Moooooooove over for some Thursday Inspiration

I absolutely love these new cow files at Paper Piecings By Nikki.  I used K. Andrew Design Stamps for the sentiment!  I think they came out kinda cute!!!

Utterly Amazing File



Got Milk



I'll share a little secret...Nikki has a third file coming out with these adorable cows....keep checking back to see what it is...

 

Nikki releases a daily freebie - DAILY!  They are amazing - and if you miss one, you can pick it up for just .50 cents.  

Mooooo-vously cute layout

I love the new piecings at Paper Piecings By Nikki.  I also love her new lower pricing!  I created this scrapbook layout using the "Got Milk" file.

"Got Milk" file from

www.paperpiecingsbynikki.com

 

 

I had so much fun making these piecings.  I love how you can change colors, textures, positions...Nikki's files are so much fun to create.  

CTMH Wednesday Inspiration

Welcome to Close To My Heart Wednesday Inspiration.  We've taken a little break, but we are back again with some amazing Close To My Heart products and inspiration!

The new catalog is out and there are so many AWESOME things!  One of my favorite things is the paperdoll stamps!  YES, I did say Paper Dolls!  Here's what I did with them.

Paper Doll #D1547

This was a layout I did using my new stamps.  It was so much fun to create.  The images were easy to hand cut and stamped on flesh colored cardstock, it made things come out so good!  It was just like being a little girl and playing with my own paper dolls.  I can't wait to try this again as a card.

Thanks for taking a peek today - if you'd like to place an order, you can go to www.pattiross.ctmh.com and place your order with me!

Let's Get Organized Blog Hop

Welcome to the "Let's Get Organized Blog Hop".  The Design Team at Paper Piecings By Nikki is hoping to inspire you with some organizational ideas.  Please grab your favorite beverage and hop along with us.  There will be some candy along the way - and lots of ideas.

 

Here's our line-up:

 

Nikki - www.paperpiecingsbynikki.blogspot.com

Patti - www.pattilynncreations.blogspot.com (here)

Linda - www.lindascreativity.blogspot.com (next)

Pamela & Kimi - http://www.lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com

Barb - http://mommaducksblog.blogspot.com/

Amanda S - http://scrapbookinghayven.blogspot.com/

Debbie - http://craftydeb-ddscrafts.blogspot.com/

Amanda B - www.thescrapoholiccandyshop.blogspot.com

 

Often I'm asked how I store and manage my digital files - Paperpiecings etc.  One of the things I've found most helpful is a jump drive.  They are very reasonable priced and you can get them in a variety of storage sizes.  If you buy from a lot of different companies, you can have a drive for each company. All the files featured here today are from Paper Piecings By Nikki.  She is a mega talented artist and I am so honored to be part of her amazing Design Team - Make sure you check out her store at www.paperpiecingsbynikki.com 

 

Next, an organizational tool I use is page protectors. They are inexpensive and perfect for keeping track of paperpiecing files.  Here's a look at mine.

 

 

 I simply print out the picture of the whole entire completed file and place that in the page protector...I use a simple jump ring to hold them all together.  If I have an extra piecing or two, I place the completed piecing in the protector, also.  Seeing what the completed piecing looks like, size, etc....If I need to make another, I know how much to increase or decrease the size of the files.  This also gives me a place to make notes about size - color - or even stamp sets I have that compliment these files.

Here's a closeup:

 

 These are easy to see, easy to retrieve when needed and allows you to just leaf through to see what is available when you are looking for some crafty inspiration.  As soon as I purchase a new file, I place it in a page protector...so I never 'forget' that I have something.

 

The next organization tool I have is a fun one.  My husband has bought and paid for much of my crafting tools.  Every birthday, special occassion, he gives my sister, Linda, a call and finds out which cartridge - what paper - what special punch or tool I just NEED to have.  Because of all the goodies he's bought me over the years, I never ever need to buy a card - or a gift bag - because I simply make them. 

 

My hubby has always like to make me cards for special occassions or simply, 'just because'.  But he isn't very crafty!  So I have created a 'hubby box".  This is a box where finished piecings go, that I don't have an immediate use for....or just haven't gotten around to using.  My grand-daughter Lexi also makes use of this box.   Here's what it looks like:

 



 My sister Linda, bought me this amazing organizational tote for Christmas.  It had all of these little plastic holder in it and I've labeled this one "hubby box"...all my extra piecings go in here!

My next tip is my circles and squares boxes.  I know we all hate to throw away those little scraps after a project is completed, but one of the things I do, is to use my one inch circle and square punches.  After completing a project, I go through all my scraps and cut them down to usable size and place them in a container just for scraps...so I have small pieces for when I'm cutting with my cameo - but those that are too small I cut into circles or squares, like this:

 

 Two more containers for my tote!  I also have two identical containers for patterned paper circles and squares.  The circles are GREAT for individual letters on a layout page....the squares are SUPER to use as a quilted background on a card (Just cover the area with squares and run through your cuttlebug) ALSO.,...if you have run out of popdots and really want something to stand out.  Simply fold a square or a circle in half and put behind the piecing you want to stand out...PERFECT until you can get to the store for more pop dots!

My last little organizational tip is for your scraproom table....or where ever you choose to be a creative person.  These are my little candy holders - I will also be making them for Valentines Day gifts.   I used the new Close To My Heart Artiste Cricut Cartridge and the adorable Hugs and Kisses Valentines Bears from Paper Piecings By Nikki....

 

 I'm not sure if these are a necessity - or just a plesantry...but crafting with chocolate always seems to be better!!! 
 

Thanks for hopping by - your next stop along the way is my mega talented sister, Linda .  Made sure to leave a comment at each stop along the way for a chance to win a free file of your choice from www.paperpiecingsbynikki.com.

 

Make sure to 'like' Paper Piecings By Nikki on facebook and to check her store each day for a fabulous freebie!  Also, did you know that Nikki has lowered her prices???  Yes, she sure did.  You will find everything in her store is just .99 everyday!  If you haven't tried her files yet - now is the time.  No matter what program or cutter you use, you will find a file extension to use in each and every pattern.

 

Thanks so very much for hopping along with us today - I would love it if you would become a follower and leave me one of your own favorite organizational tips.  If you do both of these things, I will pick one winner to recieve a paper piecing and card from me....

PPBN Design Team Post - Valentines Bears

Here is my Thursday DT Post for Paper Piecings By Nikki.  I made this cute little card using the new Hugs and Kisses Valentines Day Bears file.

 

I used the background stamp and sentiment stamp from the Close To My Heart Valentines Day Kit.  You can take a look at the whole set by stopping by www.pattiross.ctmh.com and clicking on promotions.  You can get this kit for $10 with a qualifying purchase!

 

Have you heard that Nikki has lowered her prices?  It's true!  All her files are now .99 .   This is a great time to stock up on all your favorites!   Make sure you check out her web store every day for a new freebie!!!! 

CTMH Wednesday Inspiration

Close to My Heart has come out with their new spring/summer 2013 catalog and I am so EXCITED about all the new products!  I received some of the new items yesterday, along with some 'swatches' of the new papers!!!   I cannot wait to get into my studio today to use some of them!  

Currently there are two offers you can take advantage of, while still ordering from the current catalog.  The first is the Stamp of the Month.  This is one of my all-time favorite stamp sets.  With Valentines day coming up, it's perfect!!!  It's called "Happy Valentines" and you can get it two ways.  You can order it for $17.95 OR you can spend $50 or more and get it for just $5.00  Here's a peek at some of the beautiful things you can create.

To see the set, you can go to my website www.pattiross.ctmh.com and click on "Promotions".

The second offer is one I am so excited about.  It is an amazing Valentines Kit that can be yours for $10 with a $35 purchase.  It includes an awesome STAMP SET!!!  DIE CUT BOXES, PAPERS (including the new sparkle paper) and the new TREAT TUBES - Enough product to create 12 valentine gifts!!!  Here's a peek at some of the finished treats.

This kit is perfect to do with your kids - or for your kids/grandchildren - or for classmates.  Just go to my website www.pattiross.ctmh.com and check out the promotions.  While you are there, check out the 'while supplies last' section - there are some amazing deals on some discontinued products....you will have no problem reaching that $35 mark to get this Valentines set for $10.  

The Valentines kit is 'while supplies last' and the supplies are dwindling...get yours now!

Thanks for stopping by to see what's new at Close To My Heart.   Come back next Wednesday when my Team resumes our Wednesday inspirational projects!

Valentines Gift Cards

Happy New Year!  I can't believe this is my first post for 2013!  I made a couple tiny cards for my grandest daughters, to attach to their Valentines gifts. 

I used Paper Piecings By Nikki's file "Hugs and Kisses Valentines Bear" file. I just love these adorable bears!  Since I use the silhouette cameo to cut out all my pieces, I can resize them to what ever size I need.  No matter what software or cutting machine you use, PPBN has the file for you. 

www.paperpiecingsbynikki.com

 

Check out the daily freebie!