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