A Look Back

While the clock ticks down the final hours 
of 2014, I thought it might be fun to look 
back over the past year at some of my
 activities and tea times. 

January - Tea at 221B

Ireland and England Weather Map teacup 

by Ali Miller of London

Moriarty carves a somewhat sinister message into an apple when he comes to see Sherlock at 221B in The Reichenbach Fall. "I owe you a fall, Sherlock."

February - Cup And Pansies

Birthday cup by Kent Pottery- a present from a dear friend. She also baked teacup cookies for me!

March - Inspired by Violas 

This cup and saucer inspired me to create a Viola greeting card

March - Leprechaun Lane

home made Irish Soda Bread and tea. Slainte!

April -  Yellow Flowers, Yellow Birds

Daffodil Time by Shelley

May - Meteors, Mice and Memorial Day

Enesco musical teacup party with mice

June - Oak Canyon

Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world. 
 John Muir

July - Stars and Stripes

The Whistling Kettle's 1776 Blend

August - Queen's Seagull

Queen's Centenary Seagull Cup and Saucer

September - Kelos - It's Hot!

Fairy Garden in our old tiered fountain

October - Little Capotain Mug

Boo!

Halloween countdown

November - Autumn's Gold

December - On The Fourth Day of Christmas

I'm going to see how many more tea times I can squeeze into the remaining moments of 2014!

sharing this post with~
Tea Time Tuesday
A Return To Loveliness

Tea Cup Tuesday
Friends Sharing Tea
Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Martha's Favorites

On The Fourth Day Of Christmas~

At this stage in my life Time flies whether I'm having a good time or not! I've missed posting regularly and visiting your blogs, and am looking forward to catching up when I can. My mother was hospitalized on Thanksgiving eve. She spent several weeks in the hospital. Happily, she was well enough to be released in time to enjoy Christmas at home. Meanwhile, College Girl was sick with a lousy flu bug - just in time for finals- she missed out on Thanksgiving dinner and her own birthday celebration! Here are a few cards I made before all the holiday rush set in~

birthday card with dry and wet embossing

card for my sister- more embossing! I love the sparkle and texture it adds. I inked the doily. The ribbon looks neon on my monitor but it is a lovely shade of rose.

I misted the background, stamped the die cut lacy circle with the creche scene and mounted it with foam adhesive, then used embossing powder again- I love the effect the heated powder has on card stock.

I managed to knit four beanies before Christmas and got them mailed out to their new owners, but forgot to take photos! It was my first time knitting caps and they turned out really well. I was so proud of myself - haha! I can't wait to share some photos from Christmas Day and also some of the nice light displays we saw in our neighborhood. 

I hope you had a lovely Christmas full of warm moments and special memories!

Happy 4th Day of Christmas~ We celebrate each day until Epiphany on January 6.

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love

gave to me,

Four calling birds...

The four calling birds are the four Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These men spread the good news of the Gospel. 
“Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words unto the ends of the world.” (Psalms 18:5)

sharing this post with~
You're Going To Love It

Santa's Pack

We are halfway through November! Just wanted to share some news from Heather at My Artistic Adventures. She is having a  giveaway from her etsy store. Here is a note from Heather -

Hello Friends!

I just wanted to mention that on the 

My Artistic Adventures Challenge Blog 

I am having a Give Away.

A chance to win a $50 Gift Certificate 

for Collage sheets 

I have for sale in my Etsy Shop.

All you need to do for a chance to win is to

LIKE my My Artistic Adventures Facebook Page

Sign up to follow by email my Personal Blog

 and the

 My Artistic Adventures Challenge Blog

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel.
When you are finished with all the tasks, please send me an email letting me know what sheets you would like to win..or a general idea.  So I know you played along.
heatherahudson@gmail.com

At My Artistic Adventures a new Challenge 

begins on November 16. Here is the easel card

 I made using her

 Vintage Chic Victorian Christmas Gift Tag and Bag digi Collage Sheet

Collage sheets make it easy to craft up a card 

or gift tag without having specialty decorative 

paper. Just print out the digi sheet and start 

creating!

Autumn's Gold

I am rich today with autumn's gold,
All that my covetous hands can hold;

photo from wallpaperswa

Frost-painted leaves and goldenrod,
A goldfinch on a milkweed pod,

photo dec.ny.gov

Huge golden pumpkins in the field
With heaps of corn from

 a bounteous yield,
Golden apples heavy on the trees
Rivaling those of Hesperides,

Golden rays of balmy sunshine spread
Over all like butter on warm bread;
And the harvest moon will

 this night unfold
The streams running full of molten gold.

photo from ibtimes

Oh, who could find a dearth of bliss
With autumn glory such as this!
 Gladys Harp

I love Fall and am enjoying the drop in temperature, which finally arrived this week. In southern California signs of autumn are hard to come by but there are some trees here and there that have put on golden cloaks. Before you know it, I will be getting out our Advent calendars - can you believe it's only a few weeks until Christmas?

I made a card using 

Heidi Swapp Sugar Chic paper, 

a vintage book page and a doily. I also used embossing powder on the heart and tied a wooden charm to the front with pink bias ribbon.

This one is a birthday greeting but I am starting to make a few Christmas cards too.

Are you working on home-made gifts 

or cards?

sharing this with:
Share Your Cup

My Artistic Adventures and Craft Hoarders Unite

Hello Friends!

On Monday November 3, the
 My Artistic Adventures Challenge Design Team is blog hopping with
 Gloria's Craft Hoarders Design Team!

Challenge #19 For all that You do, Thank You!

Create a "thank you" gift for this challenge. It can be a Thanksgiving hostess gift or a simple thank you card. It can be a "thanks for helping me out of a jam" present, or a "thanks for being you" scrapbook layout. As long as your project says, "THANKS," enter the challenge! We want to see you de-hoard some of your stash and say thanks to someone!
(Your project does not have to be Thanksgiving-themed)

One Talented Participant that Links up their "Thanks" project to the

Craft Hoarders #19 Thanks Challenge 

will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to the

$25 Gift Certificate to the My Artistic Adventures Etsy Shop!!

     

        

Here is my inspiration piece - 
I made a thank you tag which will be attached
to a hostess gift. I started with 

  Heather's Vintage Mini Mittens Sheet

I used a vintage book page as a base, then layered card stock, a doily, distressed mittens and embellishments.

Next, I used Heather's

Shabby Vintage chic Victorian Christmas Blue Birds Music Tags Digital Collage sheet

 to decorate a re-purposed tea tin. This tin 
will be great for holding a candle or homemade
 baked goods.

Top view - I used mini pine cones and bias tape ribbon

We will be starting the Hop at 
Craft Hoarders Challenge Blog

You can see her Design Teams Inspiration Pieces there and on

their individual blogs.  Here is a list below.

Amber Milone

Christy Butters

Debbie Seyer

Donna Idlet

Glenda Brooks
GLORIA
Jan
Karen
Kathy

Pam
Wendy

My Artistic Adventures Design Team

Helene

Shawn

Carol

Lisette

Sandi

Candy

Heather

How would you like a SECOND chance to win a 

$25 Gift Certificate to the My Artistic Adventures Etsy Shop?

Hop on over to the 
My Artistic Adventures Challenge Blog
to get all the details!!

Thank you for Hopping with Us!!

Little Capotain Mug

October’s poplars are flaming torches

 lighting  the way to winter.

Nova S. Bair

We haven't chosen the pattern for our pumpkin carving yet, but that's because College Girl has been busy with midterms for the past two weeks. We did, however, make a quick hanging banner for our fireplace! College Girl strung dollar store plastic skeletons on a double strand of bakery string, then placed silk maple leaves between each skeleton.

When various holidays roll around I like using seasonal dishes, rugs and towels in addition to decorative pieces. As avid tea drinkers, we have a small collection of mugs and cups that lend a festive air to our morning or evening cuppas! Here is a small mug someone gave to us that makes an appearance each October~

 

Mug by Hartstone

It has pointy capotain hats hand-painted 

around the sides. Not familiar with the word capotain? Not to worry! Neither was I until recently. The conical hat with a wide brim typically pictured with witches are capotains. Pilgrims wore a flat topped version. 

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came,—
The Ashes, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The sunshine spread a carpet,
And every thing was grand;
Miss Weather led the dancing;
Professor Wind, the band.

George Cooper

Dark chocolate dipped macadamia shortbread just jumped onto my napkin! Who am I to resist?

 There are silly green spiders (we jokingly call 

them speeders) that grin back at me when I use this sweet little cup.

The Ghost Cafe looks perfect in the kitchen every October


Can you believe Halloween is almost here and the countdown to the holidays is upon us?

I'm glad that Halloween falls on a Friday 
this year. 

Where there is no imagination, 

there is no horror.

Sir A.C. Doyle

We'll be handing out candy, roasting pumpkin seeds, and watching Hocus Pocus or Under Wraps by candle light. I'll keep my camera ready for cute visiting trick or treaters!

sharing this post with:

Mosaic Monday

Clever Chicks

Rose Chintz Cottage

Antiques and Teacups

Artful Affirmations

You're Going To Love It

Martha's Favorites

Share Your Cup

Time Travel Thursday

Favorite Things

Return To Loveliness

Friends Sharing Tea

Halloween House Tour

City of Links

Marvel friendship- To The End of The Line

I just finished a scrapbook page featuring one of College Girl's favorite movies. 

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

 She is a huge Marvel Cinematic Universe fan as it is, but this movie has become one of her favorite for several reasons. The directing, music, performances and character development all grabbed her attention - she is studying film at school - but it is the loyal bond between two dear friends that is central to the appeal of this movie. 

I used two different Marvel themed papers from Sandy Lion, cut them in half and matted them on a blue background. Since I was playing along with a challenge at CSI I used the colors and page design required. 

You can see some of the metal embellishments I used in this photo. I used a key, a clock face and gears.

I layered notched banner pieces, that I
 distressed with ink, along with three photos from the movie.

I also used string, ribbon and die cuts. 

I had so much fun making this page that I may decide to do others featuring our favorite movie characters, friendships or stories.

This page was featured- so exciting!

sharing this post with:

Share Your Cup

Time Travel Thursday

Favorite Things

Pumpkin Coffee Cake

College Girl and I had a spontaneous urge to bake last night. The daytime temperatures cooled way down and there was a crispness to the night air - perfect for heating up the oven and creating in the kitchen! First we made our standard baked egg dish with vegetarian Canadian Bacon and sliced black olives sprinkled on top. While that baked, I searched online for a pumpkin coffee cake recipe and found Sally's kitchen tested version. 

For the full recipe and directions visit Sally's Baking Addiction 

Her cake recipe includes:

• 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 cup (244 grams) pure pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup (100 grams) dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) vegetable oil (or melted coconut oil)
• 1/4 cup (82 grams) pure maple syrup
• 1/4 cup (60ml) milk
• 
  
• I substituted 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce and 1/4 cup olive oil for the 1/2 cup oil listed in order to lower the fat content a bit. I also used 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour with 1/2 cup whole wheat flour. These changes didn't affect the quality or flavor.

• 
  
• The recipe includes a yummy crumb topping, too. I followed the directions for the simple icing glaze made from powdered sugar and milk, and 
• drizzled it over the top of the 
• coffee cake when it came out 
• of the oven.

• 
  
•  This pumpkin cake is moist,
•  pumpkin-y and delicious. 
• I can taste the cinnamon. I can taste the pumpkin! I don't like cakes which are brown but don't taste like chocolate, or orangy colored cakes that don't taste like oranges or pumpkins...I want to taste the flavor, not just see the color!
• 
  

This pumpkin coffee cake is perfect for 

breakfast or teatime - if it lasts that 

long!

• 
  
•  
• sharing this post with~
• Share Your Cup
• Weekend Re-treat
• Halloween House Tour
•