SHERBET + LICORICE DIP

You may have noticed, I've put my shop on holidays for the next couple of weeks. I've enrolled in a photography course as a little bit of personal development, and to give myself some space to fill my own creative tank. Time to design and create just for the pure enjoyment of it. I'm loving it so far!

My first self-directed projects to photograph was inspired by my own childhood. When I was a kid, we had 'lolly day' each Saturday morning. Introduced to condense my dad's love of brining home lollies, to just one day a week, it became a huge tradition in our house to have our lollies when we'd done our weekend jobs. One of our favourites were Wizz Fizzes with a stick of licorice. We'd lick and dip till there was no more sherbet left to dip!

Anyone else remember Wizz Fizzes? :) I have my doubts that there is anyone else in the world who might have similar childhood memories, but if you would like this packaging as a free download, please leave a comment below with your email and I'll send it to you!

P.S. If you have ordered invitations and need the matching printables, while my shop is closed, please just shoot me and email jordan{at}polkadotprints.com.au and we can get your event all sorted! x

Images // Copyright Polkadot Prints

GROWING LIKE A WEED

She is growing like a weed! I can't believe Ellie is 3 mths old already, no longer new-newborn. There are many cliche's people tell you when you first have child - "make the most of every moment", "time flies", "they grow so fast" etc, etc. I remember with Levi, I found each day was L.O.N.G and those cliche's just didn't stick. But this time round, it's different. It IS truly going by so fast!

She is generally all smiles, but seems to be a sensitive little soul, affected by sudden loud laughing & noises (which doesn't gel too well with an active big brother!)

I've been documenting each monthly milestone with a little chalkboard speech bubble from Chalk-it. Here's the 3mth version...at the end of her first year, I hope to have a collection like this or this.

Have you taken month by month photos for any of your children? If you have, leave a link in the comments so we can all check them out!

SMILE FOR THE CAMERA

It was a sad day when we discovered that it was going to cost us more to repair my dying DSLR camera than it was to buy a new one, and for the past few months, I've been using a borrowed a friends' camera for work around the place.

We bought our camera just before we got married and went on our honeymoon and just about everywhere else with us since - it's had a good life. Since it was about seven years old, we thought we could probably justify an updated version. I've been keeping my eye out for bargains and this week my new camera & 50mm lens arrived in the mail! It was really the lens that I was hanging out for.

Levi & I got stuck into some early Christmas cookie baking yesterday (it's never too early right?!) and I thought I'd start practicing with my new toy! Still need some practice but, oh boy I love the depth of field I can get with this thing. I do wonder with all the detail shots I take, how I've survived all this time without it!! I love it.

Thanks so much for purchasing from my store to make this new little baby a part of my life (a little too attached already...I think so!), but I'm really grateful!

If the rain stays away, I'm going to head into the Brisstyle Indie Twilight Markets tonight. I've never been before but heard great things about it, can't wait. I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

BEHIND THE SCENES :: MY MIDGET ASSISTANT

I wanted to share a little behind the scenes today in tribute to mothers day is this weekend.
I do all my designing and most of my photoshoots here at home and feel completely blessed to have this opportunity to be a mum and do something I love all at the same time. It does prove a juggling act sometimes when it comes to photoshoots and I have to plan around sleep time vs good light etc. {Let me take this moment to say I am no pro photographer, I have a digital SLR and know how to use Photoshop...that goes a long way! :) }

Here's a fun glimpse into life at my place, over the past few months, when I'm doing a shoot or something and there are an extra pair of little hands around to "assist"!
Let's call it, What you see vs what I see!....

What you see is a full jar of milk bottles, what I see is a child getting hopped up on sugar after he woke from a nap and wanted to 'help' put them in.

What I see is a little chubby hand that just wants to play with the cute bugs

What you see is nice swirly icing...what I see are finger marks and a sticky face

What you see is nice manicured grass and round choc pops...what I see...let's just say these choc pops didn't make it into the shoot - this still makes me laugh!

What you see is a spool of twine with vintage scissors...I walked out of the room after shooting the new twine colours and come back to find these craft scissors in a spool. I realise this kid is getting good!

This is very recent and maybe my favourite. He even did some art directing on this shoot, I leant back after finishing my shots, and he wheeled his favourite truck into the frame and then said "do his face" - who am I to say no?! He loves you 'red trailer truck'.

He won't be this small forever, so I find it helpful for me to remember the cute moments amongst the everyday - I hope you enjoyed a little glimpse behind the scenes at my place!

And I hope you all have a lovely mothers day! - Jordan x

{P.S. Don't forget the FREE mother's day printables!}

Felt Fotography

Happy monday peeps!
Just letting you know I may be a little light on with posts this week as I am working on getting my new website up and going with all my products re-uploaded (I did it once already, but wasn't saving them correctly....big ooops!!). I'm taking some new photos of some older designs and catching up on designing and orders. Taking photos with this felt covered camera would be just a little bit more fun I think! :) Hope you all have a happy start to the week, see you soon! x

P.S. I just saw that my Ice Cream Sundae baby shower was featured on Bump Smitten today. (Go and check them out, they will make you want a baby!) You can find my full posts on my ice cream party here and here.
(Image via ffffound)

Behind the Scenes :: Photoshoot & Mathilda's

If you're a fan of Polkadot prints on facebook, you know that I have played a part in a Christmas/New Years project for Peekaboo Magazine's next edition.
The New Years shoot was last week, and I promised to show you some behind the scenes, but the photos I took would have either revealed a little too much of the finished product, or they were a little bit *too* behind the scenes if you know what I mean (blinking, blurry, strange facial expressions etc) So here are a couple from the Christmas shoot we did a month ago...

(All the paper, ribbon, props ready to go)

(Sharnel & Naomi making sure they're getting the right shots...serious work! :)

I always enjoy seeing what goes on behind the scenes of other people's projects, I hope this gives you a little glimpse into mine.

Also, I had a wonderful weekend at Mathilda's Markets on Saturday. I laughed when a couple of people introduced themselves as 'blog stalkers'! So funny to think I have stalkers :) Well, welcome to my new 'likers' and followers, stalkers or not. Thank you for kind words over the weekend and I hope you enjoy your paper goods!
I have a Christmas craft on my list to do this week with a tutorial to share with you. Better get gluing!

Styling Christmas for Peekaboo Magazine

Image: Polkadot Prints

Not to rush the remaining months of the year, but can you believe we are having to think about Christmas already? ...Or, maybe it's just me. 


I have had Christmas on the brain for the past couple of weeks as I have the wonderful privilege of working with Sharnel Dollar Designs on a project for Peekaboo magazine. Sharnel is styling a Christmas & New Years Eve spread for their next edition, and I am providing the paper goods and a special DIY project for the magazine. It's been a big job, but so much fun putting it all together. The shoot is tomorrow and I have paper, boxes and ribbon collecting ready to go in the morning. This will be the first time involved a shoot like this, I hope it all comes together like it is in my head! I'll be sure to show you photos when I'm able!...I'm a little bit excited!


Also, I will be putting my Christmas designs in the store in the coming weeks for those of you who are organising family photos already! I'm obviously not the only keen one!

Image: A sample of the Polkadot Prints Christmas collection soon to be in the store!

CELEBRATE A FIND :: Create-a-Jelly

I am starting to collect supplies for Levi's 2nd birthday next month, and in my stockpiling of jelly, I came across this neat product.

 Yep, it's as simple as it sounds - 'Just add your favourite drink'. You could do the healthy fruit juice jelly...the 'sparkling' juice jelly...Gatorade jelly...
Some eye catching packaging of pretty much an old school idea - clever! 


By the way, I am not sponsored by Aeroplane Jelly in any way! (that would be nice! :) I often see things that just make me think parties and events, so want to pass them on!


Also, in cupcake news, the new design will be ready for purchase online tomorrow....Here are a couple of photos from my amateur photo shoot today...I think I might just stick to designing for the next few months...they really are a lot of work!

And what do you think of these little guys? I had a 'moment' when walking past fairy floss, thinking of this new cupcake design (ice cream and cake totally go together in my mind!). I just need a stainless steel ice cream cone stand...

Till tomorrow then...

Caravan-ing in Style!

(image via Eat Drink Chic)

This caravan makes me want to put on a gingham dress, pop into that little caravan kitchen and prepare a meal! While it's a little old and doesn't travel real well these days, the owner has it available to hire for photo shoots! What a great prop for a party! Cute!

'Kids Parties' Book of Inspiration...

So many times when I am brainstorming for an idea, I come back to one of my favourite books on my bookshelf (in the yellow section!). 
It's written by Lisa Atwood and the beautiful photography is by Thayer Allyson Gowdy. It really brings the backyard party into the spotlight and has some really gorgeous ways of tying a party together with food, decorations & games to create a strong theme.  There are great chapters covering girly, boy-y, sports, winter, easter, & other holiday themes. It's a visual feast!


Oh and I've searched, and if anyone knows of Lisa Atwood's blog, I'd love to know about it! 


Images Kids Parties by Lisa Atwood.

Salem & Jono’s Wedding - Part 2

This was their bridal coach!

Our big family - Brides siblings, parents & grandparents. (I'm in the aqua dress to the left of the bride!)

Thought you might enjoy some photos from the wedding. These are a few of the previews from the professional photographer & good friend, Luke from Voice Photography.

They are lovely photos & looks like they had a lot of fun taken throughout Old Petrie Town. I look at these photos and can’t believe that, that is my little sister!! Wow!!

Lookin' happy!

Photo Shoot & Styling

(Stars & Stripes birth announcement & birthday party invite 

with "polkadot party dots" for cupcakes and favour tags)

As I mentioned, my website is about to get a big facelift. It has had a ‘online store coming soon’ sign on it for far too long. And it’s now time to get it all happening so you can purchase your goodies online, 24/7!

It’s a big job - bigger than I first anticipated. My October deadline came and went, but now the goal of having it up and running by the New Year, seems it may be a reality.

Last weekend, I had a little photo shoot of the sample prints that will be featured throughout the site.

(Kitchen Tea invite with with "polkadot party dots" for favour tags)

Just thought you might like a sneak peek!