Valentine's Day Card Blog Hop for Kids with Cancer

Hi :)  Welcome to the Valentine's Day Card Blog Hop for Kids with Cancer <3

My name is Nikki Calmes, owner and designer/artist of ©Paper Piecings by Nikki :)  If you have just come from Lena's blog, you are on the right track :)

I am so honored to be a part of this blog hop <3  Knowing that all of these wonderful ladies have come together to create beautiful cards for these amazing kids just melts my heart :)  I wish I could be there when they open up there surprise Valentines <3

Today I have created a 5x7 card using all digital artwork designed my me :)  The cute little ladybug bears are from my digital paper piecings pattern set "Always Be My Little Lady".  I drew the hearts on the front of the card and on the inside of the card, using Photoshop (one of my most favorite programs on the face of the earth) You can do just about anything you can dream of with your crafting and photo editing using this amazing software!!  It's a little pricey, but you will never need another photo editing or digital scrapbooking software again!

I used Bazzill card stock paper on almost the entire card, except for the heart patterned paper that I used for the photo mat on the inside which I bought at Michael's.  I printed the inside message on Bazzill card stock right from my printer.  Instead of using white inkjet paper, I just cut a piece of 12x12 Bazzill down to 8.5x11 and put it in the printer tray :) Easy peasy :)

The also drew the heart that appears on the outside and added the message to the inside of the heart and printed it on Kodak professional photo paper :)

I added pop dots to the Ladybug bears and the photo mat messages to make them stand and give them a 3-dimensional look :)  I've seen a lot of stickles lately and I just LOVE how it looks so I added lots and lots!! I figured the little "love bug" who gets this card would like the sparkles <3

Sorry for the glare on the photos :(  I couldn't get a shot without a flash glare :(

I had so much fun making this card :)  I hope you enjoyed your stop here today :)  I am also giving away BLOG CANDY!!!  The winner of my blog candy will receive $25.00 worth of free patterns or digital elements from my store :) In order to be considered for my blog candy you MUST:

1. Follow my blog :)

2.  Subscribe via email :)

3. Head over to my Facebook Fanpage and become one of my newest fans so you can get updates on all my new designs and have chances to win free, FUN stuff from me :)  

4.  Leave a comment on this post :)

I will choose a winner via Random.org.  Your number will be whatever number your comment is on this post :)

For those Hoppers who would like to participate and send Valentine Cards for the Children, please make sure they are for either sex boy/girl as we will not know how many of each will be in the unit towards V-day. Also, please send your cards to me...

                                                                             Ashley T.

                                                                        6 Sherin Drive 

Newark, DE 19702

Please make sure they are delivered before Jan. 31 as we need enough time to send them out to the Hospital for the children!!! 

Thank you so much for "hopping by" :)  Your next stop is Nicolette :)  Have fun on the rest of your hop today and may God Bless you every day <3

Lots of Hugs,

Nikki

1. Liz- http://decadeofscrap.blogspot.com/

2. Ashley- http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/

3. Teresa - http://www.scrappintplace.blogspot.com/

4. Lina- http://www.sweetnothingspaperco.blogspot.com

5. Nikki-http://www.paperpiecingsbynikki.blogspot.com   YOU ARE HERE :)

6. Nicolette www.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com  HOP HERE NEXT

7. Misty - http://mbtreasurista.blogspot.com/

8. Ellen ♥ CardMonkey - http://cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com/

9. Theresa Neubaum - http://www.scrappyartcrafters.blogspot.com

10. Beckie http://justbcreativecrazy.blogspot.com/

11. Doris - http://mybugandmecreate.blogspot.com

12. Amber - http://pixiperfectcreations.blogspot.com

13. Leslie-http://ScrapOfArtDesigns.blogspot.com

14. Melissa-http://timeweavers.wordpress.com

15. Amy - http://lv2scrapandfibrofacts.blogspot.com

My Very First Blog Award!!!

I AM SO SO EXCITED AND HONORED!!! I have just received my very first blog award!!! 

Now, I get to give this award it to 5 newbie blogs that I think are amazing! These blogs are all up and coming and have less than 200 followers. As a recipient it is now your turn to pick 5 blogs and share the love!

Here are the rules:

• Choose 5 up and coming blogs of fewer than 200 followers to award the Liebster to.
• Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them. If you are not a follower of theirs, that might be a nice way to show appreciation for the award.;)
• Post the award on your blog.  Link back to the blogs you have given the Liebster to so everyone else can pay them a visit.

The award goes to:

1. Mandy ~ http://lovestoscrap11.blogspot.com/

2. Jamie ~ http://scrapqueen141.blogspot.com/

3. 

4.

5.

I am Still visiting newbie blogs to find 3 more of my favs but
please click on these blogs and visit them and leave some love :)


I hope they become your favorites too!!


Don't forget, If you were given this award, please pass is on to 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers.


Thanks so much Doris - you truly have made my day!!

Nikki

Ringing in the New Year Paper Piecings Blog Hop

Welcome to the "Ringing in the New Year Paper Piecings Blog Hop"!  We are so glad you have decided to hop with us today :)  This is a one day hop to inspire all of your creations for 2012!  We have quite a group of talented ladies in our lineup so you are in for a REAL treat and I just know that you will be inspired as you start another year of crafting!

Each of these wonderful ladies has prepared a project that incorporates some kind of paper piecings :)  For those of you who may not know what paper piecing is (and believe me you have no idea how many times I get asked "What is paper piecing"?), if you have ever used a cricut or other cutting machine or even cut something out by hand and glued it together to put on a page, you made a paper piecing :)  Usually they are shapes, characters, letters or titles (among others).  It is a very fun and addicting hobby!! I can almost guarantee that as soon as you do it once, you will have to keep doing it!  It's so much fun to cut out all of your pieces and watch your little characters come to life :)  I teach online classes on how to paper piece over on Betterfly if you want to learn how to do it step by step.  There is a link on my website to sign up for one of my classes if you are interested :)

For the hop today, I have designed a digital layout with one of my new paper piecing pattern sets (no title yet), not yet released.  I used Photoshop CS5 and Illustrator CS5 to make this layout.  I love designing and drawing on my Mac! Everything I need is right in front of me and the only space I need is my lap (that is if my kids aren't aching to see what I'm doing...LOL)!  This layout is in memory of my Momma <3  We lost her 4 years ago, very suddenly, on the 22nd of this month, so it only seemed fitting to design something for her.  She LOVED giraffes and ever since she died, I find giraffes everywhere!! It's ridiculous, the amount of giraffes I see all around me all the time!  I just know that it's her, smiling down on me and saying "Hello" :)

Love you Momma <3 Save a seat for me right next to you ok :)

If you haven't ever designed a layout digitally, it is really just as much fun as physical scrapbooking once you get the hang of it :) Drag and drop all of your elements and photos onto your workspace and Wahla!! You've got your layout to print and slip into your book :)

I design all of my own digital elements, paper piecing patterns and PNG clipart :)  Stop by my store to see all of my pattern sets and clipart available for download :)

I will be giving away blog candy and will pick a winner and announce the winner on Monday.  To be entered to win my blog candy you MUST:

1. Follow my blog and subscribe to my blog via email

2.  Head over to my Facebook Fanpage and click on "Like" to be sure you don't miss out on my new patterns, digital scrapbooking images and clipart :)

Follow these directions and you will be entered to win my blog candy of $25.00 worth of paper piecing patterns from my store!

Thanks for hopping with us today!  You are in for a treat!  We have a very talented group of ladies who can't wait to share their ideas to inspire your creations for the New Year!!

Be sure to follow the lineup as it appears below so you don't get lost along the way :)

Your next stop is Mandy!

Have fun and thanks for hopping!!

• 1. Nikki - http://paperpiecingsbynikki.blogspot.com YOU ARE HERE

  2. Mandy http://lovestoscrap11.blogspot.com/ GO HERE NEXT :)

  3.  Patti http://www.pattilynncreations.blogspot.com

  4. Pam - http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com/

  5. Jamie - http://scrapqueen141.blogspot.com/

  6. Angela U-http://www.creativecraftin.blogspot.com

  7. Liz -  http://tryin2craft.blogspot.com

  8. Mindy- http://mindyscreations11.blogspot.com/

  9.  Kimberly (KPKre8tions)  http://scrappingrookie.blogspot.com/
  10.  Amy Jo - http://lv2scrapandfibrofacts.blogspot.com 

Week #2 Challenge Winner!

Hi bloggers!  I'm so sorry that I am so late in announcing the winner of the PPbN Week #2 Christmas Challenge :(  It's been a very wonderful, yet very busy, Christmas but I am here to tell you that Random.Org has picked a winner!! Congratulations to Kimberly Pate!!

Thank you to all of you for participating :)  I absolutely adore all of your projects and you all did a wonderful job!

Stay tuned for the next challenge coming very soon :)

Nikki

ATTENTION!! MICHAEL'S GIFTCARD GIVEAWAY IS NOT MY GIVEAWAY!!

Someone has brought it to my attention that some of my followers think that the Michael's gift card and Copic markers giveaway is mine! THIS IS NOT MY GIVEAWAY!  I had reposted the giveaway on my blog as one of the requirements to be entered into this giveaway by www.keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com.  Again, this is not my giveaway and anyone who thinks they have entered it by following my blog is actually not entered unless you were aware that this was Melissa's giveaway and followed and posted on her blog (I hope that made sense..LOL)  I will try to contact each of the people that i think made this mistake because I would absolutely hate to have any of you thinking that you are in the running and then, come to find out, you weren't ever entered :(  I hope you all read this post so that you don't miss your chance for this prize!  I'm so sorry for the mix-up! I was only posting it because it was one of the requirements to spread the word of the giveaway and post it to my blog :(  Sorry :(

Nikki

Week #2 of Paper Piecings by Nikki Christmas Challenge!!

Hi there everyone!  It's week 2 of my Paper Piecings by Nikki Christmas Challenge!! Congratulations to Linda Therrien...the winner of last week's challenge!  Linda won an adorable, brand new Close To My Heart "Christmas Cheer" stamp set, CTMH Christmas Paper Pack and the matching accessories kit to go with both of these!  What an amazing prize!! I hope Linda shares what she creates with her new Close To My Heart products!!


Now for the week 2 challenge :)  This week's challenge is to make a 12x12 layout OR an 8x8 layout OR a Christmas card OR a Christmas tag with either my "Very Beary Christmas" pattern set or my newest set "Baking Memories"!(You only need to make ONE of the above projects for this challenge).  Get a head start on your Christmas crafting and enter this challenge to win my awesome prize of the week!!


This week I am giving, one lucky winner (chosen by random.org) the following gifts for entering this challenge:

Brand New Karen Foster "Vintage Christmas" Scrapbooking Kit,

Brand New "Whimsical Christmas" Scrapbooking Kit,

WAIT!  That's not all!!

Brand New "Winter Frolic" Cricut Cartridge

AND

"Christmas Cheer" Cricut Cartridge!!!

RIGHT!?!?! I know!  It's an awesome prize!! Think of all of the scrapbooking/crafting you can accomplish with these prizes!! As soon as Christmas is over, you will be all set and ready to to scrap it!

To qualify for this amazing gift you must do the following. (I will check after random.org picks my winner)

1.  Create a Christmas 12x12 layout, 8x8 layout, card, tag or any other craft using, either, my "Very Beary Christmas" pattern set OR my "Baking Memories" Pattern set.

2. Post your finished project on your Facebook page or blog with a link to my store (www.paperpiecingsbynikki.com)

3. Leave a comment here on this post telling me what your favorite Christmas tradition is :)

4. Spread the word about my challenge!!! Leave a link to my giveaway on your blog or Facebook page. No blog or Facebook, let me know how you will spread the word!

5. Subscribe to my blog via email and become a follower (already do, then your halfway there!)

6. Leave your link with Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post so that I can check all 

entries to be fair :)

If you don't leave your link, I cannot track your entry :(

(and don't forget to come back for next's week Challenge/Giveaway!!)

This challenge will close Friday December 23! ! I will announce my winner by Monday December 26th!! Good luck to all of you and Have a very Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year!!

I can't wait to see your projects!!

    Hugs!!

Nikki

Christmas Challenge Week 1 Grand Prize Winner!!!

It's time to announce the winner of my Week 1 Christmas Challenge!!  Congratulation Linda!! Your number (#2 because you entered your project in the 2nd spot) was generated using random number generator!!! Yay!!! Thank you to all of you who participated :)  All of your projects were absolutely adorable and I loved every one of them!!! Make sure to read my next post for Week #2 of my Christmas Challenge so you can be sure to enter for that prize AND the GRAND PRIZE which I will show you in the next post :)  Congratulations again Linda and thank you to all who participated!!


Nikki