Black, White and a splash of Brown~

I am still having so much fun making teabag cards! I plan to make up a bunch to keep in my card box, ready to mail off to friends when the occasion arises. I am also going to make a few get well versions. In the past I made some cards that had a teacup on the front with a slit to insert a teabag...those were charming, but had less potential for design differences. I could change the teacup color or theme, but they only held one teabag and looked basically the same. The fun thing about this style is that I can include 2 teabags, or a teabag and a package of Sugar In The Raw, or two packets of EmergenC for those nursing a cold.

Here is the teabag card I finished this afternoon. I am entering it in the Play Date Cafe Color Challenge #125.


I used graphic 45, Cricut cut birdcage, stickers, & stamping 



I reinforced the bottom with paper tape and used Penny Black and  IndigoBlu stamps



I used heart shaped eyelets, sticker letters and black Fiskars Zingz (pearls) on the front~ 



The Imperial Gold teabag and Sugar In the Raw packet even coordinates with the color theme!

Back view! Quintessentially English~

Check out my previous post for a photo tutorial on how to create these easy cards~ I used Seam Sealant (Fray Check) on the ribbon ends so they won't fray when being untied.

Sending You Tea~

My thoughtful friend, Cindy, sent me an email letting me know about a cute creation posted on Cosmo Cricket's Facebook page. It was a teabag card! The minute I saw it I stopped what I was doing and started rummaging through paper scraps. Cosmo Cricket offers a template but I made my own version using measurements from two teabags. I had so much fun making the first one that I decided to make a second card and shoot a tutorial to share!

You will need~

• cardstock for the card, additional decorative paper optional
• glue
• string or ribbon to close
• circle punch
• something to decorate the front
• 2 teabags

I also used Verve Stamps, Distress ink, flowers, chipboard, Crop A Dile, adhesive paper tape, paint, printed Eiffel Tower image from Graphics Fairy, scallop edge scissors.



One piece of cardstock 6 & 1/2" wide x 5 & 3/4" high. I used Pink Paislee 



Fold bottom up 1 & 3/4" to form pocket. Then, 3/4" from outside edge, punch a shallow half-circle. Ink edges. Now is the time to adhere horizontal ribbon, if desired, across the back & above the pocket

 

Cut two pieces of cardstock 4"x 1"(save one for outside spine). Cut two pieces of decorative paper 2 & 3/4" x 3 & 3/4", ink edges and glue to inside back. Fold card in half, open, then glue narrow strip to interior center, overlapping it's edges on the decorative paper you just adhered.

                                  
I used adhesive paper tape along the folded bottom for reinforcement.(the tape was 1/2" wide, so 1/4" will be seen on the outside and inside bottom edges) The Tim Holtz  tissue paper tape would also work nicely. I tried just folding the bottom, and scoring then folding the bottom, but even using cardstock the crease was weak.

Remember~If you want to use ribbon and not have it show on the inside, place the ribbon horizontally above the notched edge and adhere the decorative paper and center spine over it, letting it extend beyond the card edges long enough to tie. You can also attach the ribbon/string on the outside, use another closure or go without! I used 2 different methods~



I used scallop edge scissors on the top, inked all edges, used glue dots to secure notched flap in place along sides and center..leave pocket open for teabags! See the paper tape along the bottom?



Here are the teabags nestled in their pockets...now to finish the front~ I did some stamping.



just for you




I used my Crop A Dile to set heart-shaped eyelets

 

I glued the second 4"x 1" piece to the outer spine

 Here is the first teabag card I made with graphic 45. This one ties with green ribbon. I also used a small printed image of the Eiffel Tower on the front, and edged the print with a tiny bit of pink Adirondack paint dabber called 'Rose'. 



This little card has a chipboard teapot covered in decorative paper, stamping, inking, punched corner pieces, a paper rose and a Studio K epoxy sticker.

 
                         
Sharing this post with How Sweet the Sound Pink Saturday

Sunshine, Bunnies & Bees~

We had a couple days of much needed rain and I especially enjoyed listening to the downpour while tucked beneath the covers...I love to hear rain on the rooftop~ This morning we awoke to sunshine and clear skies. Out on the back lawn enjoying the warmth were a couple of the wild desert cottontails. We leave a carrot or two out there for them from time to time.

College Girl made the bunny jumping into the pot (above) a few years ago. I get it out every Spring and it makes me smile...that fluffy bunny bottom is so cute! And it is easy to make. You need:

• small pot
• large puff ball
• small puff ball
• Easter 'grass'
• pink and white Fun Foam for feet

                                     

Place green styrofoam or tissue paper ball into the pot bottom. Glue grass upright along inside-back edge. Glue small puff ball to large puff ball. Glue large puff ball into pot. Cut feet and toes from foam and adhere to large puff ball. It looks like a white bunny is making a quick getaway into Farmer McGregor's pot! This is a fun and easy craft if you have children attending an Easter brunch. You could even have markers available for them to decorate the pots.

I had a bunny on my teapot today too~ There is no makers mark, so I don't know the manufacturer.



Le Lapin



He looks like he is chasing the blue butterfly...not too far fetched, either! We watched one of our visiting bunnies chase a bird around our lawn.

         The teapot handle is a yellow blossom~



I admit...I bought this tea just for the box!

I made multigrain pancakes today. As time has gone by, I find I prefer healthier~heartier grains as opposed to fluffy white-flour 'buttermilk' style flapjacks. I like the nuttiness and wholesomeness of added flax seed, buckwheat or oats.



my fleur de lis napkin ring adds a bit of panache



I added chopped pecans to the batter before cooking..yum! I also stewed some frozen cranberries in orange juice and grilled a veggie sausage patty.



I enjoyed a pot of Harney & Son's Earl Grey Supreme



The cheery bone china cup I used is by Crown Trent. I love the gardening theme on it. My favorite thing pictured is...

the bee skep!

A little information about skeps;

Before the 1800`s, most bee hives in North America

and Europe were simple shelters for the bees.

Bee Skeps were common types of hives in this period.

Bees attached their wax combs to the hive`s roof and walls,

just like they do in wild hives. Skeps were made from coiled

 grass straw (wheat or sometime rye),

and often had sticks inside to provide support for the honey combs.



nothing like hot tea and real maple syrup~



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Fruits and Veggies~

Fruits and Veggies ~ You know they are good for you, right? It is easy to get them into every meal with just a little effort...and so worth it! Yesterday I put broccoli in my eggs and sprinkled blackberries on my toasted English Muffins.

I put fruit in yogurt, cereal, and on toast. Of course smoothies are a delicious way to drink fruits and vegetables; there are lots of recipes online.Here is a simple one~

Banana Carrot Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 Banana (ripe is best - frozen if desired)
• 1 cup Apple Juice (or apple slices and water)
• 1-2 cups Baby Carrots (or chopped carrots)
• 1 cup Plain Non-Fat Yogurt (any yogurt you like)

Steps:

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth

Speaking of fruits and veggies, I went to a small Farmer's Market in Old Towne Orange, California. It is on Lemon street every Thursday from 2-6 p.m. The produce looked fresh and appetizing, and I bought some brussel sprouts. Don't wrinkle your nose! Have you ever tried oven roasted brussel sprouts with a drizzle of fresh squeezed lemon and olive oil? I'd only had steamed, soggy sprouts growing up and couldn't stand them. Now, I look forward to them on my plate!

I love going to Farmers Markets for fresh flowers, too. There are usually buckets full of gorgeous blooms at bargain prices~

I couldn't resist! I bought a bunch~

Perhaps you like pinks?

I'll share photos next time of some of the homes I saw as I returned to my parked car. Old Towne Orange is a historic area full of registered homes, many which are renovated, and others that are shabby but charming.

We Have a Winner!

Today is the day to announce the 'Milk Or No Milk?'

blog post giveaway winner~

Lucky #13, Brenda, was randomly selected! She wrote,"I would like to enter your giveaway. I don't drink milk in my tea and most of the time I don't use sugar either. I just love the taste of great tea..." Me too, Brenda! I am excited to mail this cute box of tea to you~

Thank you to those of you who answered my question. It seems some like milk, others like soy milk, several drink their tea plain and Emily likes lemon~

Teatime for your lips, Hunger Games for your Toes~

Guess what I discovered? Wandering through the beauty and cosmetics area of an organic and natural foods store I found some lip balms that are tea scented! Eeek! How fun is that?!  So, you can imagine what I did, right? I bought some for College Girl, one for me and one for a friend. The company that makes them is called Crazy Rumors.

         There is Orange Bergamot~ mmmm!

     Next is Spiced Chai, a favorite of College Girl~

    How about refreshing Peppermint Lemongrass?

                                                    
       And last, but not least, fragrant Apple Spice!

Another fun thing about this product line is that they also have coffee flavors available (mocha, coffee bean, French vanilla, amaretto) as well as A La Mode (ice cream), Soda Pop, Candy Cane, and Fresh Squeezed (fruit).

They contain organic shea butter. We like their staying power and the fact they are not sticky or gummy. Plus, they smell divine! I found that I can purchase them online, and even with the addition of shipping, they are less expensive than buying them in the store. I just placed an order today so I will have them handy for Easter baskets~

Speaking of beauty products, College Girl came home today with a bottle of China Glaze nail polish called Riveting. Here is the info on these polishes:
China Glaze has partnered with Lionsgate Films to create a specialty promotion for their movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins' gripping trilogy, The Hunger Games, premiering in theaters March 2012. The polish shades are inspired by the Capitol of the nation of Panem.

The Hunger Games Specialty Colour Collection includes 12 amazing full coverage shades: Dress Me Up, Foie Gras, Fast Track, Hook and Line, Stone Cold, Smoke and Ashes, Agro, Mahogany Magic, Harvest Moon, Riveting, Electrify, Luxe and Lash.

She had been looking for a pretty orange...it is all the fashion rage for Spring and Summer...and this fit the bill perfectly~


Don't forget my giveaway! Enter by making a comment on my Milk or No Milk? post, below. You could win a cute box of tea~