fancyMelissa

Hello world!

Melissa Laverty — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:02:11 +0000

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Gifts from Leadership Friends

Melissa Laverty — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:14:00 +0000

I was so excited to post pictures of my friends, that I forgot to post pictures of the neat crafted things I received from my friends.

These came from Briana Bostick, Sue Laufer, Noreen Petty and Sarita Schraeder. The Caprice mini accordian envelope album was made by a sweet consultant who was just handing them out. I know a lot of work went into this, so I’d love to give you credit. Please comment if you’re out there.

Took the kids and their friends to the park today. Needed to get some pictures taken. Got all this new fabulous paper to play with. Here is a shot I got of Lawson & Cate up in a tree at the park. Love it, love them!

Hoping to play with my CTMH stuff this weekend and have more to post next week.

Have a terrific weekend!

CTMH Leadership Conference 09

Melissa Laverty — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:11:00 +0000

I’m finally starting to come back to earth from my Close to My Heart Leadership Conference experience. Man, there is no better place for a die-hard scrapbooker, card maker, paper crafter than a Close to My Heart Event. I can’t even believe that next year, our convention is going to be right here in Washington, DC! Are you kidding me?!? I think my head might actually pop off in excitement with my team members there, too!

Anyway, besides the $200 in free product we received from CTMH, the best part of the conference was getting to meet so many amazing women. My only complaint was that I didn’t have more time to spend talking to them. But, I did make some real connections with a few:

Seriously, I have met a “soul sister” in Sarita Schraeder. We have the same silly sense of humor and were just on the same page with so many things. We met basically in passing at Convention last year and hooked up to be roommates at Conference. Ridiculous fun! I miss her already!

And, I got to spend time with my Twitter buddy, Mandy Leahy. We were tag-team-Twittering the entire weekend. Is she not the stinkin’ cutest thing ever!?? And that hair. I’m not kidding when I tell you that it is so great that at one point another consultant come over and took pictures of her at three different angles. She is a rockstar and I am sure that she is going to be walking that stage soon!

Did I tell you yet where we got to go for the Director’s Dinner? DISNEYLAND’s California Adventure! I was welcomed with open arms by these 4 amazing people, all of whom are recruiting gurus (Amy Rafferty #3, Noreen Petty #2, Briana Bostick #1, & Phil Whilhelm #4). Noreen Petty, second on the left, “adopted” me and she is a serious CTMH superstar! I am so proud of her for making Advisory Board for the 2nd year in a row!

It was such an initmate dinner. So much so that I found Jeanette Lynton, our founder & CEO watching the parade alone. I went over, introduced myself and told how much I loved the company. We talked about how excited we were about Studio J and the other amazing things to come with CTMH.

And I love love loved being whisked through the crowd (I think only a few people were hurt) to run over to Disneyland’s Big Thunder Railroad Roller Coaster by Briana – she is a real firecracker! Love our talk in line and at dinner.

Here we are waiting for our ride in our Mickey Ears!

Finally, the icing on the Conference Cake, was placing 9th for recruiting for the entire company, tieing with Lori Leng and Deborah Baldock (both amazing leaders). I received a gorgeous engraved crystal heart piller and got to have my picture taken with Jeanette (will post that as soon as I get that picture). What a thrill to be recognized for doing something you truly love and believe in with all of your heart – sharing the amazing opportunity that Close to My Heart offers with the wonderful women I meet.

What’s next, you ask? Well, Regional Celebration in Minneapolis at the beginning of October, of course. But in the meantime, I’m in the final countdown for the trip I am dying to take in March – a cruise to the Western Caribbean that I can take Mike on for free with Close to My Heart. Just need to earn a few more points and we’re there! How flippin’ cool will that be?

Does all this sound like fun to you? I’d love for you to join me.

How?

Become a Close to My Heart Consultant – it’s that easy!

CTMH Moon Doggie Vacation Scrapbook Layout

Melissa Laverty — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:09:00 +0000

Note to self for future CTMH Conferences: Do not schedule ANYTHING for the following week!

What was I thinking! Seriously, I am EXHAUSTED! In the past three days, I’ve held one Workshop on the Go Gathering, two Junior Scrapbookers classes and one Mommy & Me Home Gathering! Insane. My head is filled with everything I want to do with my CTMH business that I really just need a few days to process it all. Phew.

But I’ve posted the Moon Doggie Layout the girls did last night at our Mommy and Me Party. I hope they had a fun time. I think it was fun for them to see where their Mommy’s go at least once a month.

I used the Vintage Post Card Stamp set, Moon Doggie Paper and the crocheted ribbon from the Colonial White Ribbon Rounds.

Multi Media Art Canvas for Operation Smile

Melissa Laverty — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:59:00 +0000

2 weeks before Conference, I got a call from one of Close to My Heart’s Executive Directors asking me to participate in their first ever Operation Smile Silent Auction. She asked me to create a wowie, over the top piece of art. I had no idea what to do, because I guess I’ve always felt like I’m a great copier, but an artist, not so much. But then I thought about the canvas I created with Claudine Helmuth (see it here) and realized that I could do the same thing using all Close to My Heart Products, especially Liquid Glass, Paint & Reinkers. So I created this canvas. It was an honor and a thrill to have my work next to such talented artists as Bren Yule, Karen Pedersen & Lisa Stenz (amongst several dozen others).

The auction raised over $5000 for Operation Smile. At $240 per operation, that’s almost 21 children whose lives have been changed. So cool!

To see a slide show of each of the individual technique canvases, click here.

CTMH Autumn/Winter 2009 New Consultant Kit (& an Idea Book Sneak Peek)

Melissa Laverty — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:26:00 +0000

What an amazing time I had at Close to My Heart’s Leadership Convention! I have a JAM packed three days ahead of me with a Workshop on the Go tonight, a middle-schoolers mini album workshop Tuesday & Wednesday and a Mommy & Me party tomorrow night. So, hopefully, somewhere in the middle of all that, I’ll find the time to blog about it.

In the meantime, I thought I’d share with you a sneak peak in to Close to My Heart’s New Autumn/Winter 2009 Idea Book. Y’all are going to flip for this one. If you liked the feel of Spring’s Emporium paper, you’re going to LOVE this book! (I know I do).

Below, you will find a picture of our newest consultant kit, filled with everything you need to get started with your booming scrapbook & card-making consultant business. Let me tell you friends – NOW IS THE TIME TO GET IN WITH CTMH! And if you purchase the kit today, you’ll get these products before anyone else can…

Not only do you get everything you see here, but you will also get a 22% discount on ALL OF YOUR purchases! And, best yet, Consultants will get access this fall to the new Studio J online scrapbook program CTMH is releasing to the public this Spring. I’m telling you what, whether you are a classic scrapbooker or a digital scrapbooker, this program is going to revolutionize scrapbooking. I guarantee it!

That’s not enough for you? Then count on a sweet gift from me as my welcome to our team!

The online application is wicked easy! It seriously takes 5 minutes. But if you have more questions, holler back! Click here to learn more about this exciting opportunity.

Studio J CTMH’s New Digital Solution

Melissa Laverty — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 06:49:00 +0000

I’m still at the CTMH Leadership Conference, but I couldn’t wait to tell you about the amazing new product we learned about this weekend. Studio J – an online scrapbook program to be launched this Spring! I know, can you stand it?! I plan to share more about this incredible technology. And the best part is, I still have so much to share with you about the exciting new products they introduced for all of the classic scrapbookers. For now, check out Studio J to get a sneak peek. www.studioj.com

It’s Your Day, CTMH August Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Melissa Laverty — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:09:00 +0000

The first day of the month means it’s the
Close to My Heart Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

August’s feature is It’s Your Day, a set of 26 stamps and I’m declaring it a MUST HAVE STAMP SET! This one needs to be in your collection. Use these versatile words & images to celebrate the best days of your year. Go to my website, fancymelissa.myctmh.com and click on to see a picture of the set.

If you came from Cindy’s Blog, you are on the right path!

If this is your first stop, you may want to go back to Jena’s Blog and start from the beginning!

This month we have more than 60 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month’s SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do – just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

Let’s get hoppin!

For these two cards, I decided to use the muted colors of the Moon Doggie Paper Pack, Cranberry, Desert Sand and Indian Corn Blue. On both cards, I used elements from the Journey Journaling Spots pack. And the “Surfer X-ing” image is from the Moon Doggie My Stickease Assortment. I also covered a Dimensional Element from Framed Fun. These will be great masculine birthday cards!

For the Scrapbook Layout of my Son’s First Birthday, I used the brighter colors of the Animal Cookies Creative Basics Collection!

Now, get your crafty self over to Katy’s blog to see what she’s whipped up using this set.

Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Once you’re done looking at them all, swing on over to my website fancymelissa.myctmh.com to order your own set to play with and I’d love to see what you’ve made. It’s Your Day is only available until August 30th!

And here’s the best part, you can get this stamp set AND a free paper pack when you place a $100 Close to My Heart product order between August 3 and August 17. It’s easy to place an order. You don’t even have to get dressed. So, hop on over to my Shop Online site !

Gotten lost, or want to see what everyone’s up to? Check out all these stampin’ divas!

Jena DeVries http://www.livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com/
Kristie Horness-Herdener http://www.goofyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Carla Ironside http://www.carlacreates.blogspot.com/
Deb Young http://www.scrapbookczar.blogspot.com/
Alanna Moses http://www.damoses.blogspot.com/
Paige Dolecki http://www.paigespaperparadise.blogspot.com/
Wendy Kessler http://www.myscrapbookingblog.com/
Heather Painchaud http://www.twindragonflydesigns.blogspot.com/
Helen Onulak http://www.hookedonstamping.com/
Barbra Otten http://barbraotten.blogspot.com/
Haley Dyer http://www.inkyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Nona Davenport http://www.nonapearl.blogspot.com/
Michelle Robinson http://www.amaizenbluelady.typepad.com/
Cindy Leek http://www.paperspadsandpictures.blogspot.com/
Melissa Laverty http://www.fancymelissa.blogspot.com/
Katy Donaldson http://www.scrappinkaty.blogspot.com/
Amy McVey http://www.clearlystamping.blogspot.com/
Tammy Lea Pinchard http://www.creativeimpressions-pinchme.blogspot.com/
Leslie Markland http://pandascrapper.blogspot.com/
Judy Burger http://makingtimeformemories.blogspot.com/
Laurie R Newton http://scrapsfromthebeach.blogspot.com/
Kami Welter http://www.scrappin4memories.blogspot.com/
Tracy Oleksak http://www.mamaolie.blogspot.com/
Karen Norman http://www.gettinscrappywithit.blogspot.com/
Chris Shouse http://www.houseostamps.wordpress.com/
Cibele Glazer http://www.flowerfoot.blogspot.com/
Debra Van Patten http://memoriesoftheheartbydeb.blogspot.com/
Terrie Dodd http://www.my-life-in-real-time.blogspot.com/
Jamia Bankhead http://www.papermadnessinc.blogspot.com/
Anne Beck http://www.anniemuses.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Patrick http://www.roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/
Laurie Levnik http://www.creationsbylaurie.blogspot.com/
Lori Miller http://www.clearlyfromtheheart.blogspot.com/
Brae Montgomery http://thebrae-er.blogspot.com/
Dawn Ross http://www.iamahappystamper.blogspot.com/
Dawn Slipcevic http://dawnscrapsalot.blogspot.com/
Barbara Harris http://www.paper-creations117.blogspot.com/
Carol Taggio http://craftycarol55.blogspot.com/
Jill Lucas http://scrapwench.blogspot.com/
Chris Green http://www.createwithchris.blogspot.com/
Nancy Ball http://www.ballisticdesign.blogspot.com/
Dawn Heuft http://www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com/
Kelly Triggs http://www.stampinallday.blogspot.com/
Beth Naumann http://www.bethscreativeblock.blogspot.com/
Antoinette Herrin http://www.godblessyourart.blogspot.com/
Jessica Booth http://jessicabooth.blogspot.com/
Jen Rubio http://www.jenrubio.blogspot.com/
Misty Jackson http://www.misstscraps.blogspot.com/
Adeline E. Brill http://adeline-brill.blogspot.com/
Lori Leng http://www.pinkcloudscrappers.blogspot.com/
Pam Klassen http://eimmap.blogspot.com/
Pamela OConnor http://www.cherishyourmemories.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Royal http://www.craftroyalty.blogspot.com/
Caren Goldsein http://www.scrappycaren.blogspot.com/
Shannon Pelletier http://www.shannonmvt.blogspot.com/
Sherry Thompson http://www.picturespatternsandpaper.blogspot.com/
Maricar Harris http://www.maricarharris.blogspot.com/
Traci Godbee http://createwithtraci.blogspot.com/
Laura Dame http://www.thecroppersconnection.blogspot.com/
Miranda Kurz http://www.scrampinwithmiranda.com/
Leisa Hubley http://www.bigredscraps.blogspot.com/
Julia Menssen http://www.ralphandjulia.blogspot.com/
Jan Moxey http://scrapandstamp4ever.blogspot.com/
Jody Gustafson www.cre8nmemories.blogspot.com

Havin a blast a ctmh conference

Melissa Laverty — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 01:27:00 +0000

no real post today because it's been all day of awesome new information at the Close to My Heart conference. It has been great. I have so many incredible things to tell you about when I get home. Until then you can watch all the happenings if you follow me on twitter. Or go to www.tweetchat.com & search for #ctmhldr09 to check it out. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our August Blog Hop!

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Sent from my Verizon Wireless mobile phone

CTMH Moon Doggie – Workshop on the Go

Melissa Laverty — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:21:00 +0000

On Tuesday, August 25, I’ll be holding a workshop to create these 3 layouts. What’s great about CTMH’s Workshop on the Go Program is that you can get this kit and create all these layouts at home if you want. Youl’l create 3 2-page layouts using Close to My Heart’s Moon Doggie Level 2 kit and stickease, Journey Journaling Spots, Framed Fun Dimensional Elements, ribbon and a full color brochure.

Cost – $32.00 per person. RSVP by August 18.

I’m on my way to cali. I’ll do a remote Blog post late tonight recapping my day. Till then…