Happy Birthday Melissa & a Giveaway!

(photo and project by: Fabienne Pernot)

Today we are pleased to celebrate Melissa’s 50th Birthday on the MF blog. Not too long ago, Melissa used to dread getting older. But since fighting through her stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis in 2007, she has been reminded what a gift life is. And now, every additional year represents more opportunities to live life to the fullest!

Given that 50 is such a milestone, we decided to surprise Melissa with a birthday post of epic proportions. We have a ton of people - friends, design team members and former design team members - who wanted to take part in making Melissa’s day a joyful one. So please enjoy this parade of birthday wishes to one very deserving woman. (And, if you’re looking for the giveaway, read to the end of this post where the details will be posted.)

Sr. Creative Director Carolyn Peeler made Melissa this card featuring the brand new Just a Little Something - Pearl stamp along with Melissa Frances trim and patterned paper. If you click on the link to Carolyn’s blog, you can see the handmade bracelet she made for Melissa as well.

Carolyn has the following birthday message for Melissa:

Melissa, I hope that you have a wonderful day today with your family. You are such a fighter and champion and I am grateful to have you in my life. Happy Birthday!

Former design team member Amber Tosh sent Melissa this adorable card featuring some oldies but goodies from our Hush a Bye and Fresh Twist collections.

Her message to Melissa: Happy Birthday Melissa! I hope that God truly blesses you this year.

Karin Aguirre used our stacking box set as a base for a festive decoration. Given how there is an ongoing office joke about Melissa being the Queen, Karin’s project is especially fitting.

Karin has the following birthday greeting for Melissa:

Happy Happy Birthday Melissa!  Remember....It's not about getting older....... It's about living longer and stronger!!  Wishing many more wonderful birthdays and an amazing year to come!

Design team member Anne Kristen made these cute Attic Treasures tags and beautiful wall hanging as a gift for Melissa. (Did you notice that the wall hanging is made on the packaging for the large resin?)



Annes birthday wish for Melissa:

 "Happy Birthday to you, Melissa!! Wishing you all you are wishing for..."

Sherrie Siemens, a member of the Melissa Frances design team, made this lovely card for Melissa and includes this note:

Congratulations on a wonderful milestone that we are celebrating today! You have struggled and persevered to get here and in the middle of it all you have inspired many! Blessings to you in this upcoming year!

Hugs,

Sherrie

(sorry, image out for publication)

Russian design team member Evgenia chose our C’est la Vie collection for her birthday greeting card to Melissa, and made a lovely fabric covered journal as a gift. Evgenia says:

I hope you are having a great birthday Melissa. May all your days be good, full of positive moments and nice people.

Former design team member Linda Albrecht combines a Melissa Frances resin embellishment with fabric to make this gorgeous birthday card.

"What a wonderful milestone to be celebrating, Melissa!  My wish for you is a birthday (and many years ahead) filled with love, joy, and tranquility.  As we age we are blessed with so many new and wonderful things... additions to our family, knowledge to change the things that will improve our lives, endless memories that make us who we are, and beautiful lines on our faces that show how much we have lived and laughed.  May these joys always be plentiful, your smiles many and your life long and prosperous.   Love to you always, Linda"

This gorgeous mini album comes to us from Emeline Seet who used our C`est la Vie Mini Album as a base to create something special for someone special.

This colorful card comes to us from friend of Melissa, and Creative editor of Creating Keepsakes, Megan Hoeppner. Megan included the following note for Melis:

What a treat it is to be here celebrating you today, dear Melissa. Your kind heart and optimistic outlook have always inspired me, especially when my mom was battling breast cancer. You were there for me with words of wisdom and support, which meant the world to me. That’s just the kind of gal you are, which is why I’m thrilled to be among those wishing you a happy 50^th. I hope this day and the year ahead are filled with sunshine and happiness. You deserve nothing less. Warmly, Megan Hoeppner

Lover of vintage style, long time Melissa Frances team member Rachel McAffee made Melissa this cute fairy in a jar!

Make a wish, Melissa!

Happy 50^th Birthday to a strong, hilarious, generous, creative, kind and beautiful woman. I am so blessed to know you and to be a part of the Melissa Frances family. I hope you have an incredible day and are spoiled rotten! Thank you for being such an inspiration to me and so many others. Here’s to another 50 years!

Love, Rachel

Former design team member, Page Maps author, and current editor of Scrapbook & Cards today, Becky Fleck made this sweet card and enclosed the following wish for Melissa:

“Melissa, today I celebrate YOU! Your courage, your strength, your perseverance, your influence and your beautiful spirit. May every good thing come your way today and always. I am a better person for having known you! Love, Becky”

Our resident Francophone DT member, Fabienne Pernot sends Melissa this wee creation which looks good enough to eat!

Fabienne’s birthday wish to Melissa:

  I've always loved birthdays, and I love it even more when it's the birthday of a woman like you! A person who enjoys life, friends, simple pleasures, who I greatly admire. So a very Happy Birthday Melissa!

Long time Melissa Frances design team member Melissa Phillips brings her over the top Shabby Chic stylings to this beautiful celebrate pocket card.

Melissa has the following birthday greeting for Melissa Frances:

"Happy Birthday Melissa!  You are one of the most inspiring women I know and I look up to you in so many ways.  I will never forget the time you have taken to reach out and connect with me.  I consider myself so lucky to have the opportunity of knowing you and calling you my friend."

 

Now, we'd like to invite you to join us in celebrating Melissa's Birthday. We'd like to make this day a really special one for her. So, please leave a comment on this blog post with your birthday wish for Melissa. To be eligible for the giveaway, you must post before 9AM PST on Tuesday, September 4th. On Sept. 4th we will randomly select one commenter to receive a goodie box full of $100 worth of our gorgeous products.

But, wait, that's not all. Our friends at Scrapbook and Cards Today magazine have graciously offered to add a one year subscription to their publication to the lucky winner. How cool is that?!

So, all together now....

We have an update with Melissa's response:

I woke up in bed late today (hubby let me sleep in) and started to look at my facebook on my phone, and was tagged on a photo. It was one of these birthday cards. So came to the blog to check it out. Tears were running down my face as I was reading all my birthday wishes. I am truly overwhelmed and so grateful for all my cards and gifts. Your wishes were humbling and extremely touching thank you all so much.

Life is GOOD!

Comments

[Ros Crawford]

Beautiful creations and gifts .. Happy Birthday Melissa ... may you continue with good health and happiness ....

[Anastasia Tsygankova]

What a great idea! Ladies, you all are just fabulous! All the best wishes to Melissa!!!! Have a great day!!!

[Amy Prior]

What a beautiful post for a beautiful lady, happy birthday Melissa and thank you for constantly being an amazing inspiration for me and millions of others. I hope and wish for many more healthy years ahead xx

[Cata]

¡SALUD!
PROST!
SANTÉ!
SALUTE!
CHEEEEEEEEEEERRSSSS!

L❤L

Who would have thought we'd come this far?

[Peggy Lee]

WOW What a way to celebrate this amazing day Melissa you are so loved and blessed...Beautiful artword I must go back and lookies again.
Melissa I am blessed to have met you in Manchester, NH at CKC a couple of years ago. You are a treasure!
Happy Birthday and many more...

Peggy Lee Baker
Whitefield, NH
xoxoxo

[Ekaterine]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY dear Melissa, my most favourite manufacturer, an artist, a poet and a beautiful lady! Happy birthday to you!

[margie]

happiest of birthdays to you Melissa!
thank you for sharing your fabulous gifts.

[jan m]

Happy Birthday Melissa! Another year to celebrate! Best wishes for good health and joy!

[Amy M.]

Happy Birthday Melissa!! Hope all your wishes come true!

[Phyllis M.]

Happy Birthday Melissa! Many blessings to you. Enjoy your special day.

[Dolly/scrapthat]

Have a very happy Birthday Melissa and a fabulous year!! :D

[Anita]

Happy birthday to you! We are singing for you! Let God bless you! Best regards from Russia!!!

[mamaLeka]

Happy Birthday Melissa! I wish you health and happiness, I admire the fortitude, beauty and creativity!

[Darla Weber]

Happy Birthday Melissa! Best wishes for happy and healthy year!

[Miriam Prantner]

Happy Birthday Melissa! Hope that you have a wonderful day - I'm quite sure that this blog post full of beautiful projects and love had you full to bursting. Thanks so much for the chance to win some great goodies!

[Bobbie Duran]

Wishing you a beautiful day. Happy Birthday Melissa!

[Scossie Jane]

Many Birthday Wishes from Scotland. Welcome to a very special club - the Nifty Fifty Girls. My Mum was 49 when we lost her to C. I'm Fifty and treasure each and every day and I know you do too. God Bless You Melissa... Hugs xx

[Jerri Klusmeyer]

Many wonderful wishes are going your way for a beautiful birthday and many more to come.

[Debbie Titus]

Happy Birthday. You have inspired many of us in many ways...both health wise and creativity. Thank you.

[Connie]

What a day to celebrate! I wish you the very best. You have some wonderful and creative friends. Welcome to the 50 and over club.

[melissa frances]

I woke up in bed late today (hubby let me sleep in) and started to look at my facebook on my phone, and was tagged on a photo. It was one of these birthday cards. So came to the blog to check it out. Tears running down my face as I was reading all my birthday wishes. I am truly overwhelmed and so grateful for all my cards and gifts. Your wishes were humbling and extremely touching thank you all so much. Life is GOOD
Carolyn you rock for doing this thanks to a wonderful friend! P.S. found out what my gift was before I openned it lol
Love it!

[Mona Pendleton]

Happy Birthday Melissa! Hope you have a wonderful day celebrating you and hope that Brian spoils you rotten as you so deserve :)

[Diane Hover]

Oh my Happy Birthday Melissa, and may I say I think you are a very beautiful 50!! I am celebrating a milestone birthday this year, too, and I find the older I get, the less energy I have for some things, which gives me more time to sit and create~create~create...works for me...lol...so have a wonderful birthday, relax, enjoy your day. and I wish you many more!!!! :>)
OH and want to add, I would be 50 every year if I had all these wonderful things your friends made for you...so gorgeous!!!

[Janet B]

Happy Birthday and I wish you many more. I am going to be 50 in a year or so, and it's more than an age...it's more than being old. I know you get that....it's another chance to live, to spend time with those you love, and to spend time doing what you love!

[Annette Abrahamson]

i reading this post as i start my day...i'm thinking what an amazing way to wake up!! The love and respect melissa's friends have for her says it all :) happy birthday to a creative & inspiring woman!