmas $7.50, Tree Trimmings $12.50 and everyone can afford a Dasher $8.00. These are only a few of this week's clearance items. Place an order and I'll even throw in the old catty for some inspiration for you.

While you're checking out the specials, check out all the other clearance racks and then you can send your order to me and I'll put it in ASAP.
Clearance Rack December 21 - January 3
Clearance Rack January 4 - January 10
Clearance Rack January 11 - January 21

Here's a cheaper way for you to leave your mark,
Brooke

#reverb12

Hi crafters,

For those of you with a blog, twitter, intagram or other social media and if you love a challenge, try this!

http://isawyoudancing.blogspot.com.au/p/reverb12.html

I'm going to attempt it, even though December is mad! I love the challenge and hope you don't mind reading whatever it brings...

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

You'll have a Hoot making this one!

Hi Stampers,

There's a huge craze out there for Giggle and Hoot. And I thought I'd shoe you one of my latest creations. It's really easy and you can make it yourself. And you can also take advantage of a special off I have put together for you for a very short time. It even comes with one-on-one help and access to a Big Shot! What more could you ask for?

I have included a close up of Hoot for you so that if you want to make him at home it's easier to see. In the card, I made it a peek hole, which is really easy to do. Just remember to put the hole in your card first and then put the peeking object last.

• 100082 Basic Black Stampin Write Marker $5.95
• 106550 Whisper White Cardstock $14.95 (40 sheets)
• 108598 Tempting Turquoise Carstock $11.95 (24 sheets)
• 108601 Pumpkin Pie Carstock $11.95 (24 sheets)
• 118074 Owl 2-Builder Punch $29.95
• 119854 1 3/4" Scallop Circle punch $29.95
• 119860 1 3/8" Circle Punch $27.95
• 119861 1 1/4" Circle punch $27.94
• 101055 Crystal Effects $10.95
• Big Shot - 
• 123128 Stripes embossing folder $13.95
• Timeless Junior Numbers (retired)
• Ribbon - picked up from one of those cheap shops, but how cool is it?! You could even replace this with ribbon stamped with Happy Birthday on it. I can show you how. :)

Want to make your own cards like this one? The items in blue (marker, cardstocks and owl punch) come to a total of $73.75 plus postage. If you email me with your order and mention my blog deal, I will do you a deal of $70.00 (including postage), free postage on anything else you add to your order and an entry into my mystery hostess promotion. But hurry this offer expires on Wednesday November 28th at 5:30pm.

Once you have your products I'm more than happy to show you how to put it all together and you can even use my Big Shot for those extra bits if you'd like to. 

Keep leaving your mark,

Brooke

GIVEAWAY!

Hey Everyone!

The giveaway has arrived! Pop over to School of Mum and  you could win a personalised fabric block. A special baby's name or nick name... it's up to you!

Here's one way you could leave your mark!

Brooke

Hobby Horse

Hey Blog Followers,

I promised and I have finally delivered. Here is the Hobby Horse I made. It's a Melly & Me pattern that I got from Ballarat Patchwork.

I have been creating a few more gifts to show you once I've given them away... so keep popping over to check them out!

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

Don't say I never told you!

Hey followers,

Just wanted to share School of Mum with you again. I am very excited to be a part of this giveaway. There are some fabulous things up for grabs, in fact what I've given looks pretty scummy compared to some of the other businesses, but it's all worth it. Sharing what we love to do with you, so that you and your children can enjoy it as much as we did making it!

To keep updated on this giveaway you can either (or both):

Like her facebook page...  http://www.facebook.com/SchoolOfMum?fref=ts

Sign up to follow Ange's blog...http://www.schoolofmum.blogspot.com.au/

I can only tell you so many times, it is well worth it.

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

School of Mum

Hi Stampers, Crafters and Blog Followers,

I can't say too much (but I don't know a lot about it) but here's a bit for you.

THERE'S A GIVEAWAY!



Okay... that's not a lot of information is it? Well, this is a giveaway that you really should sign up for. Pop on over to School of Mum and sing up to the giveaway so that you will find out straight away what you have to do. I don't know what's involved, but I do know about some of the prizes and I think that you'd be silly not to sign up. Yes Pawmark are involved in it... so you might find yourself the lucky winner of a Pawmark Creation!

To also keep updated, I would suggest you like School of Mum on Facebook.

I will keep you posted on my blog, but things will be a little slower here, that's why I'm suggesting you sing up on facebook and her blog. You've got nothing to lose and a heap of great prizes to gain.

Sign up today and let her know that Pawmark sent you!

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

A few specials for you

Hi Stampers,

Here are some great specials for November. If you're thinking about a party, deal number one is AMAZING and I would suggest you contact me ASAP so that we can arrange a party time as November is a very busy month.

1. Free Set of 10 Full-Size Ink Pads with a qualifying purchase

From now until the 16th December, host a minimum $650 Stampin’ Up! party and get a FREE collection of ink pads – a $79.95 value – in addition to our other fantastic benefits!

You can choose between the Subtles, Brights and Regals collections (Neutrals not included).

Not ready to host a party?

That’s no problem. Simply gather orders from friends and family, add them to your own, and if the total exceeds $650 YOU will get the 10 FREE INK PADS!

Remember, that this INK PAD BONUS is in addition to the usual fabulous hostess benefits.

2. Free Festive Paper-Piercing Pack

Get a FREE Festive Paper-Piercing Pack when you purchase the Ornament Keepsakes Set and Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper Bundle.

Buy this bundle...

Or this bundle...

then get this FREE!

Remember: the bundle gets you an additional 15% OFF the set and the Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies. So many options! 

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

I Did it!

Hi Crafters,

I did it! Blog every day for the whole month! I would just like to acknowledge the schedule setting while we were away on holidays.

It really was a challenge to find things to share with you. Sorry for boring you but I do hope there was something interesting in it all for you.

I still owe you a picture of the gift I made for my lil girl and when Mum and I finish our class, I'll post that too... so watch this space! There won't be daily posts any more, let's just try weekly!

Hope you pop back soon,
Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

The Show

Hi Stampers, Crafters and Blog Followers,

Yesterday we picked up our efforts from this years show. Kind of ironic that my favourite craft; card making didn't win me anything at this year's show. I was a little disappointed but when everything else that I entered into the show got a prize, I soon got over it!

This year I entered my popular Baby Fabric Block, no name on this one just ABC 123 and it came first in the Toy (any material section). I also got a first for my Denim Rag Bag (Recycled Bag, any medium).

I came second for my article made of paper. And the most exciting one from this year also came second... yep our dozen eggs in a basket! I think it's one of the funniest sections to enter, but there were four entries this year. I was hoping for a third to get my money back, but there was no third! So lucky we got the second!

So a successful year I'd say. Now, maybe I should start working on some really amazing cards for next years show... or maybe I should just keep going with the traditional way... make something the day before they are due! Yep, that's more my style! :)

Keep leaving your mark,



Brooke

Since we're sharing cakes!

Hi followers,

Here's on for you just to make you smile. After sharing the beautiful cake that my twin-brother made for her birthday party, I thought I should show you my cake making skills (or lack of!)

You may recognise that it's my attempt at the one out of the Australian Women's Weekly Children's Cakes Cookbook. In the picture in the book it has yellow icing and colourful smarties, but I wanted something a little different... pink smarties! Thanks to the lolly shop near Coles I was able to by 500g of pink smarties.

The cake is a bit of a strange shape because I wanted it to fit in my Tupperware container so we could take it to the church for our MOPS program. And most of it was eaten, thankfully!

Well, I have a long way to go before I get to the standard of my brother, but what's the point when he can make them for me?

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

The Birthday Party!

My Dearest Blog Followers,

Today I wanted to share my little precious girl's birthday cake with you. As you can clearly see talent clearly runs in my family. I have the best twin-brother anyone could ever ask for, and not only that he is sooooo clever. Look what he made for his favourite 1 year old niece. Isn't it just AMAZING! 

As you can see, there was a little inspiration from the little twin-sister for the hobby horse popping out the top! But this was nothing like what I was expecting... I was totally blown away and that's why I wanted to share it with you. 

Now, cake making isn't anything I'm into, there's no point when my brother can produce something like this! But I do believe the cake is called a "Mad Hatter's Cake". I don't have very good photos to show the Mad Hatterness of it, sorry, photography isn't really my thing either.

It was a delicious mud cake and the icing... well it was kinda soft and squishy, very sweet, but not disgusting like wedding cake icing. Someone said it was marshmellow. And those little ball's on the top, we don't really know what they are because that's what my daughter ate! :)

It hasn't shown up very well in my photos, but it's everywhere... and that's the glitter! I was pretty impressed that there was glitter. I love glitter.

Well, I'm one proud little sister!

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

1st Birthday Card

Hi Stampers, Crafters and Blog Followers,

As promised, here is the card that I made for my little girl. I just love the little stamp. It is retired now, but how cute is it? So if you'd like to borrow this stamp please let me know... I love it! As you can see it is the same layout as the Christmas card I posted yesterday, only because this one wasn't to be sent to anyone in the mail, I didn't cut the scallop circle off, thought it looked pretty good hanging over the edge, hence why I didn't cut it!

Colours: So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Stamps: Elebration (retired)
Big Shot: Scallop Circle, Timeless Type
Punches: 1 3/8" circle, 1 1/4" circle
Accessories: ribbon (non Stampin Up), DSP Paper Pack Subtles, Crystal Effects, Aqua Painter (inks - Basic Grey, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight)

The other thing you might notice is that the colour inks I used with my Aqua Painter don't match the cardstock colours I used. I don't have every single Stampin Up ink pad, so I attempted to make my own, which is the best thing about Aqua Painters. I also feel that I'm slowly getting the hang of them and find they give a really nice finish. I find them a bit easier to use than the pastels, but I will still practice with my pastels.

Want this card? You can either create it yourself or buy it from me, contact me to find out how.

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

Christmas at the Show

Hi Stampers,

Here's a Christmas card that I whipped up one afternoon and then thought I liked it so much I'd enter it into the Show. Unfortunately, none of my cards won anything this year, but I still really like this card. It's a bit bigger than the normal card, 13.5cm squared. I also loved the layout of this card so much that I used it for my daughter's birthday card. When I can find my digital camera, I'll post one up for you.

Colours: Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Black, Crumb Cake
Big Shot: Scallop Circle
Accessories: Shimmer Paint
Stamps: Dasher (retired), En Francais, Four the Holidays (retired)
DSP: non Stampin Up scraps
Ribbon: Riding Hood Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (retired)

As most of the products I've used here are retired, it might be a little difficult for you to but the products so you can substitute but if you too, like me love Dasher in this card, contact me and we can make some more of these cards together.

Please remember that when posting this card through Australia Post it will cost $1.20.

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

Happy Birthday

Hi Followers,

Another quick message tonight.
Happy 1st Birthday to my beautiful little girl! <3

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

All that's left is the wrapping...

Hi there Blog followers!

One very excited Pawmarker here, keeping you updated on my personal life today. I have been very busy while a Little someone sleeps and I am glad to say that it's all done. The card and the pressie. All that's left is for the gifts to be wrapped, card to be written in and cake to be iced (and decorated) and that won't take too long, in fact I'm thinking this may be the only time ever when the wrapping of the present will take less time than the opening of it! Can't wait to show you... but you have to wait!

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

School Fair #4

Hi Crafters,

I sold these at the School Fair too. My daughter made all the money sold from these and then she can even have the left-overs! Or I can just make her some more. So much fun to make. I can hear some of you out there asking, what are they? They are hair clips for babies. But made with velcro rather than a metal clip. Quick and easy and not a lot of thinking involved in these, that's why they are so cheap to buy from me! But I think they need to be cheap because if they get lost it doesn't matter, if you really loved it I can make another one and they aren't that expensive to replace. And for not much they really do look cute too. I think my Dad is the only person that doesn't like them!

I can't wait til Christmas and then we can really get in the spirit this year because we have enough hair to put up! So enjoy making them yourself if you're brave, or contact me if you think it's easier to buy them! 

Keep leaving your mark,

Brooke

School Fair #3

Hi Crafters,

Here's one that was popular at the School Fair. Double Sided Head Bands.

These are really easy to make. Quick too. They don't use a lot of fabric and as you can see in my picture, I've even upcycled denim again. 

You can make your own using the pattern from Happy Together. Or you can even buy them from me. My tips when making them... if using thinnish elastic cut it a little smaller than Happy Together says to. I measured the little girls head that I made the first one for so when I added the elastic it would be the perfect fit. The pattern was a little too firm for my adult head. 

Keep leaving your mark,

Brooke

School Fair #2

Hi Stampers,

Yesterday you saw my cute Lego gift bag and today I wanted to show you a couple more. I've decided that simple is really effective. I was asked to make a gift bag filled with some card making supplies for a customer and everyone loved the bag. It was something similar to the Elegant Eggplant one on the left.

I personally love the simpleness of a button, but then I do love buttons :) When decorating a bag for Christmas (as with all things Christmas) they too need to be quick and easy because we need to make so many.

Once again, you're more than welcome to use my ideas as inspiration for your own work or if you'd like to purchase them please contact me.

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

School Fair

Hi Stampers,

I did my first market today. So my next few posts I'm going to share some things that I made to sell there. And I thought I'd start with one of my favourites... my Lego Gift Pack. It contains a gift bag, small card, gift box and a journal. I think it'd be packaged well for someone special with some Lego and some of the Lego stationary that I've seen out like the pencils and cool as rubbers! And then to finish it off, a cake from the team over at Oh Crumbs!

If you'd like some help making one, please contact me or you're more than welcome to purchase one.

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

Happy Birthday!

Hi Stampers,

Just a quick one tonight.

Happy Birthday to my amazing hubby! Love you.

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

The Invitations

Hi Stampers,

Nearly everyone has their invitations now, so I can share them with you. The plan was to make something simple but so my little girl could help. Help? I hear you say, yep. She sure did! It may have taken a lot longer but it was a lot of fun. Paint all over our clothes! Even Lil Miss used the Big Shot to help cut the scalloped square! Then there's the invitation on the other side, yep, she helped type too! 

But it doesn't finish there. There was the placing of the postage stamps on the envelopes! Now that took a while... there was one envelope that she kept taking the stamp off! Then we even have the photo of her posing her invitations in the post box!

So there you go. Our first invitations. Each one individual and hand made! I'm sure that there will be many more to make in the coming years, let's hope that they are all this much fun!

Keep leaving your mark,

Brooke

Christmas Class with Mum Part 2

Well Stampers,

You know how I said that there was supposed to be 520 squares... well... I'm so proud. The lady was talking us through and I then said, doesn't that mean we only need half as many? And I was right! Now I don't know a lot about patchworking, nor do I know a lot about maths, but hey, sometimes you can surprise yourself!

So, the project? It's taking some good shape, it's still being cut and I'm trying to get Mum organised too so hers will be finished too, and it will be, you can hold me to it! We had a great production line happening at the class. I measure, cut, draw then Mum sews and I cut again and Bev (the lady running the class) presses!

I'm so excited and just want to cut more, but I know that I need to prioritise my crafts. So after this market and the few birthdays in my house in the next week and a half and then I'll be cutting!

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

Christmas class with my Mum!

Hi Crafters,

Now, for those of you that know me, and know me well, you'll be wondering what has happened. A Christmas class and my husband is letting me go! Yeah, well, Mum is giving it to me as a birthday pressie. So... I have to cut and cut and cut! So here's some of the wadding. I'm cutting enough for two of us, so that's 520 squares! I decided to call it a day when I realised that I didn't have enough. Well, it's two days, one on Wednesday and another not until November. So no pictures til then, sorry. But I love it!!! Can't wait to show you!

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

We have a winner!

Hi Stampers,

The competition on my facebook page has finished and I am delighted to say that there is a winner. The competition was so close that we decided to give a first and second prize.

First went to Stephanie with her Sweet Treat card. There are many things that make this card special but when your youngest customer is able to produce something of such high quality, it's inspirational.

Second went to a beautiful Congratulations card, which could be used for either an engagement or wedding. I love to see what Rach makes and I hope she doesn't mind, but I do like to use her ideas in my own card making.

Our random liker, Kristy Lee won a $5 Pawmark voucher.

So, I think it's fair to say that this competition was a great success. We managed to clock up over 100 likers, so had a $10 voucher for Nicole.

I would just like to congratulate everyone on their entries, including my husband, I'm sure you were able to pick his cards. But the response was fantastic and so was the feedback. We'll be doing this competition again next year, so you can start making your cards in anticipation. Of course I would love your feedback so we can make next year a bigger and better success.

Keep leaving your mark,

Brooke

Competition is coming to an end...

Hey Stampers,

Wow! The response to our Facebook competition has been very impressive. We now have over 100 likers and the competition has been so close. There are still a few more hours to go, but anything could happen! So if you'd like to vote in the competition pop on over to our Facebook page.

Once you're at my page, like it and then click on photos and then albums, click on competition and have a look at the quality of my amazing customers and pick your favourite.

Competition finishes at midnight tonight so you'll have to be quick! There is also a prize for a liker, $5 Pawmark voucher which you can put towards a card or any of our other custom made items for yourself of as a gift for someone special to you!

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

Invitations

Hi Stampers,

After a lot of thought and heaps of procrastinating, they are happening. I can't show you a picture just yet, because people haven't received them yet. But all I can say is that for the hubby's birthday, we went with SIMPLE! Sent a short text out to let people know.... that's the way we organise people's parties now isn't it? :P But the other ones, well... I felt that it was important that my daughter helps in the process of these... I have the cutest picture of her using my Big Shot! Now that's my girl! She even knows what to do with it! I think she may have seen her mother using it a little for her to know how it works! (so there's clue number one, it's used the Big Shot). She's had fun writing the details about her party, I just needed to re-write it so everyone understood. So these invitations are really hand-made by my soon-to-be 1 year old. Nothing like starting early!

I'll post a picture for you when I know the important people have them! Oh, that's anyone that's invited!

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

Making a special gift...

Hi stampers, crafters, blog followers and those that just stumbled here!

Here's a sneak peak into something that I am making for someone who may be very small takes up a lot of my life! It's her first birthday very soon, and as always, these days tend to creep up on us and then we have nothing to give... can I get it finished in time? I really hope so! She will be too little to use it, but who cares! I think it should be cute, if it looks anything like the pattern!

I've cut all the fabric and pallon. One tip that I learnt ages ago when making a quilt, label! Use post it notes and label the pieces as you cut them. Ok, there's not many pieces here, but there are a few that are very similar in size and the way the stripes go matter in some, and I wouldn't have a clue about the others! I haven't read that much of the pattern and I didn't have enough fabric to cut it the other way!

I'm excited about it, but also a little worried that I may have bitten off a little more than I can chew... only time will tell. You'll have to wait until after her birthday to see the completed product... that is if it gets finished by then!

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

Workshop Party

Hi Stampers,

Some of you who attended the last workshop party I did will recognise this card. Once a year I head down to my old stomping ground... the place where my husband and I bought our first home, the place where there might not be many shops but it's made up for with the lovely people that live there, the same people that made leaving sooooo hard. So it's great to go back and spend time with friends doing crafty stuff. I love it!

This is another vintage style card. As I said, I'm trying.

Colours: Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip
Stamps: En Francais, Bliss (retired) Because I Care (retired)
Big Shot: Vintage Wallpaper, Top Note, Beautiful Wings
Punch: Decorative Label
Accessories: Clear embossing powder, Versa Mark, Marina Mist Ribbon, Pearls.



I love this card. This is one of my favourites, maybe I should try it in a different colour to see if I love it even more! :P

Thanks for taking to the time to stop by and don't forget to keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

Busy Pennants

Hi Stampers,

Here it is. The final of the Pennants collection. And what a card to finish with! This one is really busy and does take a little more time than some of the others, but it's all fun! I made it in a couple of different colour combinations, just to show that you can change the look simply by changing the colours and by changing the colours it makes it a little more personal for the person you give your card to. I find myself using a lot of purple, maybe because it's my favourite, but I also seem to know a lot of others with purple as their favourite colour! 

Colours: More Mustard, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise.

Stamps: Pennant Parade

Punch: Petite Pennant Builder, Lace Ribbon Border (retired)

Big Shot: Top Note, Petals-A-Plenty, Tags (non Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Rhinestones, Ribbon, Brads, Bakers Twine

It also appears to me that I think that the Baker's Twine goes well with the Pennants stamp set and punch, so why not do a deal? Here it is for you, if you buy the Pennant stamp set and builder Punch as a bundle, I'll throw in a spool of Baker's Twine (p174). You choose the colour! But hurry, I'm only offering this deal for a week - Deal finishes midnight October 16th. So hurry and get your order in.

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

Masculine Pennants

Hi Stampers,

Another Pennants, but also another simple one for you. Quite like this colour combination for anyone, but there is a need out there for male cards and this is one that I would consider for some of the males that we know. 

Colours: Marina Mist, Real Red, Whisper White

Stamps: Pennant Parade

Punch: Petite Pennants Builder, Scallop Circle

Big Shot: Polka Dots, Tags (non Stampin Up - however there are many Stampin Up punches that can do the same!)

Accesories: Bakers Twine

Make sure you pop back tomorrow for the final instalment of this series from the Pennant collection. I do have many more that I would be happy to share with you, but that's up to you. If you would like to see more please let me know.

Keep leaving your mark,

Brooke

Wish Big Pennants

Hi Stampers,

Here's yet another Pennant for you. As I said, I just wanted to share this stamp set and builder punch. I think that they are so versatile and so much fun to play with. I understand that in many of the cards that I have demonstrated I have used the Big Shot and that you may not have one; as I mentioned in an early blog post, if you're interested in buying some of them just contact me for prices. If there are colours that you're wanting let me know that too, so that I can meet your needs, otherwise they are just random. 

I really like the colour combo in this card. It's a combo I tend you use a lot or variations of it!

Colours: Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Melon Mambo
Stamps: Pennant Parade
Punch: Petite Pennant Builder
Big Shot: Large Scallop Square, Polka Dots, Scallop Square (medium)
Accessories: Buttons, Bakers Twine

There are a few more that I would like to show you from my pennants collection, so pop back tomorrow to see what else I've done!

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

Christmas Pennants

Hi Stampers,

Just another Pennants card for you today. Christmas is not far away, especially for those of you out there that like to make your Christmas cards! I demonstrated this one at a recent workshop party and like always there were many variations of this idea. 

Colours: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip

Stamps: Pennant Parade

Punch: Petite Pennant Builder

Big Shot: Medium Scallop Square

Accessories: Rhinestones, Old Olive ribbon (retired), DSP Jolly Holiday (retired, but the DSP in the current catty is just as nice! :) )

That's it for today!

Keep leaving your mark,

Brooke

Simple Pennants

Hi Stampers,

Here's a really simple card for you today.

Colours: Confetti White (retired), Pacific Blue, Melon Mambo, Delightful Daffodil
Stamps: On your Birthday (retired)
Punch: Petite Pennants Builder
Accessories: buttons

Nothing too difficult about this one at all. Sometimes, I think that simple works. Change the colours to customise it to suit who you make it for.

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

Baby Pennants

Hi Stampers,

Just another baby card to show you. Anyone would think that I was in that stage of your life where all your friends are having babies! Well there are a few out there, and might I add that there appears to be a lot of girls this year! This card showcases the co-odinating Petite Pennants Builder Punch and Pennant Parade Stamp Set that I will showcase over the next few blog entries. It's a really versatile set, not just one that limits you to only baby cards... just wait and I'll show you more of what I have done with it. I love this set and hope that you too, might fall in love with it.

Colours: Early Espresso, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Stamps: Pennant Parade
Punch: Petite Pennants
Big Shot: Junior Timeless (retired), Polka Dots
Accessories: brads, rhinestone brad, 1/2" scallop dots ribbon Melon Mambo, Baker's Twine Calypso Coral

Once again, you can purchase this card or ask me how and I can demonstrate at a workshop for you and your friends.

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

Holiday Shopping!

Hi Stampers, Crafters and Blog Followers,

You may not have noticed, but my little family and I have been on an adventure! We bought my husband a caravan for his birthday and had to give it a test run. So we headed to Ballarat for a few nights. A place where we've been before, but only on school camps! Oh and I took my Mum there once to look at fabric! One of the great things about my husband is that he knows how much I love looking at craft and is more than happy to follow me around, he even gives me some spending money! WHAT A MAN!?!

We visited the Botanical Gardens and in there is the most amazing little cottage; Adam Lindsay Gordon Craft Cottage. It operated by the Crafts Council of Ballarat Inc and it is something worth looking in and even splurging and spending a few dollars on locally made crafts! Admission is free and it's open daily 10am til 4pm, September to mid June and weekends, public holidays and school holidays mid June to September. Take the time. I was very impressed and think you all would be too!

I just had to show my man the special fabric shops that Ballarat has to offer. Unfortunately Gail's Patchwork Emporium was temporarily closed due to fire damage. Shame, because I know that he would have loved to look at the building and the gardens there, oh and the fabric!

But my favourite patchwork shop that I've been to has to be Ballarat Patchwork. If I said that there's a lot of Melly & Me and Janelle Wind patterns and the fabrics are more my style... as my husband said "bright and lots of kidish stuff!".

Well, this is what I bought and you'll have to watch this space for what I'm going to do with it... it may take some time, but it will happen!

Well, we're home and I'm ready for bed!

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

My Sister's Birthday!

Hi Stampers!

I wanted to share with you a card I made for my beautiful sister. Unfortunately, I didn't have any fabrics that really jumped out at me with her name all over it. In other words, in my fabric collection (that is starting to build up, but shhhh don't tell my husband!) I didn't have any blue fabrics that went with my idea. Don't get me wrong there are blue fabrics, but they are more baby blue or bright kids blue. I wanted something with a little more of a vintage feel to it, so I decided to use red. Not her favourite colour at all, but a colour that I find myself drawn to, and no, it's not my favourite colour, I thought you might have worked out my favourtie by now! :P

Colours: Soft Suede with Vary Vanilla and Cherry Cobbler
Stamps: Bliss (retired), En Francais
Big Shot: Elegant Lines
Fabric: Timeless Portrait
Punches: Modern Label
Accessiories: Twine... it doesn't have pearls on the butterfly but I think it needs them.

I'm working on my vintage styling. Hopefully you think I'm getting there. I'm always open to suggestions. So if you have any please let me know.

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

WANTED!

Hi Stampers,

I have been very surprised by the response to some of the cards I have posted and that you want to create cards like mine. Thanks for letting me know, it's always good to hear those sorts of things. It makes what you do seem even more worthwhile.

I understand that there are a lot of you out there that cannot justify the money for a Big Shot. It is a lot of money. It's hard to know if you're going to get your monies worth out of it. I totally get it! I can assure you that I certainly have. I use it for most cards that I create and I've really started to use it with my sewing and I love the professional look it gives. I'm impressed and clearly sold on it. :) But some people have been asking if they can buy the die cuts from me. And YES! I'm more than willing to do that. Since there are a few of you out there looking for them, I'm putting a price list together for you that I can email to you. So if you're interested in Pillow Boxes, Scallop Envelopes, Top Notes or embossed pages, butterflies and letters. Shot me an email and I can give you some prices. As they are going to be sold in bundles, so packs of about 10 or 12, it's a good idea to have some ideas of colours you'd like too.

Just trying to make it easier for you to leave your mark,
Brooke

Facebook Card Competition

Hi Stampers and blog followers,

I'd love it if you could pop on over to my facebook page and check out some of my followers cards. It's a competition and we need YOU to vote! I'm not the judge of this competition; it YOU! And that's what makes it so much fun! I don't even know who is going to win! There is a variety of cards and a variety of people who entered the competition... can't wait to hear your feedback.

Thanks for voting and leaving your mark!
Brooke

Spool Time!

Hi Stampers,

It's not quite warm enough to hit the pool yet, but be sure to take advantage of the 'spool' - Stampin' Up!'s "It's Spool Time" promotion, that is! During October, get a FREE spool of 3/8" (1cm) Stitched Satin Ribbon with every $60 purchase - choose your favourite new In Colour or earn all five by hosting a $300 workshop party! Contact me for further details or to place your order!

Oh, and check out this link on youtube, I don't think my husband would be surprised to find an embellished thing or two like that around our house! Enjoy! I did!!!

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

BLOGTOBERFEST

Hi there Stampers,

Well, time has flown by this year and we're into October already! I found this link to Blogtoberfest and thought that that sounds like a challenge! Blog post every day for October! I have no idea where it's going to lead and what we'll get out of it, but it sounds like a bit of fun. I'm going to guess that I'm going to be challenged to create something most days and actually share it with you! Maybe during the rest of the holidays we'll raid the craft stash of things I've made and haven't posted... and then let the creating come!

If you'd like to join the fun of Blogtoberfest pop on over and check it out and sign up! Let me know so we can encourage people to pop on over to your blog too! Let's share the fun and excitement!

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

Happy Birthday Princess!

Hi Stampers and Crafters,

This little puppy dog, isn't so little any more. She's 6 years old and we've had her for nearly all of that time. It's her birthday today and she is the reason that Pawmark started. Yes, that's where the name comes from... my dog, Princess who leaves her pawmark everywhere, EVERYWHERE!

My twin-brother gave Princess to me for my birthday (it was a little early) nearly 6 years ago and the first card that I made was for him... a simple little card with a paw mark on it, hence the name. Now it's not only Princess leaving her mark.

Happy Birthday Princess. I hope that you enjoyed your walk, roll in the dirty water, swim and of course your special dinner!

Hope you're leaving your mark too!
Brooke

Because I Care

Hi Stampers,

Sympathy Cards... I've been asked to make a few and I must admit that they are one card that I struggle with. I want them to be prefect for the person. Maybe that's why I don't send a lot! This is one that we made a while ago at Regionals and I felt that it leaned itself to a sympathy card. I love the watercolour technique. It's really simple and I'd be more than happy to demonstrate the products and technique to you and your friends at a party!

Colours - Soft Suede, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Daffodil Delight

Stamps - Because I Care (retired), Every Moment (retired)

Punches - Eyelet Border (retired)

Accessories - Aqua Painter, Ribbon, Paper Clip, Water Colour paper

Keep leaving your mark, 

Brooke

Sorting out...

Hey Stampers,

This is what I've been up to the past few days. Well, it all started when I was crawling around on the floors (the things you do when you have a child!) and I noticed how disgustingly dirty my cupboard doors were... so since it's spring, I can call it spring cleaning. I cleaned them. Gave the splash-back a nice polish, sparkled the stainless steel appliances and tided the pantry (not that it looks like it now!). Then I noticed my cupboard where the cookbooks are kept and in there all you could see were an accumulation of pages torn out from catalogues, magazines, you name it, it would come out to meet you. So I decided that these recipes needed some kind of organising... and this is what I've come up with. A couple of books (that I decorated) with tabs and I've stuck in some recipes and written in the ones that made sense to only me, so now others might be able to make some of the yummy things that come out of my kitchen.

So the plan is that if these get full, I can just make another one or two or however many I need! But it will need to be a little while before I can make anymore. My husband is going to wonder what's been going on when he sees that the labels have been taken off most of the cans. And since we keep everything in containers, I didn't have that many packaged things in my cupboard. Oh and I've done the back too. I'm pretty happy with them, scrappy was the look I was after so I could just stick recipes in or write them down and they didn't have to be perfect! You can't see them very well but I added some tabs down the side. Not sure if they will work, but it should help to keep it kind of organised. Just wasn't sure how many pages to leave between the tabs. One of the books has a plastic bag stuck to the inside back cover with spare tabs, lucky because I found the steak and kidney pie recipe that I made for Dad for his birthday, that one will need a tab all of it's own because there's no way it's going in my red mead favourite section!

If you want one and can't be bothered making your own, pop on over to my facebook page or email me and we can sort out your own personalised one.

Keep leaving your mark,

Brooke

Christmas in September competition

Hey Stampers,

Just a reminder about our competition. I have extended it until September 30th due to some delays with postage from the new catty. 

Just a reminder of how it works...
You can enter as many times as you like. You make a card using Stampin Up products, take a picture, email me and I will upload to the Pawmark facebook page. The card with the most likes wins. It's that simple. We have many prizes available... let's start with 20 entries or less 1st prize is a wood mount stamp set. When we get more entries I'll add some more prizes for you!

It's pretty simple really and your card doesn't even have to be a Christmas card! It can be whatever you like! But, it is a great time to start thinking about Christmas cards... Christmas will be here before you know it and you won't have your cards made! 

So... I'll let you get stuck into creating some masterpieces!

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke

Something special... what do you think?

Hi there stampers,

Here's a card that I was asked to make for someone. My brief was, something nice and special. Sometimes a brief like that can be hard to work with because what one person thinks is nice another may not. I think it's nice, that's why I'm sharing it with you. 

Colours -  Elegant Eggplant (which if you're following my work at the moment, it may appear to be a favourite), Silver and Whisper White.

Stamps - En Francais, Baroque Motifs (retired), Wedding Sweet

Punches - Medium Label, Decorative Label

Big Shot - Numbers - Junior Typeset (retired)

Accessories- Ribbon, silver cord, rhinestones, silver embossing powder

Keep leaving your mark,
Brooke