Dotty's Teahouse turns 1

Yesterday was the 1st birthday for Dotty's Teahouse, the vintage tearooms in Carshalton, where I sell my cards. I cannot believe that a whole year has gone by. I joined Dotty's as a seller on day 1 and I numbered up card 405 recently so gulp I have made and sold a lot of cards in 1 year.
As always the window display looked delightful and was in the style of WW2 as Dotty's was also supporting Dame Vera Lynn's charity for the day.

 Rebecca and her lovely team were all dressed up and looked ab fab...here is Rebecca on the right with Lesley her right hand rock and roll woman 😁

These ladies are all so lovely, always smiling...

A quick peep at my cards....

There was live entertainment...........

Such a fun atmosphere

Even the original Dotty, the vintage caravan made an appearance

I love being a small part of Dotty's and if you are ever near to Carshalton High Street do stop by. It is the most wonderful place to enjoy tea and cake..and lunch too!

You may have spotted in my very first photo today that there were 2 birthday cards in the window.  I made them both 😊.m.

The one on the right I gave to Rebecca and her team. You will see that one on my blog in detail tomorrow so I will share my " Dotty is 1" birthday card today.
Here she is;

The girls from Dotty's commissioned me to make this card. They wanted something tea related and pink for Rebecca. This digi is one of  Lili of the Valley's simply print images and was perfect. I even die cut a pink cup with a stripey saucer! The papers  were a great find in my ancient paper stash....

Yes surely "everything stops for tea" 😉

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Allsorts birthday it was also their birthday yesterday, but they were 8.. Dotty has some catching up to do!

Crafty Catz anything goes with a twist of more than 2 layers I have at last 5 on my card!

Creative Inspirations 3/3 anything goes

The Ribbon Girls 1/3 use any image

I am back tomorrow morning with my weekly Visible Image inspiration where I will share details of my other Dotty's birthday card.

Thanks so much for stopping by today and can I extend a very warm welcome to my newest followers. Thank you for joining me on my creative journey here at Jane's Journal.

The sun is up and I am heading out to the garden to sort out my summer pots.

Bye for now,

Jane x

Spring 2017 at Dotty's Teahouse

Last Thursday I took my parents down to Dotty's where we enjoyed a lovely lunch. They loved the tearooms and its wonderful vintage feel.
The window was dressed all ready for Easter.

Inside was busy and there is always such a great atmosphere. Rebecca and her staff were busting around serving everyone with a smile.

After my sandwiches I just had to try a piece of delicious moist carrot cake...

well it would be rude not to wouldn't it 😉

I could see from our table that my cards I sell there were neat and tidy. There has been a rush on my wedding and new baby boy cards recently so I stocked those up with a couple of new designs.

 If you are ever near Carshalton in Surrey do pop in. Dotty's is at 108 High Street, SM5 3AE and is open most days.

So my card for challenges today is a new baby one. Our own new grandbaby is due very soon now. We do not know the sex and today's card is for a new baby boy from the shelves of Dotty's Tea House.

I have used a digi from Lili of the Valley. The backing paper is First Edition. Dies are by Memory Box , The Works and Cheery Lynn.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

The ribbon girl 1/3 use any image
Simon Says stamp Wednesday 3/5 spring colour inspiration
Crafty calendar April showers/ spring
Crafty friends animals or birds
The Cutie Pies challenge bunnies or chicks
Artistic Inspirations 1/3 anything goes
Crafting from the heart 1/3 anything goes
Lil patch of crafty friends 1/3 anything goes
Sparkles Monthly 1/3 fave colour combo I use blues and green so much!
Noor flowers

Thanks for stopping by today and for the kind comments you take the time to leave me. They are much appreciated.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

The Grand Opening of Dotty's Teahouse

I have been teasing you all for some time on my blog. Now I can finally share some photos of this exciting new business which is opening in our High Street and will be selling my unique one of a kind handmade cards.

Welcome to Dotty's Teahouse...........

The owner, Rebecca and her team have been working incredibly hard over the last few months to transform the old Art Shop in Carshalton High Street into a wonderful vintage tea house. The big reveal was on Wednesday night at the grand opening, which my Hb and I attended.
If you like vintage 40s/50s/60s you will love Dotty's....the inside is such fun with lots of wonderful quirky, retro details.

The opening was attended by the Mayor and our local MP. I love this photo...I sneaked behind the official photographer at the balloon launch.

We were entertained by this super Trio who sung and danced their hearts out.

I took lots of photos. Below is a small selection.

Rebecca, looking very glam,  with my cards. I am selling a variety of my styles...from cute to shabby chic. I have also created a very limited "spring colour" run of my own "tea room cards"...you can spot those on the far right and 2 on the left. They have my Crafty Individuals tea birds on vintage cups and this batch are spring green. I plan to make these in different colourways during the year. For my first freshly baked  made batch of 45 one of a kind cards I have birthday, general, new baby, wedding and "Dad" cards (Father's day is in June) up for sale.

I will also be making cards to order so I had some business cards printed up...coincidentally they match Dotty's interior really well!

My Hb took this shot of us.

A fab evening was had by all..............

and yes of course cake had to feature ;0)

I would like to wish Rebecca all the very best for her wonderful new business adventure and if you are near to Carshalton...do pop in . Dotty's opens this afternoon but is having a "slow" first few weeks to find the "flow". If you would like further details and opening time do have a look at Dotty's Facebook page here

My card challenge card for today is the one I made especially for Rebecca to celebrate her new venture. I wanted to create a Tearoom scene for her. Carshalton is very beautiful and my  beloved ponds are full of wildlife. I used this as my inspiration.

 These views are a 1 minute stroll from Dotty's.

 I chose to make an easel card using Kraft card as the base as this felt very vintage. 

The stamped image is Take a little Time for Tea (very appropriate) by Crafty Individuals. I embossed it with clear powder and hand painted it with distress inks. The window and bird die cuts are Tim Holtz. 

Below is a close up of the inside. The papers are from Craft Consortium. I was lucky enough to win a pad earlier this year. 

 The card "stands" on a bouquet of paper roses and a little tea cup and saucer (of course) charm. I added a piece of vintage lace and of course a Dotty button!

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Crafty Individuals anything goes
The Ribbon Girl  3/3 any image
Noor spring flowers
Seven Hills Crafts Embossing I used Hero Arts clear embossing powder for embossing my image before I painted it.
WOW  embossing powders May challenge. The image has been heat embossed
Artistic Inspirations 3/3 Anything goes/use a die cut 

Stamping sensations 3/3anything goes
Memory Box For the birds My daisy leaves and music score are MB

Cutie Pie 3/3 escape to the country

Crafty friends 3/3 in the garden

Paper Creator 3/3 anything goes
Fussy and Fancy  1/3 dies and/or punches
Bunny Zoe lovely layers
Deep Ocean shabby chic/vintage

So cheers to Dotty's and I look forward to my cards being a small part of this exciting new adventure.

Thanks as always for your kind visits and for the sweet comments you take the time to leave me. If you are a first time visitor here it is lovely for you to stop by. I will be baking  making my next batch of cards soon....if you are passing Dotty's do pop in. Whilst you are waiting for your tea to brew you can have a browse. There are lots of lovely handmade crafts for sale and my fresh bakes  makes will be there too.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x