My new blog and re-designed website up and running!

Hi Blogging Friends-

I have re-designed my website. My blog and website are not located in one convenient place.   Please visit me at www.missgingerdots.com for my latest blog news and website updates.  Hope to see you over there!

Tina

Email and Website Problems

I am having issues with emails and my website.  I hope to have the problem resolved soon! In the mean time, email me at missgingerdots@mchsi.com.  I can get emails at that account but can not respond or FACEBOOK email me.  My facebook name is Tina Jeselnik Sutton.  Sorry for the issues.  Not a good way to start the week...

Tina

Optional Classes Offered at Crop

Hi Scrapbooking Friends-

I am hosting a 2 day crop on February 5th and 6th.   I am posting optional classes on my blog so it will be easy for students to view classes and register.  Enjoy the artwork.

Tina

Please Bring your Class Kit to all classes-  Paper trimmer, adhesive, glue dots, ruler, etc.  If you sign up for a class, please be prepared to pay for it at the crop.  If you are unable to take the class, you will be given your class kit.  Teachers have to prepare the kits, and it is difficult when students cancel at the last minute.  Thank you for understanding.  Please email Tina@missgingerdots.com to register for classes.  You will get a confirmation email from me. 

Dry Erase Board-  Friday 1:00-3:00 or Saturday 3:00-5:00 p.m. These boards are so much fun to make.  You will have your choice of themes.  In your kit you will get a pack of CTMH paper, a frame, use of stamps, dry erase pen,  accessories and color instructions.  Cost is for supplies only- instruction is free!  Make a board for your office, your kitchen, your craft room, your bedroom... let your imagination soar.  Each board will be different and unique!  Cost is $28.00 and class is taught by Tina Sutton. 

Made By: Tina Sutton

Made By:  Barb Carrico

Top Notch with Topstitch by Meredith Painter- Friday at 6:00 or Saturday at 1:00

Join me in making this adorable 2-page layout using Topstitch. We will also create 3 coordinating cards.  Kit includes pre-cut Topstitch B&T paper and cardstock to make layouts and cards plus extra of all papers to finish up at home and for stamping. It will also include colonial white cards and envelopes, set of mini-medley accents in colonial white, antique copper brads,and an assortment of heavenly blue ribbon for projects.  We'll do sponge distressing and try out the soft set eyelet tool. Color photos and instructions provided. Recommended to bring if possible: scissors, adhesive, glue dots/lines, chocolate ink. Cost $15.00.  Limit 10

Veranda Paper Album Purse with Jackie Gay-  Friday 8:00 p.m.

Join me in making this Super Cute Paper Album Purse with the Beautiful Veranda Papers. Kit includes pre-cut Veranda paper and cardstock to make 10 pages. Also included are: Ribbon, Ribbon Slides, Paper Flowers, Brads and sparkles to jazz up your pages. We'll do sponge distressing and some scissor distressing. Color photos and instructions provided. Recommended to bring if possible: scissors, adhesive, glue dots/lines, chocolate, garden green and juniper ink. Cost $18.00.  Limit 6

 Mix and Match- By Lindsey Delemare-  Class Description and Photo coming soon!  Saturday 5:00 p.m.


Classes will sell out.  First come, first serve.  Once you register for a class, please be prepared to take the class or buy the kit!  Thank you... can't wait to crop with you.  FUN, FUN, FUN!

Sweetheart Box- XXOOOXOX

Everybody loves getting a box of sweethearts at Valentine's Day!  Why not make them extra special by adding some bling to them!  These Sweetheart boxes are so fun to make!  Use your imagination and have FUN, FUN, FUN!

Here are the directions:

1.  Cover your box with a base piece of  background and texture paper.  I cut mine 4" x 7".

2.  I cut a coordinating piece of background and texture paper to 1" x 7".  I used a punch to create an eyelet look. 

3.  Cut a slit in front of the box.  Wrap the ribbon around the box (between the box and b&t paper on the back and through the slit center in the front).  See photo.  This keeps the sweetheart box from coming out when you pull it up.

4.  Cut coordinating cardstock to decorate the front of the box.  Stamp your image on this cardstock.  Glue on the front of the box, being careful not to get adhesive on the ribbon.  I added it to 3 sides of the cardstock.  (sides and bottom- leaving no adhesive in the middle or the top).

5.  Carefully put the ribbon around the box and tie the box inbetween.  SO CUTE.

6.  Give to a friend with big hugs and kisses!

Shopping List- click on link to purchase:

Stamp Set- In the Month of February

Paper- Topstitch

Inks: Chocolate and Blush

Simple Valentine's Day Project

Everyone loves heart shaped lollipops!  Here is a fun and simple Valentine's Day Project that will put a smile on anyone's face- a lollipop holder.  You can find heart shaped lollipops at any department store this time of year.  Just make sure they are flat!  The finished size of the lollipop holder is 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 . 

Lollipop base- I used Tulip cardstock.  Cut it by 2 1 /2" x 5 1/4".  Score it ata 2 1/4" and 2 3/4".  This makes a 1/4 gusset at the top.

Cut a piece of white carstock 2 1/4" x 2 1/4".  Decorate as desired.  I used the A size stamp set - A love for my front.  (What a steal- the entire stamp set costs only $7.95).  Ink colors used are:  Tulip, Blush and Chocolate.

Decorate the back with a To/From stamp.

Punch two holes at the bottom about 1 /2 inch apart.  Thread with ribbon.  Give to a special friend.

Fun, Fun, Fun!

Click the link below to purchase products used for this project.

A Love- $7.95

Inks: Blush, Chocolate, Tulip- $5.25 each

Paper- Tulip Cardstock and White Daisy Cardstock

Hope you enjoy the project!

Tina

Fun with Gigi... Scrapbooking in Orange Beach

Hello Blogging Friends:

It is Saturday night, and we are finishing up a 3 day crop!  What a weekend... there is nothing like spending a weekend on the beach with a 120 scrapbookers!  FUN, FUN, FUN!   I have done create and takes, showed the girls how to kiss and twist,  taught classes and shared my Close To My Heart World!  Fun, fun, fun!  I am so grateful to Gigi for allowing me to participate in the weekend.  I can hardly wait until next year.

Enjoy some fun photos from the event!

Scrappin by the beach,

Tina

Teaching Create and Takes

Tracy loved CTMH so much she decided to join my team!  WAHOOOO!  Welcome to our Scattered Hearts Family!

The winner of the raffle basket!

New Zealand- Part 1

Hi Blogging Friends:

Ok, I fell off the map during my trip to New Zealand.  I had every intention of blogging every day but I could not get an internet connection from my room.  I was too exhausted to go to the internet cafe or to the hotel lobby, so, I took a week off.

I went to New Zealand knowing I would have fun, but with no other expectations. Wow... was I blown away!  This trip was truly a trip of a lifetime.  I can't begin to describe how beautiful it was.  My description would be Hawaii (the tropical flair), Alaska (with the mountains and glaciers) and Ireland (with the green) all rolled into one exotic location.  I can't believe that I was able to earn this trip for both Kent and myself.  I am so lucky to work for such an awesome company.

I am going to share my trip with you day by day!  Enjoy.

Day 1- San Francisco-

I met two of my downline and best friends, Casey and Chris in San Francisco.  We had a wonderful time, shopping and eating. 

Day 2- Christchurch
13 hour flight to New Zealand- then a flight from Auckland to Christchurch!  Thanks goodness for Simply Sleep!

Arrive Christchurch- Explore on our own.

Then a group tour, dinner and a show at Willowbank.  Check out our men doing the Hawka!

Check out Kent - isn't he fierce?

Day 3- Christchurch
Free time in Christchurch and then the Jet Boat Excursion.  I feel the need for speed!  SO FUN! (and beautiful)

After the ride- aren't we lovely?

Day 4- Christchurch

Off to the Sheep Farm!  This was one of my most memorable excursions.  I loved it!

After a day at the farm we were invited to a dinner for Executive Directors and above.  Close To My Heart treats us so good!

End of Part 1

I am out of town and working a 3 day crop this weekend.  I will finish the rest of my trip on Monday.  Stay tuned and thanks for reading!

If you are in Orange Beach this weekend, stop by Perdido Beach Resort and say Hello! I am working at Gigi's crop! You can even do some shopping if you like :)

Tina

Going to New Zealand... that was the plan!

BUSTED!  I am sure that I have confused all of my facebook friends with my previous posts.  They know part of this story if they were facebooking last night.

Before I tell my story, let me explain the previous post.  If you are not a blogger- you may not know this... but Blogger allows you to compose posts ahead of time and schedule them to go live at your convenience. I thought I was being smart, and composed the previous post a few days ago.  I was supposed to leave Pensacola at 5:20 this morning, that didn't happen.  Let me tell you my story...

Imagine this... it is Thursday afternoon, the afternoon before my trip to New Zealand.  I have piles of clothes, both Kent's and mine, all over the house.  5 suitcases (hey... 2 are carry on's) in the midle of the floor.  I just finished my Whataburger hamburger and  I decide to log onto Delta.com to check in.  Guess what... due to the snow storm, and the cold tempatures... my Friday morning flight was cancelled.  I call Delta.  It is too late to get  a flight out today.  There is nothing going out on Friday, so that leaves Saturday morning.  We are shceuled to leave San Franciso Saturday evening. Looking iffey (not sure if , ifey is a word, but just go with it).  I determined that I worked too hard this past year with CTMH, to chance missing my New Zealand Flight.

I call ed Kent at work, and ttold him to get home immediately.  (He works an hour away).  I throw  all the piles of clothes into  the closest of the 5 suitcases.  I call Avis.  I rent a car.  Kent gets home from work at around 3:30 p.m.  We put the suitcaes in the car and my dear friend Debbie drives us to Pensacola to get a rent a car.

We get the rent a car and start driving towards Atlanta, into the ice and snow.  It is now 5:30 p.m. 

I check my iphone and find out that Delta has rescheduled us once again, this time to leave out of Pensacola on Saturday morning.  We are about an hour into the drive.  I call Delta and am on hold.  We hit a no service part of the drive and the phone goes dead.  No service for an hour.  What to do... what to do...

Finally 2, hours into the drive, I get my cell signal back.  I call Delta.  The agent is not sure why they switched our flight without asking.  He puts us back on the Atlanta to San Francisco flight.  We keep driving.

At 11:30 p.m. we get to our hotel.  Since we have to be at the Atlanta airport at 6 a.m., Kent decides to return the rent a car Thrusay night.  The plan is for me  is to stay in the hotel and try to organize the items I threw in the suitcase. 

An hour later, Kent calls and the rent a car agency is closed.  20 minutes later he finds an after hour drop off  Whew!

He gets back to the hotel at 1:15. We fall into bed.  4 a.m. this morning our alarm goes off.  OMG!

We made it to the airport.  I found Casey, my superstar team member who also earned New Zealand.  For all my CTMH friends, we found Amy and Stan too!  They are on our flight.  Amy and I check out the Brigthon store at 7:30 a .m.  Life is good now. 

Kent and I were upgraded to first class.  Kent gave up his seat and Casey is sitting beside me as I blog.(gotta love wi fi in the sky)  Is it too early to have a glass of  wine?

Our next stop is San Francisco.  Oh I wonder what adventures await us there...

Time to take a nap....

Dreaming of New Zealand,

Tina

New Zealand here we come!

The day has finally arrived.  I have been pulling my hair out all week to get prepared for New Zealand.  The day is here and I am ready, excited and OUT THE DOOR.  My plane leaves at 5:20 a.m.!!!

New Zealand... here comes Close To My Heart.  Watch the blog for updates.

Thanks to all of my wonderful customers who have helped me achieve this goal! I appreciate you!

Simple but useful travel tool!

Have I mentioned lately that I am going to New Zealand tomorrow :).  I made this useful, and very simple travel too.  (this is a 5 minute project).  I went to Walmart and got a simple file folder.  I took 5 minutes and decorated the outside of the folder, using Rockstar paper and the New Zealand stamp set.

On the inside I stamped the names of the places that we will visit. 

Each town has it's own folder.  As I visit each town, I can collect memorbillia and put it in the appropriate pocket.  Then, when I get ready to scrapbook, everything is in one place.  Easy Peasy! 

Things that make me happy!

Chocolate and France make me happy.  That is why I loved this holiday gift that my friend Maryanne gave me.  I have had this in my stamp room at my creation station during the holiday season.  Every time I see it, I smile.  It has made creating even more fun!  I wanted to share it on my blog.  Thank you Maryanne! I don't think I will ever be able to eat it!

Tina

Topstitch Artwork

Here are some fun cards created with Topstitch- a new kit!  Love this new paper and stamp set!

Fun, Fun, Fun!  Want to make these cards?  Join me for a workshop and create them yourself!

Cookie Exchange Album FINISHED!

I finished my cookie exchange album this morning.  I finally got my photos developed and put where they belong.  The album is from my Scattered Hearts annual Christmas cookie exchange.  I used CTMH all-sorts album and had so much fun creating with it.  There was only one small problem, I didn't have enough pages to get everyone's photo in the book.  Not to worry, when I get home from New Zealand, I am going to create another album using the same, fun, Jingle paper and buy bigger key rings and finish the album with everyone's recipe and photo. Great idea huh?

This year I mxed up the recipes and photos to get more in the album.  This was my team member, Jackie Gay's idea.  She is brilliant!  Thank you Jackie!

I hope you enjoy the book.  I had a blast creating it and sharing it with the team.  I even had some long distance ladies participate.  Fun, Fun, FUN!

Happy New Year... Welcome 2010!

We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched.  Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential.  ~Ellen Goodman

Happy New Year to all my blogging friends,

2010 hugs,

Tina

Debbie, John, Tina and Kent