I love my team!

Who would have thought, over 11 years ago, that I would have a team of almost 100 Consultants?!  I joined Close To My Heart because of my love for the products and what I could create with them.  Since then, I have developed meaningful and long-term friends with women I would have not otherwise known had it not been for CTMH.  I'm lucky enouhg to connect with them at least once a year at our team retreat or CTMH events.

Members of my first downline who joined me at the retreat.

This is s a photo of the Consultants who were at the retreat. 

Most are members of my team with a few off-team, Consultant friends!  :0)

All 34 team retreat attendees!  We had a FABULOUS TIME! 

It's a GREAT time to join Close To My Heart!

Dare to dream by being your own boss with flexible hours and unlimited earning potential when you join Close To My Heart as a new Consultant this March. When you join, you will receive these four new stamp sets free! 

The retail value of the free stamp sets total $91.80 which nearly covers the price of your New Consultant Kit*. When all is said and done, you will receive more than $400 in fabulous new products to get your dream business started. Now is the time to make your stamping dreams come true! Contact me about joining my team!  I'd love to have you!

* Purchase of the $99 US/$115 CAN New Consultant Kit is required. Tax and shipping/handling are required on the New Consultant Kit. There is no additional tax, shipping/handling for the free items. Free items are the May-August 2010 Stamp of the Month sets. Offer valid March 1-31, 2010.

The Ballroom

It's amazing all the stuff and people we were able to fit into the Lone Star Ballroom this past weekend for the retreat.

 

This photo shows the room before the madness began!  There were a total of 34 spots, each person with their own table.

We moved in!  We could have stocked a scrapbook store!

Here is Lulu at Lupita's station.  She had a complete set-up, didn't she?

Here is how a quad looked with all the fun.  These girls - Kim, Julie, Mel and Pam - kept their workspaces better organized than some! 

Retreat Goodies

I always enjoying giving out goodies at the retreat and this year it was no different. 

These are the place cards I made for each person's croppin' space.

These are some cute Ghiradelli candy matchbooks that my friend, Pamela, shared with me.  They are stinkin' cute!  You can find directions by clicking here.

This is what each person's setting looked like.  Wrapped in Blush wrapping paper was a My Creations Journal.  I issued a challenge for decorating this cute new product with no stipulations other than they had to be done by 10 a.m. Sunday morning.  (Look for photos of the winning items coming soon...)

This was another gift, placed at each spot on Saturday morning.  It is the 6x6 album and a dauber that were necessary supplies for the creative projects.

What it's all about...

Today I feel so refreshed after spending time with my Mom and Consultant friends for a fun girl's weekend!  We had such a fabulous experience at Lone Oak Ranch & Retreat in Gainesville, TX.  The hospitality was great and the atmosphere, spectacular!  I couldn't have asked for anything better other than having a few more of my Consultant friends with us!

The #1 driving force for me in having a Close To My Heart business are the relationships. I have been blessed to know friends I would have not otherwise known. I LOVE attending CTMH-related events, including my team retreats, where I can develop friendships and form new ones while sharing a common interest.

Me, Amanda and Cindy

My Mom, Me, and Cindy

Me and Melissa

Lupita, Mom, Me, and Lulu

Dorothy, Xellina and Melissa

Having fun at my team retreat!

It has been a great trip to Texas for my annual retreat.  I came into town a couple of days early and met up with my Mom (from New Mexico), Sheila (from Arizona) and Cindy (from Texas).  We settled in at the retreat and had a delicious and authentic Mexican dinner!  I had huevos rancheros, with red chile, and they were TASTY!

Cindy and Me

Sheila and Mom

We are retreatin' at Lone Oak Ranch & Retreat and having a fabulous time scrapbooking and stamping with 34 "addicts".  All the buildings and decorations are Texas-style and absolutely adorable.  Here are a few photos to keep you updated.

Star Hotel and Ballroom - This is where we are croppin' until all hours of the morning with hotel rooms on the perimeter of the building.

Here are a couple of the buildings on the property, including the Rodeo Cafe, where we have been eating some yummy meals.

The ranch hosts many weddings a year in this church on the property.

This is where we are staying, in the Green House. 

A Friend for Life...

Using the new Veranda paper pack, "A Posy" stamp set and the Baroque Alphabet, I made this layout as my $6 Scrapbook Workshop for March.  If you live in the Hutchinson area, join me for this workshop on Thursday, March 18th at 6:30 p.m.  (Location TBA but will be held in Hutchinson.)  Please contact me for more details.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I am glad we celebrate this holiday throughout the year but I also enjoy gathering some special treats for a fun day!  Gotta love being able to modge podge "some of his favorite things" without having to pay the high costs of a retail store.  I think I did a pretty good job! 

And who can pass up a good excuse to eat some chocolate-covered strawberries?  Okay...so they aren't as pretty as those bought in the store but I guarantee they were less expensive and are just as tasty.  And they were made by me! 

I haven't been slacking...

I have been working really hard on treats for those attending my Team Retreat at the end of this month but I am not sharing those treats until after the fact.  Nice try, team members!  :0)  I have also been working on secret sister items that I cannot share either.  Too bad so sad, huh?  Hopefully you are attending the retreat that you will get to see the items first-hand and if not, you'll have to check back at the end of the month and in early March.  These boxes are full of goodies!

I am anxious to see 32 fellow scrapbookers in just a couple of weeks! 

Frame turned dry erase board

I have seen these frames in many places on the web and have waited this long to make one myself.  I was blessed to receive one from my downline, Tonya, in November and was inspired to model this one closely after my friend's (Pamela O.) creations.  (Check out her blog here.) 

I love having these memo boards around the house to keep me focused and completing necessary tasks.  It's great that you can use any scrapbooking products you have on-hand to make one for your home or office or... create one as a gift!