Thursday, November 12, 2009

Pretty Packaging Cups of Friendship

Do you have a Tea Lover in your life?  I think the sharing of a Cup of Tea is so symbolic of friendship, what about you?  I'm not a coffee drinker, but I can do herbal teas, and a number of my friends drink tea. 

This next set called Christmas Tea is beautifully designed by Lauren Pope.  It's delicate and intricate just like a china tea cup, so that's the feel I was going for.  Today's project would be a nice gift for any tea lover in your life.  I created a special box holding various kinds of tea bags, and a tea bag/spoon rest.   This is my favourite project of the release I think.  I'm happy with how it came together from my head to the paper!  And thanks to the encouragement of my sweet friend Broni, I'm entering this into the Moxie Fab World's Plum Crazy Challenge too....



I began by using a box I often use for cards (A2 Box Tutorial here) and  I decorated the lid and bottom of the box before assembling. 

I watercolored the tea cups with reinkers and waterbased markers, then the pretty part, I added watered-down Lumiere to give the tea cups shimmer  - just like a porcelain cup.  Love how it looks!  After I cut it out with my Labels Five Nestabilities, then I masked the cups with Eclipse Tape and sponged with Rich Razzleberry ink.  It really sets off the cups.
 


I thought that it had an old fashioned feel, so I added the large scallops punch along with the crochet lace and Razzleberry ribbon.  The box ties and unties on the right side.

One last closeup of outside to really help you see the shimmer, and then I'll show you the inside. 



Here is what I was able to put inside the box: 



Tazo Passion Tea, Loose Tea bags of Cranberry Apple Zinger (wow it smells good), 2 special Triangular Infusion tea bags from Forte (aren't they a cool shape?) and a Tea Bag Rest/Spoon holder. 

I have to admit, one of my pet peeves is tea bags without tea strings on them.  I hate digging for them in your cup with a spoon and trying to squeeze out the reminaing flavor without a string.  So, on these bags I created my own strings with some linen thread and a circle punch. 



Here is what the box looks like empty.  I took the A2 box and added a separation to it to keep everything from scattering in the box.  Sorry about the photo, I think it's the shadow from my OTT light.



Now head on over to the other Design Team Members blogs for some other fabulous projects with this great set.   Cindy Lawrence, Julie Koerber, Latisha Yoast, Laura Fredrickson, Leslie Miller, and Stacy Morgan.

Join us tonight at 8 PM Mountain time (9 PM Central time) for our power hour Release Party in the Splitcoaststampers Forum!  Games, prizes, and the sets unveiled!

And...to win this great set today head on over to the Flourishes Newsletter to enter!

Recipe:  Stamps:  Flourishes - Christmas Tea;  Ink:  Kiwi Kiss, Rich Razzleberry, Black Stazon;  Paper:  Rich Razzleberry, Kiwi Kiss, Kiwi Kiss Patterns DSP, Flourishes European Watercolor paper;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels Five Nestabilities, EK Success Scallop Punch, Crochet Ribbon, Rich Razzleberry Ribbon, Reinkers, SW Markers, Aqua Painter, Lumiere, Labels Eight Nestabilities, Sponge, Kaiser Pearls, Dimensionals, Scor Tape, Scor It, Modern Label Punch, Eclipse Tape, 1 inch circle punch.

36 comments:

Leslie Miller said...

What a nice surprise to find inside the box! This is such a pretty set, Christine. Love that you included the tea bag/spoon rest. Very cute idea to put the string and tag on the stringless bags, and to make the divider to keep everything in place. Gorgeous coloring of the image and decorating of the box, too. I love everything about it!

Emily said...

Wowser Christine! Drop dead gorgeous job of coloring and what a terrific gift!!!

Candy said...

A most delightful and beautiful gift. As well as being so pretty it is a thoughtful gift as well. Love the work you have put into this and the 'bling'on the very pretty cups!!!
Hugs, Candy

Denise Marzec said...

Oh!!! I'm am just in LOVE with your coloring. Just look at that main panel....STUNNING!!

Crystal said...

Oh,my goodness ... what a gorgeous creation, Christine ! Your coloring is stunning ... a feast for the eyes !

Cindy Haffner said...

GORGEOUS!!

NancyK said...

Simply stunning. This is such a gorgeous gift set - and I love how you added the string to the tea bags (one of my pet peeves as well!!)

Ruthie said...

BEAUTIFUL! loe the colors and the teacup stamp .... and the idea!
You are such an inspiration!!!!!

Traci M said...

So beautiful in a Victorian style, your tea box with spoon rest is an exquisite gift, Christine!!

Stacy Morgan said...

Wonderful wonderful gift Christine. Oh the coloring is gorgeous and yes the shading really does set those teacups off. Beautiful gift inside and so thoughful! Anyone would love this gift, fabulous work!

Renée said...

oh wow, this is gorgeous, Christine! The colours are fabulous and I love the design!

Beate said...

WOW, WOW, Wow, WOW, WOW! I am trying to pick my jaw up from the floor. Gorgeous coloring (purple or not). BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Broni said...

Christine, this is spectacular!!! Your color choices, your coloring, and your exquisite attention to detail just floor me. You REALLY have to enter this in the Moxie Fab Plum Crazy contest here:

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2009/10/plum-crazy.html

REALLY!!!!!

Shari said...

This is so beautiful! What a great gift idea. Your work is ALWAYS so lovely!

JenMarie said...

O.M.Gosh! LOOOVE this! Fabulous!!!

Tosha Leyendekker said...

Christine, this is so clever, creative and gorgeous!! Your coloring is fantastic! And your sweet little gifts inside are so uniquely fun!! Love this gift set!

Julie Koerber said...

What an incredibly cool gift! Not only is the outiside just breathtaking in that rich plum color, you open it up and it has such a beautiful display! It's a real WOW in my book!

Marisa said...

What a fabulous gift!!! LOVE the colours and the picture on the front is framed and sponged wonderfully! The lucky recipient will love it!

Anonymous said...

Christine, This stamp set and the
box you made with it are simply
gorgeous!!! My fave color is
purple and paired with the green...
WOW!!! You did a fantastic job.
I'll come for tea any day!

Sherry in MI

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful stamp. You made it sparkle! What a gorgeous job you did making it your own.
~Pam
http://stampsinc.blogspot.com/

DB said...

The box is beautiful, I love the raspberry and green color scheme. Some lucky recipient is going to love this gift!

Linda Carson said...

Lovely inside & out! Beautifully colored!

Michele Boyer said...

Wow! This is absolutely stunning, Christine!! Your coloring is just GORGEOUS! What a lovely gift!

Francie G. said...

What a fabulous project! Gorgeous, Christine!

Latisha said...

This really is stunning Christine! I am so proud that you entered this in the Moxie Fab Challenge!! You go girl!!
hugs
Latisha

Nancy Jensen said...

Absolutely gorgeous box and what a fun gift! I'd love just the box empty! LOL

Where did you get the "Lumiere" that you watered down that gave the cups their shimmer? Is it something that is readily available at the local craft store? I love all your projects! Thanks for sharing!

cnelson said...

oh how lovely!! what a beautiful gift!

Anonymous said...

Beautifully done.
Chris in CO

Lea L. said...

Very beautiful set! My mom would love this! Great job with the Plum Crazy challenge!

~Lea

Winter said...

Oh My! This is beautiful! :)

Jessica Diedrich said...

I kid you not when I say I GASPED when I saw this in my Reader...OH WOW! it's just stunning. I am a huge lover of coffee AND tea and this image captures the warmth of friendship so perfectly. Just GORGEOUS. Wow!

Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking Editor said...

Hey Christine! Thanks for entering the Plum Crazy! challenge in the Moxie Fab World! :)

Rose Ann said...

This is a fabulous gift, Christine!! I love the colors and beautiful images...and what wonderful goodies inside too!!

Anonymous said...

Christine this is absolutely stunning!! Love those colours so rich and elegant! What a beautiful creation!! I love the inside of the box too!!
Beth Greco

Anonymous said...

They are everything said above and more! They are absolutely the cutest! Thanks for sharing your creativity.


Anonymous said...

They are everything said above and more! They are absolutely the cutest! Thanks for sharing your creativity.