200 posts, 100 followers; Join me for a virtual cup of tea and a giveaway

There can be nothing quite as quintessentially English as Afternoon Tea. I can not imagine not drinking tea and I spend many hours discussing all sorts of things over a cuppa. I believe you can put the world to right over one too. One of my most memorable presents my husband treated me to a few years ago was afternoon tea at Claridges. It was just exquisite. And more recently as part of my daughter's hen weekend in July we had a wonderful Afternoon Tea at the Dorchester. Tea really is a great pick me up.

On my recent trip to Harrods I decided to choose try a new blend.

This is just part of the tea department.
There were hundreds to choose from and I decided to try the No 16 Harrods afternoon special as recommended by the server.

He weighed it out for me and then decanted it into it's own special bag.
I was amazed how many different tea accessories they also sell.

I loved all the tea strainers..these were silver plated and not cheap. They will be added to my ever lengthening wish list ;0)

This is my little bag of tea which came home with me and yes it is delicious.

I make it in my little tea pot and I have a special old Sylvac tea strainer that I have owned since I was 19.

Mmmmmm, that's better. You can see I like my tea quite strong, just a dash of milk and no sugar. I hope you also are able to sit down and join me with a cup of tea too..;0)

Now all these thoughts of Afternoon Tea set my mind thinking that this would be a great range of bag charms to join my recent Alice in Wonderland range. I found some very sweet tea related charms and created one to add to my Etsy Shop here

How cute is that slice of cake and tea pot...

How cute is this tiny tea cup and saucer ;0)

and this was a specially commissioned "English" bag charm I made for a great blogging buddy of mine, I even found a tiny tea spoon charm.













 Now unbelievably this is my 200th post, yes for my "regulars" you have been subjected to that many over the last 2 years and 4 months. I have also just gained my 100th Follower (thanks so much).  I think this deserves a thank you to everyone who visits me here. As well as joining me for a virtual cup of tea I have decided that I will hold a little giveaway and 1 lucky winner will win a bag charm of their choice. It can be one of my new afternoon tea bag charms or or you can choose one of your own. Have a look in the bag charm section of my Etsy shop here. To enter just mention the giveaway in your comment together with a colour/theme request for your winning charm if  you come out of my hat (or teapot). I will draw a winner on 29th November at 5pm (GMT). I will post world wide, if you don't have a blog just email me or convo me via Etsy, everyone is welcome to join in.

My card challenge for today is also a "thank you" Christmas card... dedicated to you all and it is from another very important person who appears in my blog..my dearest Billy

Here he is keeping watch from the roof of my Studio....you may have noticed that I have changed my Blogger Profile photo to this..I just think it's a perfect blend of my crafting with my furry boy. Billy would also  like to say what fun he has had appearing in quite a few of my 200 posts.

OK I know there is a little artistic licence here as the card kitty is more a tabby than Billy but hey I don't often wear pink socks ;0)
The image is coloured with Promarkers and highlighted with Prismacolor pencils. I have used the fun LOTV stamp called Make it Festive. I have added lots of snowy details including backing papers, die cuts and hand punched snow flakes. I know I cropped the very top of the photo off using Picmonkey but I think you can se the design fine.  I also used some pretty lace as well as pearls and gems to add some festive bling. The sentiment is also LOTV.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;
Ladybug Crafts Ink snowflakes
The Crafty Pad It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas #197
My Mum's Craft shop Inspiration from a song my inspiration for my card is the song "Santa Claus is coming to town" as sung by the Crystals in the early 1960s as I think this stamp has a real 60s feel to it and I have gone with some very non traditional colours for my card and given it some 60s bling!
Joanna Sheen Cold and frosty
Penny Black Allsorts any die will do my die is a Marianne circle die cut. I still have to buy my die cuts but Santa is bringing me my own....I can't wait.
The Squirrel and Fox anything goes #31
Stampin with the Dragon so cute
Crafts and Me Circles #111 my circles are my die cut, sentiment and my pearls and gems.
ABC Christmas W for wrapping my kitty seems to be doing more playing than wrapping but those ribbons as such a temptation!
Papertake weekly Ribbon and/or pearls I have added pearls to my card.
Top tip Tuesdays Kids and teens #90
Bearly Mine snowflakes
Creative Card Crew anything goes
Lili's Little Fairies anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge use something more than 6 months old my stamp is from last Christmas
Cute Card Thursday #244 girls only
Make it Monday linky party #116

The march towards Christmas seems to be speeding up with only 33 more sleeps to go now. On Saturday we are going to the Winchester Christmas Fair with our daughter. So much Christmas excitement ahead. I hope some festive spirit reaches all of you too.

Remember to enter my little giveaway you need to mention it in your comment with a choice of bag charm/colours. Thanks again for reading my posts and some of you have actually read ALL 200 of them, you are stars! I do so enjoy our blogging world and friendship. And to my American friends may I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving today.

Thanks for joining me for afternoon tea whatever the time of the day it is for you at the moment ;0)

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane (and Billy) x