DESIGN TEAM

Marie Flayer (Current Color Dare Moderator)

I have lived in New Jersey my entire life and am a retired physical education teacher, avid golfer and papercrafter. I have 2 adult sons, 2 daughters-in-law and 1 adorable grandson who is 6 years old already.

I became addicted to rubber stamp art over 20 years ago when I attended a D.O.T.S. demonstration (what CTMH was called originally—Dozens of Terrific Stamps—they changed the name in 1996 when they added a scrapbooking line). I can remember thinking that “I can do that!” with each item that the demonstrator, Karen showed us. I spent $100 that day (and still have all of those old wooden stamps and markers!) In 1996 I heard that Karen was moving away and signed up to become a consultant to make sure I could get these great supplies.

When I retired from education 5.5 years ago to help care for my first grandson, I also became more involved with my Close To My Heart business and began blogging and sharing more of my artwork. I also love to scrapbook although I don’t do it as often as I would like. I love the quality of CTMH products, the ink colors and coordinating papers and markers and ever changing embellishments. The addition of the Cricut cartridges really jump started my creativity and excitement for creating. I’d say that 95% of my supplies are from CTMH. I am enjoying the blogging experience, entering card challenges, posting my artwork, reading other’s blogs and being inspired by other’s artwork. I look forward to working (really it’s playing LOL) on this design team.



Alyson Mayo

My name is Alyson and I am from Barrie, Ontario, Canada. I was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba but my family moved to Ontario when I was a teenager and I have remained In this province since that time but in various cities and towns. 

I studied Instrumental Music and English in university and taught both to grades 7 and 8 students for several years before taking a permanent leave from the education system a few years ago. I have a precious little dog - a Morkie - who is my baby. My hobbies include reading, waking and I am an avid canoe tripper - both flatwater and whitewater. 

I signed up with Close To My Heart 10 years ago this month - back in January 2007. I was my original upline's best customer and she finally told me I would be better off to sign up as a consultant so I could get the discount! I have had the opportunity to present for creative sessions at several corporate events including 2 Conventions and the friendships I have made along the way are ones that I know will last a lifetime. I tend to be more of a card maker than anything else although I do scrapbook - though not as much as I would like. Maybe remembering to take my camera with me (and use it) would be a good start! 

I love creating with the coordinating products that Close To My Heart offers. Having entered several of the Colour Dare challenges the past year, I love the premise behind this challenge blog. I am honoured to have been selected for this design team and hope that my artwork inspires others to push their creativity to new levels. 

Michelle Loncar

I'm Michelle and moved to the Kansas City, Kansas area when I remarried. Before that I was (still am at heart) a Northern Girl. Originally I'm from St. Paul, MN but spent most of my pre-Kansas life in the Green Bay, WI area (Fox Valley & Door County). Between us, Michael and I have  4 daughters and 4 grandkids with a 5th to arrive soon! I LOVE being a Grandma and a few years ago became a stay at home Grandma for our one local grandchild. 

I've been a Close To My Heart consultant since 1996. It was a very quick chain of events that brought me to becoming a consultant and I've never looked back! It was the perfect fit for me then and still is now. I've been fortunate to teach and present at a number of corporate events and have built life-long friendships along the way. Plus, I get to "play" with great products and share my love of stamping and scrapping! My personal goal is to make a scrapbook for each grandchild. I do one double page layout for each month of their first year. So far I have 3 done, 1 in progress and one to start in a couple months! Of course I don't stop there and keep adding to it with pages to mark other fun things after the 1st year mark.  The great part of scrapbooking is that you get to re-live the moments again as you create the layouts. What a wonderful feeling!

My husband and I love to golf. In fact, he took up golfing for me because I enjoy it so much. I come from a big family of golfers and we have an annual family outing every year. I also love to read, listen to music and cook. Can you say Pinterest recipes?!!!

I'm honored to be selected for the Design Team! I love sharing my love of stamping and scrapping and also being inspired by others' creative work. I've loved being a participant in the Color Dare Challenges and look forward to being on the Design Team!

Donna Digby

"Scrapbooking & photography are my true passions in life. I fell in love 

with photo design when I was in High School when I joined the yearbook

committee. I started out as the photographer and was fortunate enough to

even work in a dark room developing my own photos. Once I became the

editor, I attended Yearbook camp, not once, but twice. One in Canada and

one in the States. My passion for designing yearbooks continued in

College; where I even designed the College handbook, Student handbook

and the College Newspaper.

Once I graduated from College with my Business Marketing diploma, I was

hired on at our local College's Student Union as their Marketing &

Office Administrator. Where I continued my passion for design by doing

bulletin boards, posters, bash tickets and more.

I then bought my own business, a coney dog shop and ran it for 5 years.

Then I changed the coney dog shop into the first scrapbooking store in

Thunder Bay, Ontario - Canada, DAT'S Scrapbooking and ran that for 9

years. In January 2013, I became a Close to My Heart Consultant.

The two businesses that I ran were attached to the front of my home. The

reason I went into business for myself was so that I could make a living

and raise my children at the same time. We closed my scrapbooking store

in December 2012 because we were victims to a sewer back up flood and I

had to close my business for 5 months. We couldn't bounce back after the

long closer.

I love the scrapbooking industry and I loved all of my customers who had

become my friends over the years. So, to keep in touch with my friends

and to stay involved in the industry, I became a Close to My Heart

Consultant. For now, I am a stay at home mom until my son starts school

in Fall 2015. CTMH helps me stay sane because running my home and

raising my two children is a lot of work, but it doesn't make me

completely happy. I need to be working on something or towards something.

I thrive on planning workshops, crops, participating in challenges and

designing projects. I love losing myself in my scrap room and

fortunately my son, TJ, who will be 3 in October loves being in my scrap

room. He has his spot with his toys, crafts and a 32" tv with all his

favourite Disney movies. He also loves playing with Cricut die-cuts. My

16 year old daughter, Amy, also loves to scrapbook and we try to carve

out time together whenever she isn't busy with school, sports and her

friends. My husband, Trevor, of nearly 18 years, has dabbled in

scrapbooking and it's not his thing, but he knows how to use most of the

tools and can even show you a technique or two. I can't forget my

shadow...my soon to be 11 year old pug, Sparkle. She has her spot in my

scrap room as well and when I push the midnight oil, you should see the

dirty looks I get from her because she won't retire to bed until I do.

I hope you enjoy the projects that I share with you and that they

inspire you to make time for yourself to get lost in your passion of the

scrapbooking world."

Catherine Nowak

"I am Catherine, or Cat for short.  I just moved to Arvada, Colorado in September 2014.  Prior to that I have been living in Washington State for the last 9 years, but I am originally from New Orleans, LA.  I am married to my best friend and husband for 14 years and we have one son who is just turning 3.   I am actually a veterinarian who is taking some time off to be a stay at home mommy.  I have always been artistic and drawn to design.  I actually began scrapbooking in the mid 80’s while I was in college.  Granted it was very basic just using photos, memorabilia and construction paper (yes I know everyone is shaking their heads at this moment).  In my defense this was before I discovered there was a ligament hobby called scrapbooking in the early 2000’s. When I made this discovery I ditched all my construction paper and starting investing in all the wonderful goodness there was.  I was like a sponge trying to absorb as much as I could.  I was not introduced to Close to My Heart until 2012 while I was living in the Spokane area.   I was immediately hooked and signed up to be a consultant two months later.    It was only after becoming a consultant that I realized how fun and exciting it was to make card in addition to paper crafts and of course scrapbooks.  I really enjoy creating just about everything and sharing it with friends and family on my blog and in person.  I am really excited about joining the design team for Color Dare to see what inspirations abound."

Lela Norris

I'm Lela and I live in Medina, Ohio right now. My day job moved me here in 2005. I've been married to my DH for 25 years and we have 2 sons who are both in college - yes, I'm an empty-nester now! They always say you'll have lots more time to stamp and scrap when you're kids are grown and I'm testing that theory. I started scrapping in 2003 on a recommendation from a Career Coach the company I worked for hired for me. I thought she was crazy when she brought me a stack of craft magazines and suggested I pick a "hobby" as I needed balance. I ended up making a scrapbook of a trip we took to Finland and 17 albums later, the rest is history. I was introduced to stamping at a scrapbooking convention and started just by making Christmas cards but soon expanded as my stash of stamps grew. I'm not sure I achieved true life balance because I still have a full time day job and I stamp/scrap alot but I'm loving every minute of it. I was introduced to CTMH through a magazine ad and found a demo from there. I loved all the products but especially that it had colors I could scrap my boys. and the unmounted, acrylic stamps were just for me. It's all good and I'm thrilled to be part of the DT.

Jen Benner

HI there!! I'm Jen from the "Jen's Messy Studio" blog & Facebook. I am a Deaf stay at home mom to 3 boys, Connor (18), Duncan (14) and Aiden (12). My husband, Jeff and I have been married for over 19 years now. I met my husband 20 years ago when he was home on leave from the United State Air Force. After a very brief courtship, we were married 6 months later. I am bi-laterally cochlear implanted with Advanced Bionics’ implants.

I have been scrapbooking and rubber stamping for over 13 years now. I have been hooked since the start. I do host crop nights in my home. I joined Close to my Heart in August of 2008 and haven't looked back since then. You’ll see that I will mix up a lot of various products from different companies in my personal artwork.

When I am not in the Studio; you can find me curled up on the couch reading the kindle. I LOVE to read. The boys keep me very busy with their sports also. There are times where you'll find me watching old TV shows from the 90's with my husband.

• May 2013 - Earned Bachelor, Master & PH.D Degree from Close to my Heart
• 2008 – current – Close to my Heart Independent Consultant
• 2004 – 2008 – Stampin’ Up Independent Demonstrator
• 2002 – Started scrapbooking & stamping; freelance

Design Teams I am currently on:

·         Heart2Heart Challenges

·         Color My Heart Color Dare

·         Deaf Crafters

Design Teams I have served on:

·         Between the Folds Challenge

 Social Medias:

Blog: http://www.jensmessystudio.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JensMessyStudio
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jensmessystudio
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/jensmessystudio
Instagram: https://instagram.com/jensmessystudio

Suzanne Reynolds

HI ! 

My name is Suzanne Reynolds, originally from Buffalo, NY, married with three grown children and five grandchildren. I was a part of the work force for many years in accounting and technology; however, I am now retired, residing with my husband in the Phoenix Metro area along with the rest of our family. I was a workaholic and worried what was I going to do in retirement.

About 15 years ago I picked up scrapbooking and created my Christmas cards each year…so paper crafting is not new to me.   In my blog, click on the tab for My History Scrapbook and see some of my old scrapbook pages from 15 years ago and note the changes and advancements of papercrafting and tools available

It didn’t take me long after leaving the workplace to bring out my stash of old cardstock, design papers, stamps and embellishments to share my creative side in challenges. Of course I had to get updated supplies…this was easy because my daughter is a CTMH consultant and I think I'm keeping her in business.  Sometimes a risk taker with my art, I like developing clever ways to utilize materials and trying both old and new techniques.  So it is confirmed…I have transitioned from workaholic to cardaholic.  

I have faithfully done challenges over the last year or more with Color Dare; however, this will be my first attempt as a Design Team member and hope I prove worthy of it…looking forward to this experience, viewing and commenting on entrants to this challenge.   

When I’m not crafting, I may be sewing, or you may find me at the fitness center (not so much) or enjoying the pool... or quite possibly on a cruise or vacation. 

Tracey Pierce

My name is Tracey Pierce AKA Papercrafting Princess and I’m a native of Washington State.  I live on a small farm with my handsome prince, two dogs, three cows and ten goldfish!  I have a 25 year old son.  I love to travel, stamp, scrapbook, spend time with my friends, and listen to country music.

I was introduced to stamping in 1991 when I was invited to a D.O.T.S. party, little did I know it would become a lifelong passion.   I started stamping when I was a single mom so that I could make Christmas and birthday cards for my friends. (Think glossy cardstock and rainbow pads!)

I became a consultant for Close to My Heart in 2005 when I moved to a new town so that I might have a chance to meet some new people.  I moved again in 2008 and once again Close to My Heart has introduced me to some amazing friends!

I am excited to be a part of the Color My Heart Color Dare Design Team.  I have followed the Color Dare for several years and even appeared as a Guest Designer way back on Challenge #144.  I served one term on the DT of the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge which I enjoyed immensely.

I love making cards that have movement or a different shape and invite you to follow my blogwww.papercraftingprincess.wordpress.com.  You can also find me on Instagram @papercrafting_princess

Gretchen Stumme (previous)

My name is Gretchen Stumme and I have been a crafter/artist for as long as I can remember.  I’ve tried a variety of mediums at one time or another, but paper-crafting has stuck as one of my favorites.  I bought my first stamp to use on the back of my wedding invitations and was instantly hooked.  The Color My Heart Design Team is my first design team, and I am thrilled to join this talented group!

I am a Marketing Specialist as well as a Close To My Heart consultant.  I love teaching workshops in book making, paper arts, and quilting.  If you don’t find me in my studio behind my paper cutter or sewing machine, I’m probably out and about behind my camera.  The local zoo animals are my favorite subjects! 

I grew up in Connecticut, but have lived in Upstate New York with my husband Dave since our college years.

 Peachy Lamb (previous)

"Here's a little something about me...

I'm Peachy Iris G. Lamb and  I'm a Trauma ICU/CVICU RN when I'm not doing something creative.  I have been a nurse for 19 years now and counting, but I have been a crafter for a longer time.  I started the creative process when I was 2 years old, and 37 years later, I'm still continuously learning and trying to improve on my crafts!  I joined Close To My Heart April 2014 as an Independent Consultant and I love the color palette and everything that goes with it!  I'm highly adaptable when it comes to my crafting style, but when I make things for myself, I do gravitate towards Baroque Minimalism and Steampunk.  I am looking forward to sharing my projects as a Design Team member for Color My Heart Color Dare!"

Becca Whitham (previous)

I am a former CTMH consultant (back when it used to be called D.O.T.S for Dozens of Terrific Stamps) and still own a number of those lovely, wood-mounted images. My original goal was to get in, buy what I wanted by using the money I made from parties, and get out in a year. I lasted five years (because every catalogue had more stuff I “needed”) before I finally had to give up being a consultant. Now, I’m a very good customer. A very good one! Because every catalogue still has something I need.

In addition to my stamping addiction, I am also a writer. Not an author yet, but a writer nonetheless.Most published authors will tell you it takes about ten years—and seven full novels—before you become an “overnight success.” I’m two and a half years and two full novels into the process. My genre is Inspirational Historical Fiction heavy on the suspense and always with a thread of romance.My tag line is: Same Jesus, Different Setting.

My husband is an Army chaplain so we move. A lot. (The movers are never happy about my stamp collection, but I blithely ignore them and make a run to Starbucks as a peace offering.) We are currently located in Lawton, Oklahoma at Fort Sill, but “home” is Washington State.

We have been married twenty-eight years and have two grown children. Our son is an Army captain currently serving in Afghanistan; our daughter is married and lives in Wenatchee, WA.

This is my first design team. I’m excited to share my love of stamping using both old and new CTMH products.

Hansi Brittain (previous)

"The creative process soothes my soul.  Who can think about the complications of life when you are creating?  I fell in with a group of amazing women who get together for fellowship, fun and paper crafting.   One day, a friend invited me to a monthly group to which she belonged ...just for fun.. .no need to buy anything…  Yeah, right!  I loved the Close to My Heart products!  It was in monthly group that I discovered card making which has become both therapy and ministry.  After I get the pleasure of making something, I can brighten someone’s day by giving it away.  By participating in challenge blogs, I have learned so much from fellow crafters who share their work and techniques and have also been inspired to join the Close to My Heart team.  I am honored to be part of the Color My Heart Color Dare design team."

Tina Gale (previous)

"Being a wife and mother is all I ever wanted in life and I'm fortunate to be married to a wonderful man for 28 years and a mother to two awesome kids as well. I love photography, to scrap and do anything artistic. I combine all of this to document and preserve my love and memories for my family. My layouts have lots of photos and journalling to tell the story behind them, all while using beautiful paper, simple, quick, and very doable techniques that create charming pages to share with friends and family. You can find me on my blog tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com and my facebook page MyScrappyIdeas for more ideas. "

Linda Anderson (previous)

Hi, my name is Linda Anderson and I am thrilled to be a part of the Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge design team. I live in Pittsburgh, PA with my husband Brian, our two boys, Phillip and Kevin, and our two cats, Moonstruck and Mojo. I have been card making for about 12 years now and just recently started scrapbooking. I've had many careers, from being a registered nurse and taekwondo instructor to my most recent one, a Domestic Engineer. I have been collecting Close to my Heart products for quite some time now, and as strange as it may sound, my absolute favorite is their inks. Talk about wonderful coverage, a requirement for every stamper!!! I'm looking forward to all the color dare challenges and meeting all of you along the way.

Amie Kiger (previous)

Hi! My name is Amie Kiger and I was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. Now, my hubby and I are raising our three daughters here as well. I am a self- employed child care provider with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Doctorate in the Close to My Heart Training Academy. ;) I have been with Close to My Heart for almost a year now, and I cannot remember what it was like to not be a part of this amazing company! I am a scrapbooker-at-heart-turned-cardmaker and never imagined I would be in the place I am today. Wherever there is shimmer trim or glitter paper, you will be sure to find me as well! This is my very first design team, and I am super-excited to be a part of it!

Caroline Bredeson (previous)

Hi, my name is Caroline, and I live in the Canadian province of Ontario. I am a speech-language pathologist by day, with hobbies of distance-running and Celtic music--when crafting time doesn’t pre-empt them! My family spent 10 years living in the US (Sarah’s home state of Wisconsin!) where I didn’t immediately have a work visa, so I took up volunteering and through that met a great group of scrap-booking friends. I joined CTMH in August 2011 and starting blogging when we moved back to Canada, as a way to find new friends to craft with. I have met so many “virtual” pals, through blog-hops, challenges, and the Heart2Heart design team--tons of talent and inspiration out there! My three sons are older now (still photogenic but not so fond of posing for the camera!) so I spend more time making cards and paper-crafting. I love the kick-start to creativity a good challenge provides, and am thrilled to be joining the Color My Heart Design Team for 2013.

Pam Korte (previous)

My name is Pam Korte and I have been a Close to my Heart Consultant since August 2012. I live in Scottsville, New York outside of Rochester, New York in upstate New York. I am a full time tenured professor of nursing and adjunct professor of psychology for a course on animal assisted therapy at the local community college, subject matter expert for a major textbook company, sister to the one that got me started in paper crafting six years ago, and mother to two rescued dogs India greyhound and Gina whippet. I have been rescuing greyhounds for over 20 years. My hobbies include enjoying the outdoors, reading and playing golf in addition to my love for paper crafting. I love to paper craft for relaxation and do it most evenings after work. I started paper crafting after my sister introduced me to a paper cutter and some paper. I love to scrapbook, make cards and make a variety of 3D paper crafting projects. I thoroughly enjoy introducing new people to the art of paper crafting through workshops and custom made project kits for individuals to enjoy. I love Close to my Heart because it is truly about the celebration of relationships through the discovery of one’s own creativity. I found myself expressing my love for God and life through my paper crafting endeavors and sharing that creativity with others through key moments in life. I am honored to have been provided with this opportunity to share my love of paper crafting with others.

Carmen Mitchell (previous)

 Hi my name is Carmen Mitchell and I am thrilled to be a part of the Color My Heart Dare Challenge DT.  I live near Edmonton, Alberta Canada with my husband and my 2 youngest children. I also have 2 grown children living close by. I was a Dental Assistant for 16 years before deciding to become a full time Mom/Domestic Engineer.  Now I am lucky enough to be able to pursue my passion of Crafting while my kids are at school.  I have been crafting my entire life, I currently spend my time creating pottery and paper crafts. Although I have been making cards for about 10 years and started scrap booking about 2 years ago I only recently became addicted to online challenges.  About two and a half years ago I met a CTMH representative and now call her a good friend and CTMH my favorite products.  I love that all of the CTMH products match, the colors all go together; I never have to search for the right shade of red ribbon to match my paper or inks...  This makes the products so easy to use and you can simply let your creativity flow.

Sheri Ballantyne (previous)

Sheri’s Not-So-Secret Life

I wear many hats.  I am a wife of almost 17 years to my high school sweetheart, Matt, who is also my best friend.  I am a mom to two very busy boys – Sam (age 12, going into grade 8) and Charlie (age 8, going into grade 3).  I am a volunteer, at the school and with my kids’ activities.  I play baseball, read Stephen King, and love anything Disney.

By day, I am a freelance advertising writer, specializing in financial, not-for-profit and pharmaceutical / health literacy writer.  And I am a weird combination of Type A organizational personality and creative free spirit.

One of my favourite hats is the one I wear as a Close to my Heart consultant.  I love to craft, I love to teach crafting, and I love it when my ladies call me their “Creative Goddess”.   I have been with CTMH for over 8 years and I love every minute of it.  This past June, I was honoured to receive a Top Seller Award, reaching #4 in sales for all of Canada.

I am really excited to be a part of the Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge Blog (though, I keep wanting to spell colour the “right” way – colour!!  Wink, wink.)  CTMH has such an amazing and versatile palette of colours and it’s so fun to play with different combinations.  Plus, I am inspired by the whole teaching aspect – teaching others how to use different colours in different ways for different projects. 

So bring on the challenges, I am up for it!  Will you join me?

Shirley Ross (previous)

In 2000, I found myself drawn toward a new creative outlet, scrapbooking. My sister-in-law introduced me to this art medium and I soon found myself in love. In love with the the paper, the colors, the photos, the memories, and most importantly, how it made me feel – happy.

I could spend hours creating a layout, blocking out the world around me, even if just for a while. The coolest benefit, my Mom and I scrapped together, thus my blog name Mom ‘n Me Scrap.

I soon began to explore other papercrafting venues. The best part of being a ‘papercrafter’, is the friends. Just as in the quilting bee days of yesteryear, papercrafting brings women together with a common thread, a place to share, fellowship, and feel welcome.

This journey has led to my adventure in running my own stamping and scrapbooking business. The old adage is true ‘when you find your passion, make it your career’. It has worked for me. 

My favorite product line, Close To My Heart; my style ‘the blinger the better’; where I want to go next, only time will tell.

 

Sheila Bennett (previous)

"Since joining Close To My Heart in 2002, I have found many wonderful new friends and love to spend time creating cards, scrapbook pages, and other paper crafts.  Attending the annual Conventions and other corporate-sponsored events allows me to travel and enjoy visiting with my friends from all over the country.  My favorite thing about CTMH is that there are 40 exclusive colors - and the inks match the cardstock which match the background and texture papers which match the numerous embellishments.  

We raised two children in our home in Olathe, Kansas and are now “empty nesters” which means I have more time to spend in my Stamp Room!"