Valentine Tea Giveaway

 Hi blogging friends,

Are you ready for Valentine's Day and all the 'kisses' that come with it?  If you are a tea drinker you don't want to miss this Valentine's Day giveaway.  Have you tried Harney & Sons Valentine's Blend?  It is a wonderful combination of chocolate and rose petals.  Nothing says 'I love you' like a romantic tea party for two.

Just for you I am giving away 3 Valentine's Blend tagalong tins (each tin consists of five sachets).  Silken sachets are great for those of us who are on the go.  Bring some to work without having to worry about measuring or straining your tea.  The red tin with decorative label is a perfect gift for that someone special.

All you need to do to enter the drawing is be a follower of my blog and leave a comment on this post by Tuesday, February 5, 2013.

I will select 3 winners on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 using random.org and give them 48 hours to contact me via email.  I would like the winners to receive their tins by February 14th.

Good luck and thank you for sharing part of your day with me.

Queen Esther

Hi blogging friends,

Are you ready for tea time?  I'm excited to show you my new set of teacups & saucers.  I found them while antiquing back in the fall.  The best part is they match a set of dinnerware I already have.

Homer Laughlin in the 'Queen Esther' pattern (circa 1950).  These ivory pieces are from the Lady Liberty line with beautiful rich gold trim.

Today I am enjoying a White Christmas blend by Harney & Sons.  A white tea with almonds, vanilla, cardamom, accented with white chamomile flowers.  Would you like me to pour you a cup?

I also have some warm banana bread to share with you.

A simple cottage pitcher holds a bouquet of lavender roses.  The lavender rose is a sign of enchantment and magic.  It represents a fairy tale kind of love, like the prince had for Cinderella  :-)

I wish I could bottle the fragrance for you!

This last photo was edited with the Florabella Collection using Ruth West's Amethyst Texture.  The Vintage French Script Brushes are from the French Kiss Collection.

Thank you for visiting me for tea time.  I hope your week is off to a great start!  Be sure to stop back tomorrow for my Valentine's Day giveaway.

 Today I am joining ...

Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage

Tea Cup Tuesday @ Martha's Favorites

Tea Cup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations

Tuesday Cuppa Tea @ Antiques and Teacups

Tea Party Tuesday @ Sweetology

A Return to Loveliness @ A Delightsome Life

Tea Talk @ The Teaist

Friends Sharing Tea @ Bernideen's Tea Time

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

A New Friend

The colder temperatures this week have brought out a few critters.  When we put up the squirrel-proof bird feeder I did feel a little bad so it is nice to know the squirrels are enjoying some of the fallen seed.  They also nibble on our pine cones, leaving an 'apple core' behind.

After I snapped the first picture of this little guy I think he sensed I was there.

He perked right up and you can see a tiny seed on the side of his nose.

I now have a new appreciation for the squirrels.  He is so cute - I should give him a name.  Any suggestions?

Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend everyone!

I'm sharing today with ...

Friendship Friday @ Create With Joy

Weekend Blog Party @ Sincerely, Paula
Weekly Top Shot @ The view from right here

Camera Critters @ Bluff Area Daily

I Heart Macro @ Studio Waterstone

Let's Get Social Sunday with Evelyn & Jamie

Macro Monday @ Lisa's Chaos

Home Party @ Rose Chintz Cottage

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a daily cup from Mrs. Olson

Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner

Open House Party @ Bernideen's Tea Time

On Ice

It sure was a cold one this morning (-2 to be exact).  The chill in the air had me thinking about my Papertrey Ink 'On Ice' stamp set so off I went creating.

For the background I rubbed Brilliance Pearlescent Beige ink on a Lacy Brocade embossing folder before running it through the Big Shot.  I like the effect it gives on the Shimmery White paper.  The skates were stamped in black with the socks in Early Espresso.  The blades of the skates were colored with a Prismacolor eggshell marker and embossed with iridescent ice embossing powder.  I added 6mm gold jingle bells to the ends of the laces.

On a piece of Shimmery White paper, cut from a Spellbinders Lacey Pennants die, I stamped Winter Wonderland in Chocolate Chip and embossed it.  Everything was popped up with dimensions.  Tea stained lace and beige faux pearls add a vintage look.

The inside greeting was also stamped in Chocolate Chip and embossed with clear embossing powder.  A little snowflake was added to the corner using VersaMark with gold embossing powder.

As a little girl I remember lacing my skates and twirling away.  Have you ever been to the rink at Rockefeller Center?  It is a magical place during the holidays.

I would like to thank all my new followers from the Grow Your Blog party.  I still have yet to visit some of you.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Papertrey Ink On Ice, Fancy Thinking of You Sentiment by Northwoods Rubber Stamps, SU Snowflake Soiree
Paper:  Natural White Linen, Chocolate Chip, Shimmery White
Ink:  Brilliance Pearlescent Beige, StazOn Black, Early Espresso, Prismacolor Eggshell Marker, Chocolate Chip, VersaMark with Gold EP
Accessories:  Tea Stained Lace, Recollections Faux Pearls, Darice 6mm Gold Jingle Bells, SU Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, Spellbinders Nested Lacey Pennants, Edge Distresser, Bow-Easy
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging
Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Let's Party!

 
Hi blogging friends,

Today I am joining the Grow Your Blog party over at Vicki's place.  If you are new to Donna's Designs I hope you will take a few minutes to look around.  Let me tell you a little bit about myself.  I started stamping in 2008.  For me creating cards is about more than just rubber stamps and ink - it's about sharing a part of yourself and your creativity with others.

I have a love for Ocicats and currently have a chocolate-silver named Cheops.  First contact with one of these spotted creatures will create a visual impact you will never forget.  They shine with the exotic beauty of spotted cats from the wild!

On my blog I share with you my passion for gardening.  As you stroll through my gardens you will see native plants which attract butterflies and hummingbirds.  As you tour and take in all the architectural elements I have incorporated into my gardens; whether it is the gazebo, arbor, tuteurs, trellises or the fountain, I'm sure you will find something you like.

Tea time is usually on Tuesday with vintage teacups and china.  It is a time for us to relax and get to know each other.  I hope you will consider becoming a follower of Donna's Designs so you don't miss out on my February giveaway.

I'm gifting you with the keys to my blog so you can come back whenever you like.  My door is always open :-)

Thank you Vicki for hosting this lovely party.  Please stop over to 2 Bags Full and say hello.

 

Tranquility

While gazing out the window this morning I saw a vista of tranquility.  Wintry spruce trees transformed the landscape making it a magical land full of wonder. 

The beauty of the evergreen branches is the perfect contrast to the fluffy white snow.

A snow covered nest reminds me that spring is only a few months away.

Thank you for stopping to visit me.  May your day be filled with wonder and magic!   

 

Winter Magic

I woke this morning to gently falling snow.  As I looked out the window I saw a pretty blanket of white.  There is nothing more still than a beautiful snowfall.  Everything just feels and looks so crisp and fresh.

If I didn't have to leave for work I would have made a snow angel, plopping myself down in the snow head to toe.  Instead I kicked up the snow with my boots while looking back to see the indentations of my footprints.  I even stuck my tongue out to catch a few flakes!

This is a glimpse of winter's beauty ...

 

 

Lovin' the Birds

One of the things I received for Christmas was a wonderful squirrel-proof bird feeder.  I have wanted to put a feeder outside our family room window for a while now and this one is perfect.  It has two spring activated perches so when a squirrel or large bird steps on it a metal shield drops down shutting off the seed supply.  You can even adjust the weight settings for different sized birds.  It took a few days for the birds to find their way, but once they did we have had quite a variety of species.

 

To my delight the Northern Cardinals have come to visit.  Here we have the female dining on some fallen seed.

A bird does not sing because it has an answer.

It sings because it has a song.

A male watching her from afar.

This little Chipping Sparrow almost seemed to get away.  Just because a bird passes you by doesn't mean you lose the shot.  Some lovely things can happen when you take photos of birds from behind!

Black-cap chickadees and blue jays have been by to say hello.  I can't wait to see who shows up next.  Come springtime I will be enjoying the robins and finches!

Today I am joining ...

 Camera Critters @ Bluff Area Daily

Let's Get Social Sunday with Evelyn & Jamie

Macro Monday @ Lisa's Chaos

Mosaic Monday @ Little Red House

Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention Photo Gallery

Home Party @ Rose Chintz Cottage

NF Winged on Thursday @ NatureFootstep meme

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a daily cup from Mrs. Olson

Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner

Open House Party @ Bernideen's Tea Time

Friendship Friday @ Create With Joy

Snowy Scene

 

This snowy scene was created using only two stamps.  I cut a piece of Shimmery White paper with a Spellbinders Labels Eight #5 die.  I loaded the tree stamp first with VersaMark and then Distress Iced Spruce ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  Next, I punched a 1" circle from a post-it note as a mask for the moon.  I also masked off below the trees and sponged the background in ColorBox Frost White, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue and Night of Navy. 

I removed the post-it notes and stamped the bird image in StazOn Black.  Heat & Stick Powder was applied along the bottom of the card with dazzling diamonds glitter.  I created the snow drifts using a DecoArt Snow Writer.  The Snow Writer adds dimension to your winter scenes and is very easy to use.  Just hold the bottle upright and write or draw as needed.  It usually dries in two to three hours.  This scenic card was given to my husband.

I can't wait for Friday to get here.  It has been such a long week.  Do you have anything special planned?  I still need to finish taking down the Christmas decorations and my tree! 

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Scenic Season, Stampscapes Ducks in Formation
Paper:  Solar White Linen, Shimmery White
Ink:  Trees - Distress Iced Spruce; Background - ColorBox Frost White, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Night of Navy, Birds - StazOn Black
Accessories:  1" Circle Punch, Post-It, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Heat & Stick Powder, DecoArt Snow Writer, Spellbinders Labels Eight #5 die
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging
Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Beautiful Season

This traditional card was created for my brother and sister-in-law.  This set has such an adorable black-capped chickadee image.  I cut a piece of Shimmery White paper using the Memory Box Cherise Label dies.  The image was stamped in StazOn Black and colored with Prismacolor Pencils with Gamsol.  Crystal Effects was applied to the berries.  The focal image was adhered to a piece of Cherry Cobbler then Brushed Gold and popped up.  The olive background paper was embossed with a Sizzix Starry Night embossing folder and adhered to a piece of Cherry Cobbler.  Everything was mounted to an olive green card.

 

A close up of the pretty bird.

Merry Christmas was inked in VersaMark then Old Olive and embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  I found the pine and holly stamp in my stash and thought it was a nice compliment to the front of the card.  It was stamped in StazOn Black and colored with Prismacolor Pencils.

I hope you'll find some inspiration from my designs.  Please feel free to 'pin' them for later in the year for when you start your holiday cards.  Have a wonderful day.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Beautiful Season, PSX Merry Christmas & Pine and Holly
Paper:  Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Brushed Gold, Shimmery White
Ink:  Image - StazOn Black; Prismacolor Pencils in Limepeel, Olive Green, Crimson Lake, Dark Brown, Warm Grey 70%, French Grey 50%, Ginger Root; Old Olive & VersaMark with Clear EP
Accessories:  Crystal Effects, Gamsol, Memory Box Cherise Labels Die, Spellbinders Large Petite Ovals #5 & #6, Sizzix Starry Night Embossing Folder
Techniques:  Embossing, Colored Pencils
Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")