Introducing the new Design Team!

As sad as I am to see the "old" Design Team members retiring from Heart 2 Heart Challenges, I am excited to welcome the new members of the team! So let's welcome them with a *bang* this holiday weekend!!

I have 2 new faces to introduce you to today.

First up is Michelle Auten:

 

"Hi!  My name is Michelle, and I am a paper addict.....oh, no, wait....wrong group!  :-)  Let's try again....Hi, My name is Michelle Auten, and I am so excited to be joining you here at Heart2Heart Challenges!

Though I was born and raised in Illinois, I've lived in the Washington, DC metro area for the past 16 years.  I currently live in Northern Virginia, about an hour outside the city, in a small town named Purcellville.  I am married to a wonderful (and very supportive!) man named Mike, and we have 2 children: Josh, age 14 (teenager in da house...pray for me!), and Allison, age 11.  We also have a very cute, but ornery Shih Tzu named Bandit.  I think he gives me more trouble than the teenager!  :-)

I have been scrapbooking, stamping and making cards for about 6 years. It all started with an invitation for my son's 8th birthday. I wanted to send out a camping themed invitation, but couldn't find anything that fit the bill. While wandering the aisles at a local craft store one day, I noticed a "You're Invited" stamp, and some little paper cut-outs of tents. An idea was born, and I've never looked back.

While I am a Family Therapist by trade (I have a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology), my hobby eventually led me to work in a couple of local scrapbook stores, where I designed and taught classes.  Like so many brick and mortar stores in recent years, these stores have unfortunately closed their doors for good.  But one day, in March 2010, a girlfriend asked me to attend a Close To My Heart workshop with her. I was familiar with Close To My Heart, but had not seen a catalog for quite some time, so I agreed to go. As I sat watching the consultant teach the workshop, I was reminded of how much I missed teaching and sharing my passion for this craft with others. About 2 weeks later, my girlfriend called to say that she was contemplating signing up to be a Close To My Heart Consultant. As I was talking her into it, and convincing her what a great opportunity it would be, it dawned on me that this was something that I should be doing as well. And how much fun to start with a friend!! So, on April 1, 2010, we both signed up online, and the rest is history.

I am so grateful to CTMH, as it has given me the opportunity to once again share my passion for this hobby with others.  I hope I can share this enthusiasm with you, and encourage you to play along with us here at Heart2Heart Challenges!!"

Please take a minute to visit Michelle at her blog, Paper, Projects and Pizazz and leave her a welcome message!!

Next up is Brenda Rose:

"Hello! I am so excited to be joining Heart 2 Heart as a design team member! My husband and I live in Minnesota in a northern suburb of the Twin Cities and will celebrate our 21^st anniversary this summer. We have one grown son, so we are empty nesters now. I really began my journey with Close To My Heart in the summer of 2005 when I signed up to be a consultant. Do you know that I had never even seen the Close To My Heart products when I signed up? It was an amazing journey from the beginning! I took a couple of years off and recently re-joined and am now growing another team. My greatest passion is teaching, and it’s not a secret to anyone that reads my blog that Close To My Heart is my very favorite product. I have been scrapping for about 21 years, so believe me, I feel like I have tried and tested it all! I love the “whole package” that is Close To My Heart. If you are working on a page, you can get paper, stickers, stamps, and inks that all coordinate. If I am not in my craft room, you’ll find me spending time with my family and pets. I am also an avid reader, so my Kindle gets very good use. I look forward to getting to know all of you through your artwork!"

You can leave a note of welcome for Brenda at her blog Rose Blossom Legacies.

Two more team members to introduce tomorrow so stay tuned!